Reference code: PL/EM-11/26

The International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST), is looking for a senior and accomplished professional to lead energy system modelling under the organisation’s Clean Energy Programme.

A successful applicant must have a proven track record of building and running energy system or sectoral models, leading policy research and publications, and mentoring research teams. The candidate should ideally have a strong understanding of India’s energy sector, including power markets, renewable energy policy, coal and the institutional landscape of central and state agencies.

Location: Noida, India (with travel to states and project sites as required)

Required Experience: 7+ years

Reports to: Programme Director, Clean Energy

About iFOREST

iFOREST is an independent not-for-profit research and innovation organisation that was established in 2019 to identify, promote and scale up solutions for pressing environment-development challenges in India and other developing countries in Asia and Africa.

Our work is rooted in regional priorities to accelerate environmental actions at the sub-national level and to improve national policies and plans to support it. Our mission is to address the unique needs of regions by leveraging our resources and expertise to scale up national action and make a global impact. We use our regional knowledge to inform national policy and plans and strengthen international collaboration.

To achieve our goals, we conduct independent evidence-based research, develop new knowledge and innovative solutions, convene stakeholders to increase awareness and build consensus, and partner with think tanks, civil society, government agencies, philanthropies and industry to scale up solutions.

The Clean Energy Programme

The Clean Energy Programme supports India’s transition to a secure, affordable and low-carbon energy system. Its work spans power sector planning, renewable energy integration, energy demand across sectors, industrial decarbonisation and the just transition of coal-dependent regions.

Quantitative modelling sits at the core of this work, giving the programme a rigorous basis for its policy recommendations to central and state governments, industry and investors. Within this, the energy modelling work builds and applies energy system and sectoral models to generate scenarios and insights that inform clean energy policy design and investment strategy in India.

The Role

The Lead – Energy Modelling will be responsible for building and running the Clean Energy Programme’s modelling capability and making it central to how iFOREST shapes clean energy policy in India. This would entail designing and applying energy system and sectoral models, leading research from design to publication, assuring the quality of the team’s outputs, and translating model results into clear messages for policymakers, industry and the public, while mentoring a team of Researchers and Research Associates working on modelling and data analysis. In addition, they would also be expected to help set the programme’s strategic direction and build partnerships that bring modelling into real-world decision-making.

Specific tasks to be undertaken are:

Model development and application

- Design, develop and implement energy system and sectoral models covering power, industry, transport, buildings and other demand sectors, including capacity expansion, production cost, demand projection and techno-economic models.
- Use these models to generate scenarios and insights that inform policy design and investment strategy.
- Define model scope, structure, assumptions and scenario frameworks, and maintain clear documentation, version control and data management so that models are transparent, reproducible and usable by others in the team.




- Track emerging modelling methods, open-source tools and datasets at global and national levels, and adapt them to Indian conditions such as state-level power markets, coal transition dynamics and sector-specific demand patterns.

Research design and execution

- Contribute to research design, including defining research questions, methodology, work plans, activities and tasks for each assignment.
- Lead primary and secondary research to support modelling, including literature and policy reviews, government and industry datasets, stakeholder interviews, field visits and expert consultations.
- Establish procedures to validate input data, cross-check assumptions against official sources and flag uncertainty through sensitivity analysis.
- Stay abreast with the latest developments in Indian and global clean energy policy, markets, technology costs and regulation, and use them to contextualise and sharpen research outputs.

Technical writing, quality assurance and mentoring

- Write and review reports, working papers, discussion papers and policy briefs, ensuring each conclusion is grounded in robust modelling evidence.
- Review the modelling and research outputs of junior team members for technical accuracy, consistency of assumptions and clarity of argument before publication.
- Mentor young researchers in the team to strengthen their analytical, quantitative and technical skills through regular feedback, hands-on model training and opportunities to lead parts of projects.
- Train and develop the internal team to build modelling capacity across the programme.

Communication of modelling insights

- Co-author and review blogs, articles, op-eds and explainers that translate modelling results into clear, compelling messages for policymakers, industry and the public.
- Work with the communications team to develop data visualisations, infographics, presentations and media briefings, and act as a technical spokesperson for modelling work when required.

Stakeholder engagement and dissemination

- Organise and contribute to technical roundtables, stakeholder consultations and dissemination workshops to present, test and refine modelling outputs.
- Present research at national and international conferences, government meetings and expert panels.

Additional duties

- Contribute to shaping the overall strategy for the programme, aligned with institutional priorities, sector-specific issues and ongoing work of other key institutions.
- Identify new pathways, initiatives, and partnerships that bring modelling into real-world decision-making and contribute to programmatic goals.
- Support development of new concept notes, proposals and budgets for projects/interventions that further institutional objectives.
- Contribute to the institution’s brand building by representing iFOREST on various public platforms.
- Execute any related assignments that may arise in relation to the tasks or for further enhancement of the programme.

Qualification & Work Experience

- A Master’s degree in Energy Studies, Engineering, Economics, Environmental Science, Operations Research, Public Policy or a related quantitative field is required. A PhD in a relevant field will be preferred.
- Proven hands-on experience building and running energy system or sectoral models, with a track record of applying results to policy or investment questions, is required.
- A robust understanding of India’s energy sector, including power markets, renewable energy policy,



coal and the institutional landscape of central and state agencies, is required.
- A record of published analytical work, such as reports, working papers, journal articles or policy briefs, is required.
- Experience in supervising or mentoring junior researchers is required.
- Familiarity with grid modelling, renewable energy penetration modelling, cost modelling and energy storage analysis will be preferred.
- Experience with international modelling communities or collaborative modelling projects will be preferred.
- Experience in writing funding proposals and managing donor-funded projects will be preferred.
- Working knowledge of Hindi or another Indian language for field research and stakeholder engagement will be preferred.
- A minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience in energy modelling, energy policy research or techno-economic analysis is required.

Competencies & Responsibilities

The successful candidate should have the following competencies:

- Proficiency in one or more energy system modelling frameworks, such as TIMES/MARKAL, MESSAGE, OSeMOSYS, LEAP, PLEXOS, PyPSA or GCAM.
- Strong power sector analysis skills, including capacity expansion, production cost and dispatch modelling, renewable integration and grid flexibility.
- Strong techno-economic assessment skills, including levelised cost analysis, cost-benefit analysis, financial modelling and technology cost projections.
- Strong programming and data skills in Python, R, GAMS or Julia and advanced Excel, with ability to work with large datasets and build data pipelines.
- Ability to design scenarios and sensitivity analyses and interpret uncertainty for decision-makers.
- Ability to produce clear data visualisations and dashboards using tools such as Tableau, Power BI or Python and R libraries.
- Analytical rigour, building conclusions on evidence and stating assumptions and limits openly.
- Excellent communication skills, with ability to write and present complex findings in plain language for non-technical audiences.
- Proven leadership and mentoring skills, with ability to give constructive feedback and set high quality standards.
- Strategic thinking, connecting research to policy windows and the programme’s long-term goals.
- Ability to collaborate across teams, disciplines and with external partners, and to manage several projects at once while meeting deadlines without compromising quality.

Why Choose iFOREST

- Purpose-driven work: Contributing from sub-national to national and global goals.
- Professional development: In areas and sectors that are contemporary and pressing.
- Compensation: We offer a salary that is not only competitive but recognizes and rewards your commitment and talent.
- Inclusive Culture: Benefit from a supportive and diverse work environment.

Remuneration

Competitive salary as per the candidate’s experience and proficiency. Final designation of successful candidate will be based on qualification and experience.

Application deadline & instructions

Interested candidates should send a CV, a cover letter describing their modelling experience, and two samples of published analytical work at apply at IFOREST

Immediate opening. Position open until filled. iFOREST is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

Published

Nov 12, 2026

You may also apply by writing to [email protected] with the position and
reference code in subject line.

Why Choose iFOREST

- Purpose-driven work: Contribute from regional to national and global goals in
sustainability.
- Professional development: Work in areas that address contemporary and critical issues.
- Competitive compensation: We recognize and reward commitment and talent.
- Inclusive culture: Experience a supportive, diverse, and empowering work environment.

📌 Lead – Energy Modelling (Clean Energy Programme) (Noida)
🏢 iForest - International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology
📍 Noida