Position title: Senior Manager, Food Data and Research

Department: Climate Solutions & Networks

Reporting to: Head of Mitigation Research

Location: Bengaluru, Delhi & Mumbai - Please note that if your right to work in one of the listed locations is not confirmed at the time of applying, C40 will be unable to proceed with your application.

Salary: (Grade 3) INR 2,489,111 gross per annum - Due to its commitment to maintain equity and fairness, C40 operates on a spot salary model. This means that our employees are paid the same salary according to their grade and location.

Term: Fixed Term till 31st December 2027

At C40, we believe that an inclusive working environment with diverse perspectives leads to better decisions and greater global impact. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. For full details on our values and inclusivity commitments, please review our Background & Diversity Statement.

Department description:

C40’s Climate Solutions and Networks (CSN) team oversees six program areas focused on priority climate action sectors and interventions: Energy and Buildings; Transportation; Urban Planning; Food and Waste; Air Quality; and Climate Resilience. Under these program areas, CSN operates 16 different networks that facilitate city-to-city best practice sharing on specific climate action areas, such as clean energy, food or zero emission vehicles.

Position description:

The Senior Manager Food Data and Research will sit within the Research Team and work closely with the Food Team as well as other relevant C40 Programs to identify data and analysis needs and opportunities, as well as to respond to internal and external evidence and knowledge requests. The Senior Manager, Food Data and Research will create analysis to strengthen quantitative evidence, making the case for improved food and climate actions. The postholder will support the Food Team in its effort to track and report cities’ progress towards existing and upcoming commitments.

The Senior Manager of Food Data and Research leads the data management, modelling, and analysis that supports urban food systems action. This role requires strong quantitative skills and project management experience to collect, process, and organise technical data from a wide range of sources into structured, accessible systems. She/he will conduct primary research and day-to-day analytics using tools like Excel, R, Python, or QGIS, and develop modelling tools to calculate and visualise food system outputs, outcomes, and impacts. Because data does not always speak for itself, this role involves writing and producing reports for donors and internal teams, engaging with city officials to deliver tool training, and translating complex technical findings into clear, compelling insights for non-technical audiences.

The Senior Manager of Food Data and Research will work with cities (on-demand data support) to identify, collect and develop their primary data to inform baselines, refine their targets, plan and implement new strategies, and measure changes related to their commitments. While doing so, she/he will build cities capacity and strengthen decision making processes. The Senior Manager of Food Data and Research will also oversee collaboration with external partners and the work of external consultants commissioned to deliver complex food systems analyses and reports.

Responsibilities:

Core food data management and analytics: support the food team in collecting, maintaining, analysing and reporting on key data - including the ones related to the Good Food Cities Accelerator and Thriving Food Cities Accelerator;
- Reporting and dashboards: lead the data collection, analysis, and visualisation for the development of the bi-annual Accelerator Report, annual and the yearly internal dashboards updates (and mandatory donor reporting), including data collection, analysis and data visualisation;
Cross-organisational data integration: support internal data management on food systems for Climate Action Planning, Leadership Standards and high impact actions, coordinating across C40 teams on the collection and management of the
relevant Leadership Standards, High Impact Actions and CDP data. This will include developing data management solutions including protocols, methodologies and processes;
Conduct primary research and day-to-day analytics using Excel, R, and/or Python;
- Impact and trend modelling: develop new modelling tools, practices, and methodologies to estimate impacts.
- Conduct analytical work in support of the two Food Accelerators signatory cities as well as other C40 teams. This includes assessing trends in emission reduction, health outcomes and good green jobs creation associated with food and climate actions -to strengthen the arguments for food and climate actions;
City support and capacity building: support city staff in identifying and developing food data that can be used to inform baselines, set targets, plan and implement strategies, and measure changes related to food actions and policy interventions over time;
- On-demand data support: provide analytical support to respond to cities’ as well as C40 staff requests, e.g. a ‘data lab’, where new food systems data can support cities in making the case for action;
- Create and deliver technical training for city staff on in data collection methods and management to support local decision-making-necessary for decision support;
Consultant and contract management: Oversee the work of external consultants commissioned to deliver complex food systems analyses and reports. Manage project timelines, scope, and budgets, and review external outputs to ensure they meet C40’s quality and methodology standards.
Communication and reporting: translate complex quantitative findings into compelling visuals, knowledge products including white papers and articles, and presentations for internal and external research and communication purposes on food and climate actions.
External partnerships: cultivate and manage the development of new food data partnerships with external organisations (e.g., academic and research institutions) to create new data opportunities that will support C40 cities;
Cross-functional collaboration: work with other C40 teams, particularly within the Research, Business Planning Measurement, Communication and Campaign teams;
And any other duties appropriate for the grade.

Person specification:

Technical and analytical skills

Excellent quantitative and analytical skills, including handling complex data-driven challenges.
Proven experience using R or Python for dataset curation and analysis, alongside advanced Excel capabilities (VBA experience is a strong plus).
Demonstrated experience developing, reviewing and quality assuring (trouble-shooting) complex data sets (structuring data, finding errors and interpreting results).
Expertise on food systems data and analytics, including on the urban and peri-urban levels.
Expertise in city-wide and project-level data collection methods and database management.

Project and stakeholder management

Strong project management experience, specifically in defining scopes of work, managing budgets, and overseeing external consultants or research vendors to deliver complex technical outputs.
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and maintain positive working relationships with diverse stakeholders, including high-level city officials, external partners, and funders.
Proven ability to work effectively with internal and external teams in multicultural settings across different time zones. This includes collaborating across internal departments (such as communications, campaigns, and research) and adapting approaches when training international city staff with varying technical capacities.

Communication and impact

Demonstrative experience in data visualisation and developing resources - including succinct and concise presentations, guidance and other knowledge products around capacity building.
Strong verbal and written skills to communicate evidences and present technical results to less technical audiences (eg. Staff, Funders and other stakeholders).
Professional-level written and verbal English communication skills are essential.

Working style and core competencies

A strategic, creative, and solutions-oriented approach to solving complex problems.
Proactive approach to work, with an interest in taking ownership of crucial tasks and seeing them through to completion.
The ability to work independently, manage a complex portfolio of work, and move initiatives forward.
Exceptional organisational skills to balance multiple parallel tasks, manage competing deadlines, and stay productive across different time zones.

Other requirements

Applicants must already have the right to work in India. Moderate travel will be required as part of the role.

We seek to recruit individuals who not only have the appropriate skills and experience for the role, but are committed to carrying out their roles in line with our organisational values.

C40 offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employee well-being and work-life balance, including generous paid time off, company shutdown weeks, parental leave, flexible working, and more. For complete details, please view our full Employee Benefits Package.

Application process

Interested applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and cover letter. The closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday, 16th September 2026 at 4pm BST. C40 reserves the right to close this job opening before the closing date for applications so please do submit applications early.

To learn more about the work of C40 and our cities, please visit our website or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

C40 Cities jobs

Senior Manager, Food Data and Research