Manager - Research & Impact

Sanjhi Sikhiya; Mohali; On-site; INR 500,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanjhi Sikhiya Foundation seeks a data-driven professional to strengthen monitoring, evaluation, and learning across its Punjab programmes. You will design studies, maintain M&E tools, and build capabilities to use data for planning and advocacy.

The role involves coordinating with district and state teams, communicating findings to government partners, and producing knowledge products to influence policy and practice.

Qualifications

• 5-6 years of experience in M&E, research, or impact roles in the social sector.
• Strong foundation in research methodology - both quantitative and qualitative.
• Hands-on experience with statistical tools - Excel; ideally R, STATA, or Python.
• Experience designing monitoring tools, assessments, and qualitative study instruments.
• Ability to design and implement M&E frameworks and LFAs; TOC understanding.
• Clear, structured writing; ability to synthesise findings and write reports, briefs, and articles.
• Comfortable presenting data to non-technical audiences including officials and community members.

Responsibilities

• Identify research questions and evidence gaps using programme data across School, Village, Youth Leadership, STEM.
• Design study methodologies - action research, ethnographic studies, pre-post, quasi-experimental, longitudinal, and mixed methods.
• Handle sampling, basic descriptive analysis, and inferential statistics where relevant.
• Design qualitative and quantitative tools with strong question design principles.
• Write up findings as research briefs, working papers, and reports.

Skills

M&E expertise

Quantitative research

Qualitative research

Excel

R

Python

STATA

TOC understanding

Tools

Kobo

ODK

Job description

Why this role exists :

Sanjhi Sikhiya works with government primary schools and village communities across four districts in Punjab. We generate a lot of data from our programmes. This role exists to make that data count - by asking the right research questions, designing rigorous tools and studies, building the teams ability to use evidence, and communicating findings in ways that strengthen programme design and influence decision-makers at the district and state level.

What you will own

1. Research Design and Studies

• Identify research questions and evidence gaps using programme data across programmes ie. School, Village, Youth Leadership, STEM programmes
• Design study methodologies - action research, ethnographic studies, pre-post, quasi- experimental, longitudinal, and mixed methods
• Handle sampling, basic descriptive analysis, and where relevant, inferential statistical tests
• Design qualitative and quantitative tools - with strong understanding of question design principles (leading vs non-leading, social desirability bias, etc.)
• Write up findings as research briefs, working papers, and reports that are clear and usable by programme teams and external audiences

2. M&E Systems and Tools

• Design and maintain M&E frameworks and LFAs across programmes
• Understand Theory of Change and support programme teams in designing and articulating TOC
• Design and regularly update monitoring tools - assessment forms, observation forms, facilitation rubrics, maturity matrices
• Ensure data collected through Kobo and other systems is clean, complete, and usable
• Work with large datasets using Excel, R, Python, or STATA

3. Data Capacity Building and Usage

• Train programme teams on how to interpret, analyse, and use data for planning and reflection
• Facilitate data review sessions in monthly and quarterly meetings
• Observe field processes and learning sessions and share structured feedback to district and state teams
• Support teams to move from data collection to data-informed decision making

4. Support in Evidence Communication and Advocacy

• Prepare and present findings to district officials, DIET, and state-level stakeholders and enable Sanjhi Sikhiya s district/state teams to take this further
• Use data for liaisoning and advocacy - making the case for programme approaches with evidence
• Support in producing knowledge products - case studies, impact briefs, infographics, articles - for external dissemination
• Manage research partnerships and coordinate with external organisations and evaluators

What we are looking for

Skills and experience

• 5-6 years of experience in M&E, research, or impact roles in the social sector
• Strong foundation in research methodology - both quantitative and qualitative
• Hands-on experience with statistical tools - at minimum Excel; ideally R, STATA, or Python
• Experience designing monitoring tools, assessments, and qualitative study instruments
• Ability to design and implement M&E frameworks and LFAs
• Understanding of TOC and programme design concepts
• Clear, structured writing - can synthesise findings and write reports, briefs, and articles
• Comfortable presenting data to non-technical audiences including officials and community members
• Experience working with DIET, district officials, or state education departments is preferred
• Familiarity with data collection platforms like Kobo, ODK, or similar tools

Who you are

• You ask why before asking how - you want to understand what a piece of evidence is for before designing it
• You can hold rigour and practicality together - you know when good enough is good enough and when it is not
• You communicate findings in plain language - you do not hide behind jargon
• You are comfortable working in ambiguity and with evolving programme designs
• You care about ground reality - you want to see how data is actually used, not just collected

Who you work with most

• R&I Lead - weekly check-ins, research planning, and quality review of outputs
• Programme and Design Teams (LP, GP, Scale, PYLP, STEM) - tool design, data review sessions, feedback on design decisions
• District and State Teams - sharing findings, capacity building on data interpretation
• External Partners - DIET officials, research organisations, implementation partners

About Sanjhi Sikhiya Foundation

Sanjhi Sikhiya Foundation works with government primary schools and village communities in Punjab, India - across four districts: Patiala, Bathinda, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Ropar. We work on improving learning outcomes through a combination of classroom support, community governance, and leadership development of young people. We are a small, values-driven team and we take our culture seriously. Our core values are Compassion, Collaboration, Curiosity & Continuous Learning, Awareness, and Grit & Resilience. We look for these not just in the work but in how people show up every day.

Other deatils :

• Location : Mohali
• Slalary band : 5-6 LPA