Strategy Associate – Clinical Services, Research & Evaluation

India Autism Center; Kolkata District; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

India Autism Center seeks a Strategy Associate with a psychology background to strengthen strategic performance monitoring and evaluation across clinical services, vocational programmes, and research. You will assess programme effectiveness, service quality, and outcomes, coordinating with clinical, training, and research teams to drive improvements.

The role focuses on monitoring, evaluation frameworks, and evidence-based recommendations, ensuring data integrity and ethical handling of

Qualifications

• 5 years of relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation, programme evaluation, research, quality assurance, clinical or educational operations, or service-quality management.
• Postgraduate degree in psychology or related field (MA/MSc).
• Proven ability to interpret quantitative and qualitative data and evaluate performance.
• Experience preparing reports, reviewing processes, and recommending improvements.
• Strong analytical, research, documentation, communication, and stakeholder coordination skills.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Performance Monitoring: track plans, programmes, budgets, and timelines against objectives.
• Strategic Evaluation & Review: apply frameworks, indicators, and reporting across departments.
• Policies, Systems & Process Implementation: develop SOPs, workflows, and accountability mechanisms.
• Research, Data Analysis & Leadership Reporting: consolidate data and prepare dashboards and management summaries.
• Cross-functional Coordination & Accountability: coordinate with multidisciplinary teams and escalate risks.
• Ensure confidentiality and ethical handling of data.

Skills

Monitoring & Evaluation

Programme Evaluation

Research

Quality Assurance

Clinical Operations

Educational Operations

Data Analysis

Reporting Tools

Stakeholder Coordination

Education

MA/MSc in Psychology

Job description

Strategy Associate – Clinical Services, Research & Evaluation

Full Time| Department – CEO’s Office| 5+ Years

Department: CEO’s Office
Location: Kolkata, West Bengal
Employment Type: Full-Time
Experience: Minimum 5 years
Compensation: Up to ₹10 LPA
Qualification: MA/MSc in Psychology

Role Overview

India Autism Center (IAC) is building an integrated ecosystem of clinical services, vocational development, research, training, and residential living for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families.

We are looking for a Strategy Associate with a background in psychology, research, and programme evaluation to strengthen strategic performance monitoring across IAC, with a specialist focus on clinical services, vocational programmes, the training academy, learning and development, and research.

You will play a key role in evaluating programme effectiveness, service quality, implementation progress, resource utilisation, and outcomes. The role will combine quantitative and qualitative analysis with structured performance reviews to identify gaps, assess underlying causes, recommend improvements, and monitor follow-through.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Performance Monitoring

• Monitor departmental plans, programmes, and organisation-wide strategic priorities against agreed objectives, deliverables, quality standards, resource requirements, budgets, and timelines.
• Review progress across clinical services, vocational programmes, the training academy, learning and development, and research.
• Monitor relevant indicators such as programme milestones, service quality, participant outcomes, staff training effectiveness, research deliverables, and implementation progress.
• Identify deviations from planned outcomes, analyse underlying causes, and track agreed corrective actions.

2. Strategic Evaluation & Review

• Develop or apply monitoring and evaluation frameworks, performance indicators, evaluation criteria, and reporting mechanisms across departments, programmes, projects, and strategic initiatives.
• Assess programme implementation, service quality, participant outcomes, training effectiveness, research progress, and adherence to established standards, as applicable.
• Review relevant workflows, documentation, assessment processes, referral pathways, follow-up mechanisms, and service continuity within the scope of established protocols.
• Identify recurring gaps, implementation bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement; prepare evidence-based findings and recommendations.
• Coordinate internal reviews and audits where required, document observations, and track agreed corrective actions through closure.

3. Policies, Systems & Process Implementation

• Identify gaps in organisational and programme systems and support the development of appropriate structures, policies, SOPs, workflows, indicators, and accountability mechanisms.
• Map and evaluate programme workflows, participant journeys, research processes, training pathways, and service-delivery mechanisms.
• Monitor the adoption and effectiveness of established processes across relevant departments.
• Evaluate the implementation of evidence-based practices and staff development initiatives, where applicable.
• Monitor risks relating to programme implementation, service quality, documentation, research milestones, staff capacity, resource constraints, and delivery timelines.
• Maintain relevant risk registers and track mitigation plans in collaboration with accountable teams.
• Identify emerging risks, recurring quality concerns, and deviations from established standards.
• Escalate material concerns to the leadership and monitor agreed mitigation actions through closure.
• Respect confidentiality, ethical research requirements, and responsible handling of participant and organisational data.

5. Research, Data Analysis & Leadership Reporting

• Consolidate quantitative and qualitative data from relevant departments and assess its completeness, consistency, and usefulness for decision-making.
• Analyse participant feedback, programme outcomes, service-quality indicators, training results, research milestones, and other relevant evidence.
• Prepare dashboards, evaluation reports, management summaries, and presentations for departmental and organisation-wide reviews.
• Translate findings into clear insights and practical recommendations for leadership.

6. Cross-functional Coordination & Accountability

• Work with clinical, vocational, training, research, learning and development, and operational teams to review performance and understand implementation challenges.
• Facilitate periodic reviews, document agreed actions, identify accountable owners, and monitor completion against deadlines.
• Identify dependencies between programme teams and other organisational functions that may affect delivery.
• Escalate persistent performance gaps, unresolved actions, and material risks through the established reporting structure.

Key Outcomes

• Reliable evidence on programme effectiveness, service quality, research progress, and organisational performance.
• Stronger visibility into departmental progress against agreed objectives, quality standards, resource requirements, and timelines.
• Early identification of implementation gaps, risks, and recurring performance issues.
• More consistent use of monitoring and evaluation frameworks and evidence-based recommendations.
• Stronger implementation of organisational systems, documentation standards, and improvement actions.
• Timely, accurate reports that support leadership decisions and continuous improvement.

Must-have Requirements

• 5 years of relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation, programme evaluation, research, quality assurance, clinical or educational operations, or service-quality management.
• MA/MSc in Psychology or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret quantitative and qualitative data and evaluate programme or organisational performance.
• Experience preparing reports, reviewing processes, documenting findings, and recommending improvements.
• Strong analytical, research, documentation, communication, and stakeholder-coordination skills.
• Proficiency in spreadsheets, data analysis, and reporting tools.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and follow through on agreed actions.
• Understanding of confidentiality and ethical handling of sensitive information.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with monitoring and evaluation frameworks, logic models, outcome measurement, or programme evaluation.
• Familiarity with clinical, educational, vocational, psychosocial, or disability-service settings.
• Exposure to research methodologies, statistical analysis, and qualitative data analysis.
• Knowledge of quality assurance, service standards, assessment protocols, or evidence-based practices.
• Experience evaluating training, competency development, or programme implementation.
• Experience working in healthcare, education, research, non-profit, or social-impact organisations.

About India Autism Center

India Autism Center is a not-for-profit organisation building a comprehensive ecosystem of support, training, research, and lifelong residential living for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. IAC works towards greater independence, dignity, belonging, and quality of life for individuals and families across India.