Research Manager (PMU) (India)

Precision Agriculture For Development; New Delhi; Hybrid; INR 3,000,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Precision Agriculture For Development seeks a Research Manager to lead embedded research initiatives in a government ministry. The role demands strong project management, stakeholder communication, and the ability to design scalable digital agriculture solutions that are rigorous and inclusive.

The successful candidate will drive evidence-based programs, oversee data management and IRB compliance, and mentor junior staff while collaborating with government partners across India.

Qualifications

• Masters or PhD in economics, agricultural economics, public policy, or closely related field.
• Professional experience on at least three large projects involving design and management of rigorous research in LMICs, ideally with government settings.
• Ability to draw inferences from data to identify pathways for program improvement.
• Adept at synthesizing academic literature and applying takeaways to design.
• Deep understanding of economics and randomized evaluations.
• Excellent knowledge of Stata or R for data analysis.
• Experience in survey design using SurveyCTO/ODK or similar tools.
• Strong supervision skills across work in government systems.
• Experience managing program or research staff.
• Experience managing partnerships with implementing organizations or government agencies.
• Comfort operating within government bureaucratic structures and processes.
• Knowledge of research ethics for human subjects.

Responsibilities

• Identify impact improvement opportunities and provide input on new research ideas with government partners.
• Develop learning objectives and resources for multiple projects; manage research activities with adherence to timelines and budgets.
• Scope, design, pilot, and scale evidence-based digital agriculture services within government systems.
• Interpret evidence for PxD and government stakeholders; guide teams on evidence-based approaches.
• Oversee data management, analysis, and reporting for research projects and surveys.
• Ensure documentation of research activities and rationale for decisions.
• Develop information frameworks to identify program insights for government decision-making.
• Manage relationships with government officials and departments; coordinate with external stakeholders.

Skills

Economics

Public policy

Randomized evaluations

Stata

Survey design

Team supervision

English writing

Education

Master's degree in economics

PhD in agricultural economics

Public policy degree

Tools

SurveyCTO/ODK

Job description

Job Title

Research Manager (PMU) (India)

Location

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

Job Summary

Precision Development (PxD) is looking for a Research Manager to join our team embedded within a government ministry. Were 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 PxDs 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 PxDs institutional knowledge management and internal learning efforts

What You ll Bring

• Masters 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