Research Manager PMU India

Precision Development (PxD); India; Hybrid; INR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Precision Development (PxD) seeks a Research Manager (PMU) based in Delhi, India, with remote options for other Indian locations. The role embeds within a government ministry to drive digital agricultural initiatives at scale, requiring strong PM and research design skills.

You will work with government counterparts to scope, pilot, and scale evidence-based services, ensuring rigor, IRB compliance, and effective stakeholder communication across levels.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in economics, agricultural economics, public policy, or closely related field.
• Experience leading three large research/projects with rigorous design in LMIC/public-sector settings.
• Ability to draw inferences from data to identify program improvement paths.

Responsibilities

• Identify impact improvement opportunities and provide strategic input for research projects with government partners.
• Develop learning objectives and resources; manage research activities with timelines and budgets.
• Scope, design, pilot, and scale evidence-backed digital agriculture services within government systems.
• Interpret internal/external evidence for PxD programs and stakeholders.
• Guide teams on evidence-based approaches and ensure technical rigor.
• Oversee data management/analysis for project/survey creation, A/B testing, and government data systems.
• Document research activities and rationale for PxD and government reporting.
• Develop information frameworks to identify program insights for government decisions.
• Manage relationships with government officials and external stakeholders for project success.
• Develop and ensure IRB protocols for human subject research and permissions.
• Contribute to funding proposals and government-required reports.
• Support PxD’s strategic planning and global operations.
• Mentor Associate and Manager staff; provide guidance.
• Assist internal/external communications to disseminate research findings.

Skills

Project management

Data-driven decision making

Economics & evaluations

Academic literature synthesis

Strong English writing

Stakeholder communication

Education

Master's degree or PhD in economics/agricultural economics/public policy

Tools

Stata

R

SurveyCTO/ODK

Job description

Job Description:

Title: Research Manager (PMU) (India)

Location and Work Authorization: This role is based in Delhi, India. We will also consider remote candidates based elsewhere in India who can travel to Delhi frequently. Candidates must already have authorization to work in India, as PxD is unable to sponsor visas for this role.

Position: Full-time

Compensation: Salary will be competitive and commensurate with the candidate's skills, experience, and the local labor market in India

Application deadline: October 25, 2026 (applications may be reviewed as they are submitted)

About The Role

Precision Development (PxD) is looking for a Research Manager to join our team embedded within a government ministry. We're seeking a self-starter with excellent project management skills who can communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. This role will help drive the adoption of digital agricultural initiatives at scale, with a focus on designing solutions that are both impactful and inclusive.

Responsibilities

This is a general overview, and the role will grow as you develop.

• Identify impact improvement opportunities and provide strategic design input on new research ideas and projects that support PxD's programs, in close coordination with the government department/agency where the role is embedded
• Work with the team to develop learning objectives and resources available for multiple projects and manage the implementation of research activities, ensuring that projects adhere to appropriate rigor, government protocols, timelines, and budgets
• Work with team leadership, government counterparts, and colleagues to scope, design, pilot, and scale evidence-backed digital agriculture services within government systems
• Interpret and contextualize external and internal evidence and insights for PxD programs and government stakeholders
• Guide teams, including government staff and partners, on the use of evidence-based approaches, and ensure that PxD maintains standards for technical appropriateness and rigor
• Oversee data management and analysis for project and survey creation, A/B testing, and implementation, working within government data systems where applicable
• Oversee documentation of research activities, research results, and rationale for decisions made, in a format suitable for both PxD and government reporting requirements
• Develop and fill in frameworks with specific information to identify program insights relevant to government decision-making
• Manage relationships with government officials and departments, and work with external stakeholders for successful project implementation
• Develop and ensure compliance with IRB protocols for human subject research and relevant in-country and government research permission requirements
• Contribute to funding proposals and project reports, including those required by government partners
• Contribute to the strategic planning and global functioning of the organization
• Provide close mentorship and guidance to Associate and Manager level staff
• Contribute to and support internal and external communications to disseminate project results and research findings to both PxD and government audiences, including briefs, blogs, reports, and presentations
• Contribute to PxD's institutional knowledge management and internal learning efforts

What You’ll Bring

• Master's degree or PhD in economics, agricultural economics, public policy, or a closely related field
• Professional experience working on at least three large projects involving the design and management of rigorous research and/or evidence-based programs in LMIC countries, ideally including government or public-sector settings
• Ability to draw inferences from data to identify pathways for program improvement
• Adept at consuming large amounts of academic and scientific literature as well as other technical information, synthesizing key findings, and applying takeaways to program and research design
• Deep understanding of economics and randomized evaluations
• Excellent knowledge of Stata or R or similar software for data analysis
• Experience in survey design using SurveyCTO/ODK or similar tools
• Strong grasp of the research & program life cycle and ability to supervise all activities on the ground, including within government systems and processes
• Experience managing program and/or research staff
• Experience managing partnerships with an implementing organization or government agency
• Comfort operating within government bureaucratic structures, protocols, and decision-making processes
• Understanding and application of research ethics for human subjects in the social sciences
• Strong writing and oral communication skills in English, with attention to detail and advanced writing and presentation skills
• Willingness to travel to field sites in India, including government offices and field locations

About Precision Development (PxD)

PxD is a rapidly scaling global nonprofit working with governments across Africa and Asia to close the last-mile gap in smallholder farming. We deliver evidence-based information and tools — from timely farming and weather guidance to climate-resilient inputs — that millions of farmers use to improve their lives. In the last 12 months alone, we reached over 60 million farmers at a cost of just $0.47 per farmer per year, with our flagship program in India delivering a benefit-cost ratio of 12:1–19:1.

Operating in Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, and beyond, the majority of our team is based in our program countries, working directly alongside government partners and farming communities toward our goal of improving the lives of 100 million farmers by 2030.

In line with our values, we evaluate candidates on merit alone, without regard to gender, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, disability, caste, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. We offer flexible working arrangements to support your wellbeing. Personal data provided is used for recruitment purposes only.