Portfolio Lead Climate & Environment

Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies (RNP) seeks a proactive, self-driven, and curious Portfolio Lead

to join our Climate & Environment portfolio to support our conservation, biodiversity,

and climate change work (https://rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org/field-of-work/climate-

environment/). This portfolio makes up a significant portion of our work. With the overarching

strategic direction set, this role is centered on implementing, operationalizing our grantmaking

philosophy, building deep relationships with partners, and synthesizing insights directly from the

ground.

This role is ideal for practitioners with 3-5 years of experience looking to anchor themselves and

build a meaningful body of work over the next 3 years.

Key Responsibilities

1. Field Visits, Ground Engagement & Sense-Making

● Travel extensively across India to spend meaningful time in the field with partner

organizations, local communities, and grassroots actors.

● Conduct immersive field visits to observe ground realities, build trust, and develop

qualitative insights that inform our ongoing learning approach.

● Translate field learnings into actionable internal notes, reflections, and insights for the

broader team to refine grant implementation.

2. Partner Relationships & Grant Management

● Support the overall portfolio and lead some partner engagements independently.

● Serve as a reliable point of contact for grantees, fostering collaborative, high-trust, and

empathetic relationships.

● Manage grant-related communication and support with the timely processing of grants.

Oversee end-to-end grant administration, including proposal coordination, due diligence,

fund disbursements, and documentation.

● Ensure adherence to grant-making processes and procedures. Support partners in

navigating operational roadblocks, facilitating connections across the network where

appropriate.

● Maintain clean, rigorous data records, grant trackers, and documentation to ensure

seamless operational continuity.

3. Convenings, Gatherings & Collective Learning

● Support the conceptualization, planning, and execution of partner convenings, cohort

meetups, and cross-sector dialogues at both the portfolio and organizational levels.

● Coordinate logistics, agendas, and participatory sessions that bring partners together to

share challenges, align efforts, and cross-pollinate ideas.

● Work with the team to curate learning collaterals, briefs, and takeaways emerging from

gatherings and field immersion.

Qualifications & Competencies

● Experience: 3-5 years of demonstrated experience in program management, grant

administration, or field-level initiatives, preferably within climate change, biodiversity

conservation, natural resource governance, or environmental livelihoods.

● Commitment and Self-Driven: A deep commitment to communities, conservation,

biodiversity, and climate change. This job is ideal for someone who can work

independently and is a self-starter;

● Field Readiness: High readiness and enthusiasm for frequent domestic travel (up to

20–30% of the time), often to remote rural and ecologically critical regions.

● Project & Grant Management: High operational rigor, detail orientation, and comfort

handling concurrent workstreams, contracts, compliance steps, and timelines.

● Relationship & Communication Skills: Exceptional interpersonal, active listening, and

relational skills. Empathy and humility in partner interactions are essential.

● Languages: Fluency in English and any Indian local languages is appreciated. Working

proficiency in at least one regional language is a strong advantage given the national scope of field visits.

Apply by: October 16, 2026