Senior Research Analyst

Isaac Centre for Public Policy, Ashoka University; Delhi; On-site; INR 2,000,000 - 4,000,000; Full time

Job summary

The Isaac Centre for Public Policy at Ashoka University invites applications for a Senior Research Associate / Research Manager to lead tax policy and administration research in India. The role combines research leadership, policy engagement, stakeholder management and institutional development.

Successful candidates will guide high-impact research, manage diverse teams, translate evidence into policy impact, and engage with government, academia, industry and international partners to advance

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Economics, Public Policy, Public Finance, Law & Economics, Public Administration or related discipline.
• 7–8 years of relevant professional experience in policy or research roles.
• Experience in public policy research organisations, think tanks, consulting, international organisations or government advisory roles.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary research programmes on taxation, public finance, tax administration and economic growth.
• Translate research into actionable policy recommendations for governments and policymakers.
• Represent the Centre in national and international policy forums and develop new research initiatives.
• Build collaborations with universities, think tanks, multilateral organisations and other partners.

Skills

Tax policy understanding

Public finance knowledge

Research design & analysis

Policy writing & publication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Master’s or PhD in Economics/Public Policy/Public Finance/Law & Economics/Public Administration

Job description

About the Role

The Senior Research Associate / Research Manager will play a leadership role in building India's premier institution on tax policy and administration. The role combines research leadership, policy engagement, stakeholder management, programme management and institution building.

The successful candidate will lead high-impact research programmes, manage multidisciplinary teams, develop evidence-based policy solutions and engage extensively with senior government officials, academia, industry, development partners and international organisations. The role requires a strong blend of analytical rigour, strategic thinking, project management and the ability to translate research into policy impact.

Key Responsibilities

Research Leadership

• Lead multidisciplinary research programmes on taxation, public finance, tax administration and economic growth.


• Design and execute flagship research projects on tax policy, administration, institutional reforms and investment competitiveness.


• Produce high-quality policy reports, working papers, discussion papers, policy briefs and publications.


• Build robust evidence bases using economic analysis, administrative data, empirical research and international comparisons.


• Identify emerging policy challenges and develop forward-looking research agendas that contribute to national policy priorities.


• Ensure high standards of research quality, analytical rigour and methodological integrity across all outputs.

Policy Engagement

• Translate research into actionable policy recommendations for governments and policymakers.


• Engage with Union and State Governments on tax reform priorities and implementation challenges.


• Develop reform frameworks, implementation roadmaps and policy toolkits.


• Support legislative, regulatory and administrative reform initiatives through evidence-based analysis.


• Prepare policy notes, briefing papers and presentations for senior government leadership and decision-makers.

Thought Leadership

• Contribute to establishing the Centre as India's leading voice on tax policy and administration.


• Publish policy briefs, opinion pieces and knowledge products that shape public discourse and policy debates.


• Represent the Centre in national and international policy forums, conferences, workshops and expert consultations.


• Identify opportunities for new research programmes and policy initiatives aligned with India's long-term economic priorities.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with policymakers, tax administrators, industry leaders, academia, think tanks, development partners and international organisations.


• Convene high-level consultations, expert working groups, roundtables and policy dialogues.


• Collaborate with domestic and international institutions to undertake joint research and knowledge-sharing initiatives.


• Develop trusted relationships with senior stakeholders to support research uptake and policy implementation.

Institution Building

• Help shape the long-term research agenda and strategic direction of the Tax Policy Vertical.


• Build collaborations with universities, think tanks, multilateral organisations and global experts.


• Contribute to fundraising proposals, strategic partnerships and institutional growth initiatives.


• Develop internal research processes, quality assurance systems and knowledge management practices.


• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to building institutional research capacity.


• Support recruitment, onboarding and professional development of research staff.


• Lead and manage multiple concurrent research and policy projects.


• Develop project workplans, budgets and implementation timelines.


• Ensure timely delivery of research outputs, policy products and stakeholder engagements.


• Coordinate with external consultants, partner organisations and subject-matter experts.


• Monitor project progress, manage risks and ensure high-quality execution.


• Supervise and mentor research staff, consultants and project teams.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Economics, Public Policy, Public Finance, Law & Economics, Public Administration or a related discipline.


• 7–8 years of relevant professional experience in one or more of the following:


• Public policy research organisations or think tanks


• Economic, strategy or public sector consulting


• International organisations or multilateral institutions


• Government policy advisory roles

Preferred Experience

Experience in one or more of the following areas will be an advantage:

• Tax policy and tax administration


• Public finance and fiscal policy


• Regulatory governance and institutional reform


• Investment climate, ease of doing business and competitiveness


• International taxation and cross-border taxation


• Quantitative policy analysis and impact evaluation


• Legislative and regulatory analysis


• Working with Central or State Governments, multilateral institutions or leading think tanks

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of taxation, public finance, institutional economics and economic policy.


• Strong research design, analytical and problem-solving capabilities.


• Familiarity with empirical research methods, quantitative analysis and data-driven policy evaluation.


• Excellent policy writing, report drafting and publication skills.


• Ability to synthesise complex evidence into clear and actionable policy recommendations.

Leadership & Management

• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex research programmes.


• Strong project management skills with experience delivering multiple high-priority workstreams simultaneously.


• Ability to mentor researchers and build high-performing teams.


• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail and quality assurance.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Experience engaging with senior government officials, regulators, industry leaders and development partners.


• Ability to build trusted relationships across government, academia and industry.


• Experience organising policy consultations, expert committees and stakeholder workshops.


• Excellent communication, presentation and facilitation skills.

Personal Attributes

• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to build and scale new research initiatives.


• Strategic thinker with a strong orientation towards policy impact.


• Collaborative, self-driven and comfortable working in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary environment.


• High standards of integrity, professionalism and intellectual curiosity.


• Commitment to evidence-based policymaking and public service.