Research Associate

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Role Overview

Research Associate

The Research Team transforms the daily stream of information into actionable intelligence for campaign strategy, media responses, and voter communication. By working closely with the Media Monitoring Unit, the Research Associate ensures every statement, statistic, and storyline is backed by verified evidence and structured insights that guide communication strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Research & Data Analysis

• Conduct detailed background research on political statements, issues, and public policy topics flagged by the Media Tracker team.
• Compile supporting facts, data points, and references to

  build or counter narratives

  .
• Create

  issue-based research briefs

  , with references to primary and secondary sources (media, government reports, RTIs, field data, etc.).
• Identify inconsistencies between official claims and ground realities to build fact-based counterpoints.

Database & Structuring

• Work closely with

  Data Analysts

  to structure findings into a centralized

  research database

  for easy access by campaign teams.
• Develop and maintain

  categorical research repositories

  (leader, constituency, issue, sector, time period).
• Ensure every research output is audit-ready, verifiable, and properly sourced.

Narrative Development

• Support the Strategy Centre in developing

  fact-led narratives

  for digital, social, and on-ground campaigns.
• Collaborate with the

  Creative Team

  to translate research findings into impactful storytelling (videos, infographics, carousels, and briefs).
• Anticipate emerging issues and provide early insights for proactive campaign positioning.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Political Science, Journalism, Economics, Public Policy, Law, or Development Studies.

• 3–6 years of experience in political research,

  data analysis, or issue-based reporting.
• Strong analytical and fact-checking abilities; ability to derive insights from multiple data points.
• Excellent written communication in

  Tamil and English

  .
• Proficiency in using data visualization or research structuring tools (Excel, Airtable, or similar).
• Strong knowledge of Tamil Nadu’s governance ecosystem, political history, and public sentiment landscape.

Work Environment & Expectations

• Flexible and fast-paced work environment with evolving priorities.
• High attention to detail, discretion, and integrity when handling sensitive political data.
• Willingness to work extended hours during high campaign activity periods.
• Commitment to accuracy, credibility, and the mission of transparent political communication.