Research Analyst – ESG, Sustainability & Policy

ResponsibleUs; Delhi Cantonment; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

ResponsibleUs, based in Delhi, seeks a mid-to-senior Research Analyst to lead the ESG and policy research function end-to-end, framing questions, selecting datasets, and mentoring a small team of analysts.

You will produce policy briefs, reports, and data-led features, and represent the organisation at technical forums and expert panels in India. Strong English writing and familiarity with ESG frameworks are required.

Qualifications

• 2-8 years experience in policy research, think tanks, impact evaluation, ESG research, consulting, or research-led journalism.
• Masters degree in economics, public policy, environmental science, statistics, or development studies.
• Strong mixed-methods research skills (qualitative and quantitative).
• Ability to write policy briefs and long-form evidence-based English for non-specialist audiences.
• Working knowledge of at least one framework: BRSR, GRI, GHG Protocol, ISSB, TCFD, SASB or CDP.
• Strong command of Excel plus at least one of Stata, R or Python.

Responsibilities

• Track and interpret regulatory changes across ESG and sustainability — BRSR, SEBI ESG norms, Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), EPR rules, ISSB (IFRS S1/S2), CSRD/ESRS, CBAM and GHG Protocol.
• Lead research pipelines end to end — framing questions, identifying datasets, selecting methods that produce unbiased evidence.
• Build and maintain datasets from regulatory filings, corporate disclosures and public databases (SEBI, MoEFCC, CPCB, CEA, MNRE, NITI Aayog, IEA, IRENA, UNFCCC, World Bank).
• Institutionalise standards for documentation, data management and ethical compliance.
• Author policy briefs, research reports, white papers, explainers and data-led features.
• Direct and mentor research analysts on analytical standards and methodological depth.

Skills

Policy research

Mixed-methods

Policy briefs writing

Bilingual writing (English/Hindi)

Education

Master's degree in economics/public policy/environmental science/statistics/development studies

Tools

Excel

Stata

R

Python

Power BI

Tableau

Datawrapper

Job description

Home / Jobs / Research Analyst – ESG, Sustainability &...

Research Analyst – ESG, Sustainability & Policy

ResponsibleUs · Sector-17, Dwarka, New Delhi

Featured Full-time Policy & Governance Mid-level

Salary Commensurate with experience

Contract Full-time

Experience Mid-level

Closing Date December 31, 2026

Country India

Sector Policy & Governance

Job Description

About ResponsibleUs Responsibleus is a news and insights platform at the forefront of sustainability and responsible business practice. We cover environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues across India and globally — through daily news, investigations, interviews, policy analysis, data-led features, research reports and white papers.

About the Role This is a mid-to-senior, hands-on research role with a future leadership component. You will own the research function end to end: framing questions, choosing datasets and methods, setting the standards the team works to, and converting technical findings into material that policymakers, media and practitioners can actually use. It combines three things that rarely sit together — methodological depth, an economic lens on ESG and sustainability questions, and the communication ability to make findings land outside a specialist audience. You will also direct and mentor a small team of analysts.

Key Responsibilities

Policy and Regulatory Intelligence

• Track and interpret regulatory changes across ESG and sustainability — BRSR, SEBI ESG norms, Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), EPR rules, ISSB (IFRS S1/S2), CSRD/ESRS, CBAM and GHG Protocol
• Interpret rather than merely report: what has changed, whom it binds, from when, what it will cost, and where implementation gaps will appear
• Maintain a forward calendar of consultations, comment periods and implementation deadlines

Leading the Research Pipeline

• Lead research pipelines end to end — framing questions, identifying datasets, selecting methods that produce unbiased evidence
• Apply mixed-methods research design matched to the question
• Build and maintain datasets from regulatory filings, corporate disclosures and public databases (SEBI, MoEFCC, CPCB, CEA, MNRE, NITI Aayog, IEA, IRENA, UNFCCC, World Bank)

Research Quality & Ethics

• Institutionalise standards for documentation, data management and ethical compliance
• Establish versioned datasets, documented provenance, reproducible analysis
• Run method reviews and peer quality assurance before publication

Bridging Research and Action

• Author policy briefs, research reports, white papers, explainers and data-led features
• Represent Responsibleus at technical forums, consultations and expert panels
• Design charts, infographic briefs that make complex evidence legible to non-specialist readers

Directing the Team

• Direct and mentor research analysts on analytical standards and methodological depth
• Build capability in data management, evaluation methods, ethics and structured problem solving

What You Will Need (Essential)

• 2-8 years experience in policy research, think tanks, impact evaluation, ESG research, consulting, or research-led journalism
• Masters degree in economics, public policy, environmental science, statistics, or development studies
• Strong mixed-methods research skills (qualitative and quantitative)
• Ability to write policy briefs and long-form evidence-based English for non-specialist audiences
• Working knowledge of at least one framework: BRSR, GRI, GHG Protocol, ISSB, TCFD, SASB or CDP
• Strong command of Excel plus at least one of Stata, R or Python

Preferred

• Experience mentoring junior analysts
• Publication record (peer-reviewed papers, think-tank reports, evaluation studies)
• Data visualisation skills (Datawrapper, Flourish, Power BI, Tableau)
• Exposure to GHG accounting (Scope 1, 2 and 3) or carbon markets
• Ability to write in both English and Hindi

What Success Looks Like

• First 90 days: documentation and ethics standards adopted; regulatory tracker running; first policy briefs published
• First 6 months: one flagship research report owned end to end
• First 12 months: research cited by policymakers or serious media; analysts visibly stronger on method

What We Offer

• Ownership of a research function you get to build
• A byline and visible authorship of your research
• Direct access to regulators, industry leaders, investors and the sustainability community in India
• A platform for your work across news, insight, white paper and events channels