Environmental Systems Lead

About the job Environmental Systems Lead River Basin Hydrology Biodiversity Job Title Environmental Systems Lead River Basin Hydrology Biodiversity Organization Climate Asia Location Delhi India Experience 8 years Notice Period 15-30 Days Type Consultant-Full-time Project-based-7 months About Climate Asia At Climate Asia we lead transformative climate action across the Global South steering communities toward a future marked by equity and sustainability Our work centers around three core pillars advancing climate adaptation empowering women s leadership in climate and directing strategic finance to where it matters most We are equipping the next generation of climate professionals and empowering practitioners to lead with inventive inclusive solutions that create lasting systemic change Project Context The Yamuna Basin Challenge is a multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at the restoration rejuvenation and sustainable management of the Yamuna River Basin The initiative supports interventions that conserve water restore native biodiversity address pollution and introduce innovative nature-based solutions to improve the ecological health and water security of the basin Projects are executed through community participation institutional collaboration and technology-enabled solutions Role Overview We are seeking an Environmental Systems Lead with deep expertise in river basin hydrology watershed management and ecosystem restoration The ideal candidate will provide technical leadership in understanding analyzing and managing the hydrological and ecological dynamics of the Yamuna River Basin In this role you will work closely with field teams research institutions community stakeholders and policy actors to co-develop nature-based scalable and evidence-driven solutions You should have a proven track record of leading large-scale end-to-end projects managing multi-disciplinary teams and driving ambitious systems-level outcomes The role requires a combination of technical depth and strategic oversight including the ability to oversee complex environmental programs balance competing priorities and translate scientific insights into actionable implementation plans Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership Lead the hydrological and ecological assessment of targeted sites across the Yamuna Basin Design and oversee the implementation of nature-based solutions NbS for soil and water conservation wetland restoration and catchment-level interventions Evaluate the water budget of key sub-basins and design strategies to recharge groundwater reduce runoff and optimize seasonal flows Provide expertise on invasive species management and restoration of native habitats to improve biodiversity outcomes Ability to translate technical findings into actionable project reports and communicate recommendations to diverse stakeholders Monitoring Evaluation Develop and deploy scientific monitoring systems to track water quality hydrological flows and biodiversity indicators including the use of IoT sensor-based tools for hyperlocal data collection Contribute to the development of KPIs and impact assessment frameworks to evaluate ecological and social outcomes Collaborate with data scientists and GIS experts to build spatial-temporal models that monitor ecosystem health and water stress over time Oversee project milestones timelines and deliverables ensuring that monitoring efforts are aligned with broader program goals Lead systematic tracking of progress and ensure transparent reporting to internal teams funders and external partners supporting accountability and adaptive decision-making Community Institutional Engagement Support the co-creation of watershed plans with local communities CSOs and panchayats integrating traditional ecological knowledge into scientific approaches Conduct participatory rural appraisals PRAs and facilitate training workshops on water and biodiversity conservation practices tailored to local contexts Build strategic partnerships with government departments research institutions and technical experts to scale and sustain on-ground interventions Lead mentor and develop a cross-functional team to ensure high-quality timely and context-sensitive implementation of activities Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment encouraging knowledge-sharing and joint problem-solving across disciplines and stakeholder groups Research Innovation Identify test and validate water-saving agricultural technologies sustainable irrigation techniques and regenerative farming systems Promote circular economy solutions for solid and liquid waste management to reduce pollutant load into the river Lead applied research initiatives in collaboration with universities and innovation partners Required Qualifications Experience Master s or Ph D in Environmental Science Hydrology Water Resources Engineering Ecology or related disciplines Minimum 8 years of experience in river basin or watershed management ecological restoration or related domains Strong knowledge of groundwater-surface water interactions wetland ecosystems and biodiversity conservation frameworks Technical Expertise River basin hydrology watershed management ecosystem restoration groundwater-surface water interactions wetland ecology and nature-based solutions Analytical Modeling Tools Proficient in environmental modeling software e g SWAT HEC-HMS MIKE SHE GIS platforms and sensor-based monitoring systems Project Team Management Experienced in planning budgeting risk assessment and delivering complex projects strong in team leadership staff development and cross-functional coordination Stakeholder Engagement Skilled in participatory approaches building partnerships with communities government bodies and technical institutions Communication Strategy Strong written and verbal communication English and Hindi impact reporting and aligning technical work with organizational vision and adaptive strategies