Strategy Associate - Climate & Cooling

The Clinton Health Access Initiative Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to our mission of saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. We work at the invitation of governments to support them and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems.

CHAI was founded in 2002 in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic with the goal of dramatically reducing the price of life-saving drugs and increasing access to these medicines in the countries with the highest burden of the disease. Over the following two decades CHAI has expanded its focus. Today along with HIV we work in conjunction with our partners to prevent and treat infectious diseases such as COVID-19 malaria tuberculosis and hepatitis. Our work has also expanded into cancer diabetes hypertension and other non-communicable diseases and we work to accelerate the rollout of lifesaving vaccines reduce maternal and child mortality combat chronic malnutrition and increase access to assistive technology. We are investing in horizontal approaches to strengthen health systems through programs in human resources for health digital health climate and health and health financing. With each new and innovative program our strategy is grounded in maximizing sustainable impact at scale ensuring that governments lead the solutions that programs are designed to scale nationally and learnings are shared globally.

At CHAI our people are our greatest asset and none of this work would be possible without their talent time dedication and passion for our mission and values. We are a highly diverse team of enthusiastic individuals across 40 countries with a broad range of skillsets and life experiences. CHAI is deeply grounded in the countries we work in with majority of our staff based in program countries. Our alumni secure placements in reputed business and policy institutions (Harvard Columbia MIT INSEAD etc.) and pursue high-impact professional opportunities globally.

In India CHAI works in partnership with its India registered affiliate William J Clinton Foundation (WJCF) under the guidance of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) at the Central and States levels on an array of high priority initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes. Currently WJCF supports government partners across projects to expand access to quality care and treatment for HIV/AIDS Hepatitis tuberculosis COVID-19 common cancers sexual and reproductive health immunization and essential medicines.

Learn more about our exciting work:

Programme overview

WJCF in partnership with its affiliate CHAI is leading an initiative to transform Indias air conditioning marketa climate impact opportunity addressing one of the fastest-growing sources of global emissions. Driven by worsening heat rising incomes and urbanization the world will buy 3 billion additional room air conditioners by 2050more than 1 billion in India alone where currently less than 10% of households own an AC unit.

Indias AC market is caught in a clear trap preventing efficient cooling adoption. Price-sensitive consumers typically purchase less energy-efficient units due to the $80 upfront price gap between 3-Star and 5-Star ACs. Consequently high-efficiency units account for just 20% of sales slowing energy standard upgrades and discouraging innovation. Existing users often operate ACs well beyond the recommended 8-year lifespan keeping outdated units in use long after standards improve.

A business-as-usual trajectory will create severe impacts. Inefficient AC usage already contributing to urban grid vulnerability will drive 20-fold electricity growth and 4 Gigatons of cumulative CO emissions by 2050nearly twice Indias current total emissions. With AC demand rising 15% annually theres a limited window to act before millions more inefficient units are locked into homes for another generation.

WJCF has successfully addressed similar market inefficiencies in global health by acting as a strategic convenor to align stakeholders inform markets and unlock access through innovative financing. We are adapting this proven market-driven approach to Indias cooling sector where scaling high-efficiency adoption offers gigaton-level climate impact and significant peak energy demand reduction.

Role overview

Over the past two years WJCF has worked across government industry utilities and civil society to identify and catalyse the most effective levers for shifting Indias air conditioning market toward high-efficiency products. Our first phase of work has yielded critical insights and traction. Key stakeholders are aligned high-potential interventions have been identified and we are now entering a scale-up phase to accelerate impact.

We now seek a highly motivated individual with outstanding credentials and demonstrated experience for the role of Associate Climate & Cooling to support this next project phase. The candidate will report to the Lead Climate & Cooling and as an integral member of the country team work closely with representatives of different internal country and global teams. In this role the candidate will also help shape the growth of the team to effectively deliver on programme goals while gaining the opportunity to be an early leader in climatea key strategic priority for the organization.

The candidate must be able to function independently be comfortable working and coordinating the operations of cross-functional teams be flexible and have a strong commitment to excellence. WJCF places great value on relevant personal qualities: resourcefulness responsibility tenacity independence energy and work ethic.

Program Leadership & Execution

• Take complete ownership of program workstreams from inception to completion supporting the Lead in strategic planning task coordination and progress monitoring
• Provide informed strategic inputs to program leadership to support strategy formulation assessment and adaptive management

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Management

• Build and maintain trust-based relationships with key stakeholders across government agencies civil society organizations industry actors and utilities
• Develop and manage strategic partnerships while navigating complex multi-stakeholder communications and alignment processes
• Represent WJCF at relevant forums convenings and workshops to advance program objectives

Program Implementation & Analysis

• Lead the design and execution of innovative demand-side interventions generating actionable insights for large-scale adoption and rigorous impact assessment
• Support feasibility assessments of supply de-risking mechanisms including market commitments and technology agreements
• Drive evidence-based decision making through comprehensive analysis and evaluation of intervention outcomes

Communications & External Relations

• Develop compelling internal and external materials including strategy documents impact reports and stakeholder communications
• Present program strategy progress and results to major organizational partners donors and key decision-makers

Strategic Development

• Identify and scope complementary opportunities in climate technology and at the intersection of climate and health
• Undertake additional responsibilities as assigned by program leadership to advance organizational objectives

• 4-7 years of relevant experience in analytical roles such as consulting research etc.
• Bachelors or Masters degree in social sciences environment engineering policy economics/finance
• Genuine passion and curiosity for climate sustainability and climate-health related topics with an ambition to drive program development
• Exceptional problem-solving and critical thinking abilities and a proactive team player keen to make an impact
• Experience in stakeholder management and partnerships with an ability to leverage existing relationships in climate or quickly establish a network
• Track record of developing research and outreach collaterals commiserate with the requirements for consulting firms research entities and think tanks
• Able to thrive and set priorities in a fast-paced environment where needs and context can change quickly
• Proven ability to deliver high quality outputs under time sensitive and complex requirements
• Strong analytical skills and in-depth working knowledge of digital modelling and visualization tools
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work in a matrix and multi-cultural team across geographies

Last Day to Apply: 16 July 2025