MERL Senior Manager

Job Description

Location - Bangalore/ Chennai (flexibility to travel across southern states) Educational Qualification - Masters Years of Experience - 4-6 years Language - Ability to speak at least one language (Tamil/ Telugu/ Kannada) fluently is essential About Indus Action At Indus Action, we are on a mission to unlock public welfare through a collaborative approach as a Do-Tank. We seek empathetic, driven, and action-oriented team members eager to partner with the Sarkar (state) and Samaaj (communities) to make welfare access sustainable and frictionless for vulnerable citizens and their families. Our vision for a progressive and inclusive society is reflected in our equitable compensation structures, transparent organizational policies, and supportive work culture. As an aspiring Deliberately Developmental Organization (DDO), we embody our values of Listen. Act. Change. by nurturing active citizens and supporting enterprising individuals with a growth mindsetboth professionally and personally. At Indus Action, you are valued beyond your role or title. We foster an open environment with a no-door policy, encouraging collaboration across all levels. If you are passionate about building impactful solutions at scale while learning joyfully, then Indus Action is the place for you! Position Summary The South Zone operations team is at a pivotal stage, spearheading innovative projects that could revolutionize welfare scheme delivery for millions of citizens across southern states, setting a precedent for other states to follow. We are seeking a skilled professional to execute end-to-end research studies, document our findings comprehensively, conduct in-depth secondary research, and implement the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan for our key projects. Requirements Role and Responsibilities Primary responsibilities include: Research Design and Execution Undertake secondary research/landscape analysis on government policies and programs - in alignment with zonal priorities Lead qualitative and quantitative research aspects of the zonal projects. Design research instruments that effectively capture community needs and policy impacts. Ensure data integrity and accuracy throughout the data collection process. Analyze collected data to identify policy implementation trends, challenges, and opportunities based on citizen-centric design. Prepare collaterals such as pitch decks, policy briefs, blogs, academic articles, and white papers to present research outcomes to stakeholders clearly and engagingly. Stakeholder Engagement Collaborate with governmental and non-governmental organizations to gather insights on policy effectiveness. Facilitate discussions with citizens to understand their experiences and feedback on welfare programs. Build relationships with key stakeholders like research institutions, individual researchers, policy influencers, media to enhance research relevance and impact. Monitoring & Evaluation Develop frameworks for assessing project outcomes and measuring success against defined indicators. Collect ongoing feedback to inform program adjustments and improvements. Assist in creating evaluation tools that align with organizational goals. Adopt the existing organizational M&E tools and platforms for efficient reporting of zonal impact Thought Leadership Support Indus ActionSouth Zone team in developing a thought leadership plan aligned with the organisationstrategy. Develop and execute the plan to promote key learning and insights from projects. Identify opportunities for establishing the organisationpresence in key forums on welfare delivery in the southern states. Skills and Qualifications Educational Background: A Masterdegree in social sciences, public policy, or a related field is preferred. Experience: Previous experience in research roles, particularly within non-profit or governmental organizations, is advantageous. Technical Skills: Proficiency in statistical analysis software (e.g., SPSS, R); familiarity with data visualization tools and qualitative data analysis. Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills for presenting research findings effectively to diverse audiences. Problem-Solving Abilities: Strong analytical skills to interpret complex data sets and derive actionable insights. Team Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team environment while being self-motivated. Language proficiency: Working knowledge of at least one language (Tamil/ Telugu/ Kannada), is mandatory. Behavioral Competencies and Values Citizen-Focused Mindset: Upholding the principle of placing the vulnerable citizen at the center of every initiative. Entrepreneurial Energy: Showcasing ownership of time and resources to yield solutions. Dealing with Ambiguity: Maintaining grace under pressure and showcasing a progressive approach. Growth Mindset: Perceiving every experience as a learning curve and an opportunity for growth. Collaboration: Cultivating productive partnerships internally and externally.