Desk Research Specialist

Ek Kutumb
Position: Desk Research Specialist
Location: Remote (India-based)

ABOUT THE ROLE

Ek Kutumb conducts rigorous research to understand the values, attitudes, and beliefs that shape communities across India. The organisation undertakes large-scale mixed-methods research at the state level and seeks to generate insights to inform more inclusive and resonant policy and programme design.

We are seeking a Senior Desk Research Specialist who will anchor the organisation’s secondary research and contextual intelligence function.

This is a senior role that goes beyond literature review. It requires the ability to frame research contexts, identify structural patterns, and build a coherent knowledge base that strengthens both research design and interpretation. The role will directly shape how Ek Kutumb understands states, themes, and emerging trends.

The Senior Desk Research Specialist will work closely with research leadership and play a critical role in ensuring that all primary research is grounded in deep, rigorous, and continuously updated contextual understanding.

Key Responsibilities

State Systems and Political Economy Analysis

• Develop deep state level analyses covering political economy, governance, history, and socio economic context

• Lead high quality secondary research across academic, policy, and practitioner sources to understand factors shaping people’s values, beliefs, and attitudes

• Track key policy, regulatory, and governance developments in states of focus

• Define research questions and hypotheses grounded in contextual and policy insights

• Design and institutionalise frameworks to systematically track state level data, policies, and developments

• Produce concise and accessible knowledge products including state profiles and analytical decks for internal use

Climate Policy Landscape and Analysis

• Assess the climate policy landscape in India at central and state levels

• Analyse policies, schemes, and programmes with direct and indirect climate relevance across sectors

• Track policy evolution, implementation dynamics, and institutional roles across states

• Translate complex policy landscapes into clear, accessible formats that support subsequent work by research and engagement teams

• Identify gaps, overlaps, and strategic opportunities within the policy ecosystem

Collaboration and Research Support

• Work closely with the research team to inform study design and strengthen analytical framing

• Support primary research through contextual inputs, evidence synthesis, and real time research support

• Contribute to improving the overall quality, coherence, and rigour of research outputs

What You Bring

• Ten or more years of experience in desk research, policy research, academic research, or related fields

• Demonstrated ability to synthesise complex information into original insights and frameworks

• Strong grounding in social science disciplines such as public policy, political economy, sociology, or behavioural science

• Deep familiarity with Indian socio-political contexts, regional diversity, and governance structures

• Experience in analysing policy environments and linking them to social and behavioural outcomes

• Exceptional writing and analytical skills with the ability to produce clear, structured, and high-quality outputs

• Experience building knowledge systems, repositories, or research frameworks

• Ability to work independently while influencing cross-functional teams

• Strong judgement on source credibility, evidence quality, and analytical rigour

• Curiosity and sustained interest in themes such as climate change, governance, social values, and social change

• Experience working with central or state government institutions will be considered an advantage.

To Apply

Please submit the following:

• Your CV

• A cover letter of no more than one page addressing:

  • Why you are interested in this role

  • How your experience aligns with the responsibilities, with specific examples