Research Manager, LEAD at Krea University

Location: New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata preferred

Reports to: Associate Director, Financial Wellbeing and Social Protection

Contract type: Full-time

About LEAD at Krea University: 

LEAD is an action-oriented research centre of IFMR Society (a not-for-profit society registered under the Societies Act), leverages the power of research, innovation and co-creation to solve complex and pressing challenges in development. LEAD specialises in developing in-depth granular understanding of socio-economic contexts and harnessing actionable insights that have a wide range of applications in industry, policy, and academia. LEAD is a collaborative hub that brings experts from diverse disciplines and sectors together to develop innovative solutions by harnessing innovation, technology and analytics.

About the Position:

We are looking for a qualified individual with a strong quantitative background in economics / social sciences, as well as proven experience and expertise in impact evaluations/assessments. The successful candidate will possess superior research and analytical skills, be an excellent writer, and be uncompromising in their commitment to research quality and thoroughness. In terms of thematic expertise, the successful candidate will ideally have demonstrated experience in sectors such as financial inclusion, livelihoods development, social protection, agrifinance, and gender. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker who can connect the dots across themes and issues and will also be able to manage and execute research projects on time, within budget, and maintain the highest standards of work. 

In the short term, the Research Manager will play a leading role in an ongoing large-scale project that LEAD is implementing in various geographies. They will lead and mentor research staff and work in close collaboration with senior team members to co-develop new research ideas, supervise research projects, and expand the team’s project portfolio. In the long run, the Research Manager will support the Associate Director, Financial Wellbeing and Social Protection (FWSP) to develop and expand the team’s research agenda and grow the team’s research portfolio, with the opportunity of leading/pursuing other research opportunities.

Key Responsibilities: 

Evaluation, Research, and Learning 

• Lead the development and implementation of the project’s impact evaluation, formulating and testing research hypotheses through rigorous quantitative analysis;
• Lead the analysis of research results and the development of research outputs, based on primary data analysis;
• Ensure that sampling frameworks, survey instruments, and the collected data are complete, accurate and comprehensive;
• Accountable for data analysis and visualisation related to the project;
• Work with Vertical Heads and LEAD’s Principal Economist to execute the team’s research agenda and develop new research projects;
• Contribute to developing and framing the team strategy for the upcoming 1-3 years, along with the Vertical Head and LEAD’s Principal Economist. 

Stakeholder Management

• Develop and maintain a good working relationship with partner/donor organisations; 
• Keep an open channel for communication with partner/donor organisations and policymakers; 
• Present research/project findings to partner organisations and larger audiences through workshops/conferences. 

Project Management 

• Support the Project Manager to develop and update the project plan, assigning tasks to complete the same, and ensure compliance with project requirements;
• Conduct monthly field visits to assess progress on the project and gather first-hand insights and feedback on the same;
• Contribute to the hiring process of project-related positions;
• Contribute to reviewing sub-grantees’ deliverables.
  
  

Skills, Experience and Knowledge 

Essential Qualifications 

• Master’s with five years of experience or Ph.D. in Economics, Development Economics, Development Studies, Finance or related disciplines;
• A minimum of 3 years in progressively more responsible positions in research, monitoring and evaluation, or implementation in the development sector, preferably in financial inclusion;
• At least 4 years of experience in applied research and experimental methods (including a Ph.D.);
• Evaluation expert with in-depth knowledge and experience implementing social science research methods, especially experimental research;
• Demonstrated ability to develop research and evaluation plans, sampling frameworks, and to implement them;
• Good knowledge of current developments in development economics in India and South Asia, including one or more of the following: financial inclusion, social protection systems, agrifinance, livelihoods, and gender;
• Comfortable with both in-person and remote data collection methods;
• Experience in conducting in-depth systematic review and synthesis of research;
• Independent worker; takes initiative to lead and manage multiple tasks and propose solutions;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Capacity to keep an organised and structured work style in a vibrant environment.

Desirable Qualifications 

• Substantive experience and knowledge of socio-economic issues, which results in the exclusion of various groups, such as women, migrants, and tribal groups, from the financial sector and the ability to generate strategies to address those issues;
• Good track record of academic and non-academic publications;
• Good writing skills and adaptability to work on academic as well as non-academic literature.

Key Attributes

• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as commitment to equal opportunities;
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn;
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing environments and work with multiple stakeholders; 
• Strong interpersonal skills and willingness to interact with a wide range of individuals from Research Associates, Research Managers, etc., to academics, donors, research institutions, etc.

 Screening checks: Successful candidates will be asked to undergo background/reference checks.

Application Instructions:

Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. To apply, please collate your resume, a cover letter and writing sample in a single PDF and apply in the form here. Note: Due to the large volume of applications we receive, we are unable to contact each candidate individually regarding the status of their application. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview purposes.