Research Analyst / Programme Associate

Purpose

The purpose of this opening is to strengthen the Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) program's capacity in developing and implementing a robust systems approach to research and analysis. We are seeking a Research Analyst/Programme Associate to support the design and delivery of rigorous political economy analyses and systems mapping. The ideal candidate will contribute to understanding and informing complex food systems transitions, with a focus on regenerative and inclusive agriculture, systemic reform of subsidies, and pathways for agroecological transformation.

About the focus area:

The SFS team at CEEW works to reimagine India’s food systems by aligning them with environmental, livelihood, and nutrition (ELN) goals. We collaborate with government, civil society, industry, and global partners to drive systemic change. Our work spans emissions benchmarking, just transition frameworks, market reconfiguration, agroecological transitions, and cross-sectoral coalition building.

Job duties and Responsibilities

The Research Analyst/Programme Associate will play a key role in supporting the Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) program, contributing to research, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communication. This role will contribute to cross-cutting insights, and will require the candidate to demonstrate ability in connecting the dots, including:

• Research and Analysis: Conduct rigorous political economy and systems mapping analysis on food system transitions, including fertilizer reform, crop diversification, and subsidy redesign. Apply qualitative and mixed-methods research, drawing on social science theories.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Programme Management: Facilitate transdisciplinary engagement with government, researchers, and civil society. Organize consultations and workshops to inform reform pathways.
• Strategic Communication: Develop policy briefs, reports, and presentations to communicate research insights. Contribute to publications and cross-learning initiatives.
• Programme Management: Manage project timelines, deliverables, and collaboration with partners. Support fundraising and proposal development.
• Mentorship & Capacity Building: Mentor junior staff and contribute to capacity-building activities.

Additional responsibilities may arise as needed.

Qualification and experience

CEEW seeks passionate candidates with a combination of education, research and relevant experience to contribute to the SFS program. We value both formal qualifications and demonstrated expertise.

• Education:

• Programme Associate:

  Master's degree in development studies, sociology, critical agrarian studies, political economy, public policy, anthropology or a related interdisciplinary field.

• Research Analyst:

  Bachelor's degree in the aforementioned fields may be considered.

• Research Experience:

  Strong foundation in qualitative research methods (e.g., interviews, case studies, thematic analysis) and social science theories. Ability to analyze complex issues with a focus on equity and inclusion. Rigor in analyzing and synthesizing insights to communicate.
• Professional Experience:
• Research Analyst: 1-3 years of professional experience in research, policy analysis, or a related field.
• Programme Associate: 3+ years of professional experience in research, policy analysis, or a related field, with increasing levels of responsibility. Experience working with or within government agencies, civil society organizations, or international development institutions is highly desirable.
• General Consideration: While the listed qualifications provide a guideline, if you have significant demonstrated experience and relevant expertise in the areas outlined in this Terms of Reference, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all the specific educational or years of experience criteria.

Key Competencies

The ideal candidate will possess the following key skills:

• Systems Thinking and Political Economy Frameworks:

  Demonstrated ability to apply systems thinking frameworks to analyze complex socio-ecological systems. Strong grounding in political economy principles and their application to food systems.
• Political Economy Analysis: Analytical & Critical Thinking: Apply interdisciplinary and systems thinking to analyze complex issues and map socio-ecological dynamics.
• Data and Narrative Integration: Ability to make sense of data from various sources, integrate data into compelling narratives, and craft evidence-based arguments with a critical eye to understand nuances.
• Qualitative Research Expertise: Demonstrated expertise in qualitative methods such as narrative and thematic analysis; experience with mixed methods is a plus.
• Communication Excellence: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the capacity to convert complex insights into clear, actionable recommendations for diverse audiences.
• Project Management: Strategic thinking with the ability to manage complex projects, timelines, and deliverables effectively. Ability to contribute to proposal development.
• Commitment to Inclusion: Commitment to equity, intersectionality, and inclusive research approaches.
• Collaboration & Independence: Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Contextual Understanding (Programme Associate Level): For the Programme Associate level, a contextual understanding of Indian political institutions, reforms, and bureaucratic culture is expected.

Compensation

Competitive compensation – commensurate to the experience and matching the best of standards adopted by the industry or other similar organisations for similar roles.

Application process

CEEW is an equal opportunity employer, and the selection process does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, or sexuality. Female candidates are encouraged to apply. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested applicants are advised to apply at the earliest possible.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified by us. We appreciate your interest.