Associate/Senior Associate, India (Lucknow)

Associate/Senior Associate, India (Lucknow) Location: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India About IDinsight We amplify social impact by partnering with leaders to develop tailored solutions. Our mission is to use data and evidence to help leaders combat poverty worldwide. IDinsight is a mission-driven global advisory, data analytics, and research organisation that helps global development leaders maximise their social impact. We tailor a wide range of data and evidence tools to help decision-makers design effective programs and rigorously test what works to support communities. We work with governments, multilateral agencies, foundations, and innovative non-profit organizations in Asia and Africa. Our work spans various sectors, including agriculture, education, health, governance, sanitation, financial inclusion, and others. We are a team of economists, statisticians, data scientists, data engineers, and data collection experts. Our goal as an organisation is to make sure that data and evidence are used for making decisions -- this is why we invest a lot of time and energy in understanding the institutional constraints within which our partners operate and what decisions they need to take, so that we can focus on generating only that data which is genuinely required to help inform decisions. IDinsight is committed to non-discrimination in our recruitment, employment practices, and organisational culture, regardless of people’s age, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable law. Our diverse, growing team of roughly 200 outstanding colleagues operates in nearly two dozen countries worldwide. Learn more about our mission and values at www.IDinsight.org. About our governance portfolio in India In India, we have worked with several union and state government organisations over the past 13 years. We are currently the M&E partner for Mission Karmayogi, working closely with both the Capacity Building Commission and the Karmayogi Bharat, and have previously worked with NITI Aayog on the Aspirational Districts Program and the National Data Analytics Platform. We also have active engagements with the Planning Departments in different states. In Telangana, we conducted the annual KPI survey for the government, as part of which we have built a representative panel for ~50,000 households and used that panel to collect data on health, nutrition, and learning outcomes. In Uttar Pradesh, we are supporting the Planning Department to generate high-frequency estimates of economic activity as well as supporting capacity building efforts in the department. We have supported state governments in similar ways in Punjab, Bihar, Odisha, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh. About the Associate/ Senior Associate Position Associates / Senior Associates at IDinsight are high-performing early-career professionals passionate about experiencing the front-line realities of evidence-informed decision-making. These roles provide a rich, varied experience with responsibilities ranging from in-depth research and analysis, data collection management, client interactions, and internal team building. We seek intellectually curious, resilient, and team-oriented individuals who, in addition to developing professional and technical skills, are highly motivated to grapple with the difficulties and unpredictability of trying to improve lives at scale. We are looking for an experienced Associate / Senior Associate with a proven track record of working with Indian governments. The ideal candidate will bring expertise in public policy, governance reforms, and stakeholder relationship management.This role requires the candidate to be based in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Key Responsibilities Managing project team workflow, systems, and deliverables • Driving the day-to-day execution of the project work according to project plans and leading internal coordination efforts for their team; big picture thinking about the project, our impact and higher-level implications of our work • Update project teams regularly on project progress, key outcomes, and insights to ensure alignment with their goals and expectations • Creating client deliverables, including reports, slide decks, and oral presentations to inform the decisions and actions of clients • Use a broad set of data and evidence tools to help answer the clients’ questions • Developing strategic communications to build awareness of IDinsight projects and learnings, contribute to sectoral knowledge, and shift the sector towards more evidence-informed policy and practices Client relationships • Work closely with government officials every day in an embedded manner • Preparing talking points and presentations for client and partner meetings • Serve as an important team contact for government officials, building and maintaining strong, trust-based relationships Organisation building • Developing, piloting, and implementing internal systems or other organisational contributions (e.g., event management) for IDinsight, in coordination with functional teams such as Operations, Communications, Finance, etc. • Contributing to office life and culture building, especially in Lucknow. This can include facilitating All Hands Meetings; leading team building efforts at team retreats; participating in and organizing Social Cultural Committee events. The role is not a typical “9-5” job and can require early mornings and late nights to accommodate client requirements, the time zone differences of a dispersed team, and busy periods within project workflows. IDinsight encourages balance with flexible work hours and wellness benefits, including comprehensive mental health care support and organisation-wide wellness days off. Many find this balance to yield rich professional and personal rewards and, therefore, progress to more senior roles with IDinsight. Qualifications • 1-5 years of relevant work experience, working with Indian government departments preferred • Strong writing skills with the ability to translate technical jargon into well-structured, writing-based deliverables (e.g., policy briefs, project memos, analytical reports, external blog posts, and more) • Ability to understand complex concepts and topics quickly even with limited prior knowledge or exposure and a willingness to invest in learning new concepts, skills, and methods without being prompted • Strong analytical skills, with exposure to (either via professional work experience or academic coursework) the basics of econometrics, data, and research analysis tools, and quantitative and qualitative research processes or an ability to quickly understand these topics • Highly organised, attentive to deadlines, and able to efficiently manage a high volume of work. Past experience in independently managing multiple workstreams is desirable. • Excellent interpersonal skills, can effectively engage with stakeholders ranging from school children to senior government officials to internal colleagues, and places a high value on being a team player • Demonstrated ability to be a self-starter and fast learner; resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges • Intellectually curious and a willingness to share your opinions with the team, question the status quo, and encourage others to expand their perspectives • Embodies our organizational values and demonstrates a steadfast commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their daily interactions • Deep passion to improve lives around the world • Familiarity with local context Professional development Skill and career development are core to IDinsight's values and long-term impact strategy. Senior Associates receive significant mentorship from IDinsight leadership, support from talented peers, and considerable autonomy in their work. They maintain professional development plans and are given "stretch" opportunities designed to stre