Research Associate
Location: Pune
Join a high-performing, tight-knit team with a unique approach to private equity investing. Kingfish Group partners with top financial and operating executives to pursue high-impact opportunities. This role combines research and qualitative analysis, with broad exposure across teams to support diverse skill development. We value excellence, innovation, and an entrepreneurial mindset. You’ll be expected to contribute from day one and take ownership of your work.
Candidate Profile
Qualifications:
● Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with 12 months of work experience in primary or secondary market research
● Demonstrated experience applying AI tools for research and project deliverables
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable collaborating with global teams
● Good understanding of business models across industries and market dynamics
● Sharp analytical and creative thinking skills, with a strong attention to detail
● Self-motivated and adaptable, with the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines
● Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; experience with CRM platforms or data analytics tools is a plus
Position Summary
Research Associates are responsible for identifying high-quality advisors to meet client and project outcomes. They build targeted advisor lists, apply judgment on relevance and fit, and deliver accurately. Research Associates leverage structured research methods, proprietary tools, and external data sources to execute advisor identification at scale, refine search strategies, and build expertise across industries, roles, and private-equity use cases.
Key Responsibilities
● Conducts research independently on projects, using AI and research tools to identify advisors and competitors that meet project requirements, ensuring high-quality delivery within tight timelines.
● Delivers viable research strategy alternatives proactively through a deep understanding of industry dynamics.
● Collaborates effectively with a global team to align on expectations and deliver strong outcomes.
● Synthesizes research from multiple sources into deliverables (competitive landscapes, industry primers, etc.)
● Uses CRM dashboards and metrics to track project quality and progress.
● Contributes to firm-wide initiatives aimed at enhancing research quality, fostering innovation, advancing AI-enabled delivery, and improving tools and processes.
Kingfish Group is a differentiated private equity firm that builds businesses in close partnership with experienced industry executives. Our firm comprises two core business segments: our private equity investment business and an advisory business that supports a limited set of high-performing PE sponsors as they identify, invest in, and grow businesses.
We have pioneered a direct investment model that operates at the intersection of people, ideas, and capital. Our approach involves working collaboratively with targeted executives and a select group of high-performing private equity sponsors to identify, invest in, and grow exceptional companies.
At the core of our strategy is a disciplined, relationship-driven process centered on long-term partnerships with proven operating leaders.
Culture
Skills Required
- Bachelor's or Master's degree
- 12 months of work experience in primary or secondary market research
- Demonstrated experience applying AI tools for research and project deliverables
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Comfortable collaborating with global teams
- Good understanding of business models across industries and market dynamics
- Sharp analytical and creative thinking skills with strong attention to detail
- Self-motivated and adaptable, able to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
- Experience with CRM platforms or data analytics tools
What We Do
The Kingfish platform is unlike any other in private equity. We believe relationships with the right on-point experience can dramatically change the trajectory of a business. As private equity advisors and investors our platform ensures we make that impact every time. Our network includes seasoned, on-point executives who have been customers, competitors and key suppliers to the business, meaning they don’t just know the answers – they know the right questions to ask. Our Privileged Position We work on 200+ pre-screened private equity situations annually along with our capital partners. Our breadth and depth means far-reaching opportunities not usually available to any single firm. This enables deeper executive relationships with the best practices and processes that ultimately drive success. Our Partnership-First Approach Partnership is core to our approach. We partner with executives, businesses and other investors, with the primary goal of crafting great investments and building superior businesses. By cultivating and developing partnerships with a cross section of high caliber people and partners, we are a stronger advisor and investor.
