Senior Associate - Research & Innovation (CERI)

Your team (CERI) 

The Data Analysis & Performance Management Team comprises: Centre for Education Research in India (CERI), Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and Data For Governance (DFG) sub verticals. This team is a multifaceted group; comprising research specialists, data analysts, MEL specialists; all of whom prize dynamism and versatility in their approach to work. Each sub-vertical works closely with their relevant Ennum Ezhuthum sub-vertical counterparts to ensure that Madhi’s deep work in Tamil Nadu can add value to the ecosystem at large, whether through effectively scaling successful projects or by producing high quality research outputs. 

The CERI team is focused on producing high quality research outputs based on insights from Madhi’s projects and from the ecosystem at large, particularly where contextualisation of learning is necessary for implementation within the Indian ecosystem.. The MEL team is focused on codifying insights from the implementation of the flagship Ennum Ezhuthum Mission and Madhi’s pilot projects, such that they can be effectively replicated at scale and/or in other contexts in India. All Madhi’s teams work together seamlessly to make magic happen day after day, doing whatever it takes to take us closer to the vision of reimagining school systems to eliminate the foundational learning crisis in India. 

About the role: 

·       Contribute purposefully to the growing body of knowledge on what works and what doesn’t work to improve last mile educational outcomes for children, through the public sector delivery; in particular- by contextualizing findings to the Indian context.

·       Utilise qualitative and quantitative field data to analyse the primary causes which led to the outcomes/ impact achieved and communicate these in a manner that allows replicability in similar contexts.

·       Helping teams translate learnings into their field work.

·       Support project verticals and sub-verticals to find relevant pieces of global research which meet their project objectives.

The Job Description 

Below is an indicative set of responsibilities you will be required to contribute to as part of this role. We believe that a job description is best created collaboratively where the individual joining the team and the senior leadership team together define the role in greater detail so it reflects your aspirations and ambitions as much as it does the organisation’s needs. A detailed description can be jointly created once the selection process has been completed and you have accepted our offer of employment.

In this role, some of your responsibilities will include 

·       Periodic report writing on qualitative and quantitative data garnered from the field

·       Dissemination of qualitative and quantitative findings

·       Supporting the Lead, MEL and various teams to implement the MEL framework effectively

·       Carrying out secondary research to aid research activities across the board

·       Ideating possible research agenda for project teams as well as CERI

·       Collaborating in creating a research output roadmap for each project and for CERI

·       Support in organising research activities across the organisation (including planning and

execution)

·       Conduct (or co-conduct with team members) independent research for publication

·       Design and implement research data collection methods such as FGDs, IDIs, surveys, and mixed-method evaluations.

Mandatory prerequisites include:  

·       A bachelor’s degree preferably in the humanities or social sciences

·       Excellent written communication skills in English

·       2-4 years’ experience report writing and data collection from the field

·       Ability to travel outside and within the state of Tamil Nadu

·       Experience and interest in secondary research would be an asset

·       Excellent knowledge of MS Office suite and Google Suite

You will be expected to bring your own laptop with updated software (MS Office 2016).