Lead Climate Finance - Urban Climate Strategy

About the Opportunity

We at Arthan are hiring a Climate Finance professional to work with a mission-driven organization focused on strengthening urban development outcomes in India. The professional will lead a strategic effort to explore and unlock climate finance solutions tailored for Indian cities, particularly in climate adaptation and mitigation.

This role is ideal for a finance professional (from the private or public sector) with experience in corporate/project finance, who is now keen to apply their skills toward developing foundational thinking in urban climate finance. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Landscape Urban Climate Finance: Identify interventions needed for effective urban climate action. Map existing pools of climate and green finance available to Indian cities.
• Assess Current Utilization & Challenges: Analyze how current sources are accessed/utilized. Identify structural barriers (e.g., project design, institutional capacity, information asymmetry).
• Benchmark Peer City Experiences: Document how other Global South cities (including in India) have accessed concessional climate finance.
• Identify Additional Sources: Explore untapped avenues such as development finance, budgetary allocations, PPPs, market-based instruments, and land value capture.
• Propose Strategy for Urban Climate Finance: Develop a roadmap outlining key gaps and mechanisms to improve climate finance readiness. Highlight state-specific opportunities (e.g., Assam, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka).
• Create Concept Note for the Host Organization: Align internal strengths with identified gaps to propose a new body of work on urban climate finance.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Must-Haves:

• 4-7 years of experience in corporate or project finance, preferably in banks, consulting firms, engineering firms, or DFIs.
• Advanced degree (MBA, MPP, MSc in Finance, Economics, Engineering, or similar).
• Experience working in the Global South, especially on project structuring or development.
• Practical or academic understanding of climate finance and urban development.

Preferred:

• Prior experience in urban infrastructure financing or blended finance models.
• Knowledge of domestic and international green finance mechanisms.

Key Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent financial, strategic analysis skills. Strong verbal and written communication, particularly in translating complex concepts for government and multilateral stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating across internal teams.
• Proactive approach to stakeholder engagement and relationship building.
• Comfortable navigating the evolving landscape of climate finance, regulatory frameworks, and urban governance.
• Capacity to build and promote knowledge products and institutional frameworks.