About the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)

Established in 1976, NIUA, is a premier Institute of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India for research and capacity building for urban sector in India. NIUA’s broad objective is to bridge the gap between research and practice on issues related to urbanization. For more than 40 years now, NIUA has been the vanguard for contributing to and building the urban narrative for a fast-evolving Urban India. The Institution has been actively working on bringing forth key areas of concern for urban India in order to build the urban discourse at various urban scales. It has utilized its competencies in research, knowledge management, policy advocacy and capacity building to address urban challenges and continuously striving to develop sustainable, inclusive, and productive urban ecosystems in the country. It has emerged as a thought leader and knowledge hub for urban development in India and is sought out by both Indian and International organizations for collaborations and partnerships in India’s urban transforming journey. NIUA is committed towards aligning its efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through all its initiatives and programs.

About NIUA’s Water and Environment Vertical

The Water and Environment vertical at NIUA focuses on creating frameworks, mechanisms, and pathways that enable Indian cities to manage their water and environmental sectors sustainably. Aligned with India's Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, our efforts are geared towards driving tangible, on-ground change. We collaborate with the Ministry to implement various national Urban Missions and initiatives that impact urban water and environmental management. Additionally, we partner with a wide array of national and international resource organizations with similar goals and mandates.

Our work in urban water and environmental management typically includes:

• Developing national-level strategic frameworks, guidance documents, and advisories to facilitate actionable outcomes across all cities.

• Creating digital tools and instruments to help cities advance their capabilities.

• Conducting action-oriented research on emerging, underexplored topics.

• Supporting the piloting of innovative concepts and technologies through demonstration projects.

• Designing specialized capacity-building modules and certification programs.

Urban River Management Plan for Delhi (Code: URMP-DELHI): The objective of this project is to develop an Urban River Management Plan (URMP) for Delhi based on the URMP framework propounded by NIUA and the National Mission for Clean Ganga. The plan will involve identifying actions (planning, regulatory, institutional, legal, and on-the-ground project interventions) for improving the state of the Yamuna River. The project team will work closely with the different Central and State government agencies in Delhi as well other non-governmental and academic organizations for the development of the Plan.

Core Responsibilities:

1. Provide technical inputs for the URMP for Delhi on aspects related to environmental management vis-à-vis urban rivers.
2. Lead the work for objectives 2, 3, and 4 of the URMP framework—pollution control; rejuvenating water bodies and wetlands; and enhancing the riparian buffer.
3. Work closely with other specialists to design and carry out the baseline assessment of Delhi.
4. Conduct primary surveys on different aspects of environmental management of the Yamuna in Delhi
5. Lead the liaison with environment-related government and non-government stakeholders in Delhi.
6. Identify environment-related interventions for implementation in the URMP for Delhi.
7. Prepare regular reports and presentations for updating progress of work to senior officials and decision makers
8. Carry out any other tasks assigned by the Team Leader

Education Qualifications & Experience

1. Masters/PhD in Environmental Planning/ Environmental Engineering/Environmental Science or a related discipline.
2. 7-10 years of experience in the environment sector
3. Experience in providing technical assistance in urban environmental management, in particular for rivers, water bodies, wetlands, forests, biodiversity, and other related areas.
4. Experience in working with senior officials in city and State governments.
5. Up to date knowledge about various environment laws, regulations, and policies applicable in Delhi.
6. Excellent writing and communication skills in English. Preference will be given to candidates with oral and written communication skills in Hindi and other regional languages as well.
7. Strong inter personnel and co-ordination skills, working independently, and flexibly.
8. GIS mapping skills and familiarity with remote sensing tools will be considered a plus.
9. Ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams and translate environmental data into planning and policy recommendations.

Application Process –

• Interested candidates are required to submit a detailed CV that highlights relevant experience via the NIUA portal. The application deadline is 28 August 2025.
• Because of the urgency of the assignment, applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis and interviews conducted periodically.

• Candidates are encouraged to provide at least two professional references to verify their professional credentials.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. Shortlisted candidates may choose to attend the interview online. A link for the interview will be provided by the recruitment team in advance.
• If necessary, the selection committee may invite candidates for a second round of in-person interviews.
• No TA/DA will be provided for attending the interview.