Research Manager- Agency Fund Project

### **Job Information**

Date Opened

04/09/2026
Job Type

Full time
Industry

NGO/Social Services
Salary

7-11LPA
City

Raipur
State/Province

Chhattisgarh
Country

India
Zip/Postal Code

492001
### **Job Description**

**About Indus Action**

Indus Action (IA) is committed to bridging the gap between vulnerable citizens and the welfare benefits they are entitled to. In the first decade, we have enabled 18 lakh+ citizens, and by 2027, we aim to enable 1 crore+ vulnerable citizens with sustained access to legislated rights and welfare entitlements.

India faces the challenge of chronic poverty, with millions living just above the poverty line, where 90% are employed in the informal economy. Unforeseen events like illness, unemployment, or natural disasters can easily push them back into poverty. With ~81 cr Indians living on food security entitlements, there is an urgent need for a robust social safety net, such as insurance and pension schemes, which can reduce poverty and inequality while fostering inclusive growth. However, accessing these benefits is often fraught with difficulties such as multiple visits to government offices and complex processes, which result in daily wage loss and ultimately lead to citizens not accessing the welfare schemes to which they are entitled.

Since 2013, Indus Action has worked on social welfare delivery across 19 states of India. We work with communities, governments, and civil society to achieve a less-than-3-step citizen journey to access entitlements and strengthen the country's social protection systems. We enable this through three core pillars: Technology, Process Redesign, and State Capacity Building. Since 2013, our work has supported over 19 lakh+ citizens accessing welfare entitlements worth INR 1,705 crores. **About Agency Fund Project**

Indus Action (IA) is currently part of Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Labour Department, Chhattisgarh Government. We are implementing an Agency Fund-supported Project aimed at strengthening decision making capacity of two sections of women:

Postpartum mothers, who are registered under BOCW and who avail maternity cash transfer scheme, and

Domestic workers, who wish to improve their livelihood through skill development schemes and other welfare oriented programs,

The project adopts an action-research approach, combining A/B testing, process evaluations, and field-intensive exploratory research. Through this, we intend to demonstrate measurable behavioural change and build evidence-backed recommendations for policy design and system strengthening. **Main Duties and Responsibilities:**

• Implementation of large-scale field studies, including supervising data collection, travel to field sites, survey design, data organisation and analysis.
• Collection of systematic evidence on the following through structured field research: 1) income increase through welfare programmes, and 2) behaviour change and communication
• Support in design and implementation of schemes
• Stakeholder management and communication, such as convening meetings between government partners and the project team
• Organise conference events to share research findings and developments with scholars, policy and development practitioners, and other experts in the field

### **Requirements**

**Education and Experience:**

• Work Experience: 3-4 years of experience in a similar role in a related field required.
• Educational Qualification: Master’s in Public Policy / Public Administration / Political Science
• / Economics / Sociology / Development Studies or similar fields. Experience in conducting mixed-methods research.
• **Please note this position is for one year**

**Desirable Skills: [Desirable but not compulsory]**

• Thematic expertise in public health, or vocational training and skill development programs, especially in the state of Chhattisgarh
• Stakeholder management to maintain relationships with government collaborators, funding partners, survey agencies, etc.
• Strong organisational skills for coordinating project team outputs, as well as liaising and working with external resources and partner teams
• Prior experience of end-to-end project management in research or government settings
• Experience in field-based data collection and management in India