Senior Research Associate

ole Overview

Pahle India Foundation (PIF) headed by Chairman Dr Rajiv Kumar, former Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog is inviting applications for “Senior Research Associate”. She/he will be responsible for conducting economic research, drafting policy papers, engaging with stakeholders, and contributing to the foundation’s thought leadership in economic policy. This role requires strong analytical skills, independent research capabilities, and a deep understanding of India’s economic and policy landscape.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct rigorous research and analysis on economic and public policy issues.
• Draft policy briefs, research papers, and reports for internal and external publication.
• Identify, evaluate, and prioritise evidence-based policy ideas based on impact, contextual relevance, and administrative feasibility.
• Assess policy options through a clear understanding of state-level political and administrative realities.
• Engage with government departments, policymakers, industry leaders, and academic institutions to advance research objectives.
• Identify and analyse relevant data sources; interpret findings to generate actionable insights.
• Organise and participate in policy discussions, roundtables, and conferences.
• Collaborate with PIF’s research teams to ensure alignment with institutional goals.
• Contribute to public communication efforts, including media outreach, op-eds, and knowledge dissemination initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience Required

• Master’s, MPhil, or PhD in Economics/ Public Policy or related fields from reputed universities/ institutes only.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in economic research, public policy, consulting, or academia.
• Strong preference for candidates from or familiar with the North-East region
• Experience of working with think tanks, academic institutions or government agencies
• Sound understanding of India’s political economy, governance structures, and administrative systems.
• Confident, articulate, and empathetic communicator able to engage across hierarchies with respect, clarity, and conviction
• Comfortable operating in politically and culturally diverse environments, representing PIF with credibility and composure in both formal and informal forums.
• Fluency in English and Hindi, with the ability to engage effectively in field-based and multistakeholder settings; knowledge of regional language/dialect will be an advantage.
• Organised, curious and able to move quickly with incomplete information
• Demonstrated ability to design project proposals, manage research projects independently, and deliver outputs within defined timelines.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills, with working knowledge of research methodologies and statistical/econometric techniques (advanced proficiency will be an asset).
• Excellent writing, presentation, and communication skills, with a record of producing high-quality, evidence-based outputs.
• Proven publication record in the form of analytical articles, research papers, or policy papers.

Remuneration

• As per industry norms and dependent on skill sets

To Apply:

• CV
• Cover Letter (highlighting data/econometrics experience)
• 1–2 writing samples (preferably empirical research)

Organisation Overview

PIF is a leading policy think tank, founded by Dr Rajiv Kumar, former VC, NITI Aayog and current Chairman PIF, in 2013. Its motto is “Putting India First To Make India First.” Over the last 12 years of its working, PIF has been able to successfully carve out a niche for itself and earn a reputation with policymakers as an independent, extremely credible institute that can be relied upon for producing high quality inputs for policy formulation. Over the next 5 years PIF aims to be the country's leading policy think tank and the preeminent go-to-institute, which is rooted in Indian reality and focuses its research on complex policy challenges, thereby playing a significant role in India’s growth story. PIF also provides a credible, trustworthy and neutral policy platform for bringing together government, industry, academia and civil society for enriching the public narrative on topical issues.