India Partnerships & Operations Consultant (Part-Time)

About CascadeJoin Cascade Climate, a philanthropy-backed nonprofit helping overlooked climate solutions with outsized potential move from early promise to durable scale. Cutting emissions remains essential, but it is no longer enough on its own. We diagnose what promising climate solutions need to take hold, then lead ambitious initiatives across science, data, markets, finance, industry, and policy. Our flagship focus is Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW), a carbon removal approach that accelerates natural weathering processes to durably remove CO₂ while benefiting agricultural productivity.

Since launching in 2023, Cascade has earned the support of leading philanthropic organizations including the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Grantham Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, and others. We are a distributed team of accomplished scientists, entrepreneurs, policy strategists, community builders, artists, and operators who lead with humility and intellectual curiosity. We have an unusually high tolerance for sitting with complex, unresolved questions in climate, and little tolerance for leaving them that way.

About the RoleCascade is seeking a part-time consultant to lead partnerships and operations for a coordinated research network (CRN) on Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) in India. The role is responsible for ensuring that ERW field trials are well executed, produce high-quality evidence, and are relevant to agricultural policy and practice in India. The network will connect to Cascade's global research on ERW's carbon removal and agronomic impacts.

The consultant will coordinate field trials with host research institutions, their Principal Investigators and research team, Indian national and local government agencies, and ERW industry partners, as well as working with Cascade's global team. This includes managing the operational requirements of field research, such as importation, transport of lab equipment and materials, and institutional approvals. The consultant will also represent Cascade with research, policy, and industry stakeholders across India.

About YouThe ideal candidate is excited to zoom out and see the big picture, but is eager to dive into the operational details. That might look like presenting at stakeholder events and meetings one day, then working through permits, shipments, and approvals the next. They have experience building partnerships and effective systems that move work forward. They bring working knowledge of Indian agriculture, research institutions, and government agencies, and a practical, resourceful approach to operating within them.

A demonstrated record of delivering results on the ground is valued above years of experience. Relevant backgrounds may include policy or agricultural support organizations such as NITI Aayog or PxD, research roles at Indian agricultural universities or agri-startups, coordination of cross-institutional research projects, or research partnership management at an agribusiness.

Major Roles and Responsibilities

• Build India's ERW research network: Support the establishment of ERW field trial sites with leading government and academic research institutions, in partnership with Cascade's operations and science teams based in the United States. Prioritize soils and cropping systems where trials can most expand knowledge of ERW efficacy and complement state and national agriculture and climate goals. Support site identification, diligence, and operational planning.

• Keep field trials on track: Monitor and support the launch and execution of field research. Identify challenges and risks to project quality or timeliness, then recommend and carry out solutions with partners in India and Cascade's global team.

• Make the logistics work: Navigate agricultural input selection, scientific testing, domestic transport, and international importation of equipment and materials, so that the work between the f...