Applications are now open for three full-time research positions supporting a major academic project on gender and development in India, led by Tanushree Goyal, Assistant Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University. The recruitment includes two Junior Program Manager/Research Assistant positions and one Senior Program Manager role, offering an excellent opportunity for researchers, economists, and development professionals seeking hands-on experience in large-scale field research.

The project will examine critical issues surrounding women’s political leadership, political participation, local governance, and development outcomes across India. Successful candidates will play a central role in survey design, field operations, project management, and data collection while working closely with academic researchers and field partners.

Applications close on 31 July 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).

Position Overview

The research team is seeking motivated professionals who are passionate about evidence-based policymaking, development research, and field operations.

The available positions include:

• Two Junior Program Manager/Research Assistant roles.

• One Senior Program Manager position.

Successful candidates will be based in India and should be prepared for frequent travel to project sites across the country.

Employment Details

Selected candidates can expect the following employment conditions:

• Location: India, with frequent travel within India.

• Expected start date: Between 15 August and 1 September 2026.

• Employment type: Full-time.

• Initial contract: One year, including a two-month probation period.

• Contract extension: Renewable for an additional year based on performance.

• Compensation: Competitive salary based on qualifications, relevant experience, and previous earnings.

• Work-related travel expenses will be fully covered.

About the Research Project

The academic research project investigates how women’s political leadership influences governance and development outcomes in India. The study focuses on generating high-quality evidence to inform policy and strengthen understanding of gender and political participation.

Research activities will combine survey development, field implementation, quantitative data collection, and project coordination.

Candidates will be appointed at either the junior or senior level depending on their experience and demonstrated research capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

Successful applicants will contribute to multiple aspects of the research project, including:

• Assisting with survey design and questionnaire development.

• Supporting sampling strategies and pilot surveys.

• Developing and translating survey questionnaires into Hindi.

• Coordinating field-based data collection across India.

• Working with survey firms, research collaborators, and local implementation partners.

• Recruiting, training, and supervising research assistants and field enumerators.

• Monitoring survey quality and troubleshooting operational challenges.

• Conducting data quality checks using Excel and preferably R or similar statistical software.

• Supporting literature reviews, documentation, and other research activities.

The Senior Program Manager will additionally:

• Lead field operations across project locations.

• Supervise research staff and field teams.

• Coordinate external partners.

• Independently manage major project workstreams.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should possess either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics.

Candidates from disciplines such as:

• Political Science.

• Computer Science.

• Other related social science fields.

may also apply if they have substantial field-based research or survey experience.

Applicants must also satisfy at least one of the following:

• Undergraduate or postgraduate training in economics or quantitative methods.

• Significant experience conducting field research or survey data collection.

Required Skills

The research team is looking for candidates with:

• Excellent written and spoken Hindi.

• Ability to independently draft survey questionnaires in Hindi.

• Strong organisational and communication skills.

• Willingness to travel extensively across India.

• Ability to work independently within a remotely managed research team.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Knowledge of the following software will be an advantage:

• R.

• Stata.

• SurveyCTO.

• Qualtrics.

• Other statistical or survey management platforms.

Preferred Experience

Applications are particularly encouraged from candidates with experience working with:

• J-PAL.

• Development agencies.

• Academic research projects.

• Survey firms.

• Research organisations.

• Large-scale field studies.

The Junior positions are intended for recent graduates or candidates with limited but relevant research or field experience.

The Senior position is designed for professionals with at least one year of full-time experience managing surveys, research projects, field operations, or data collection teams.

Selection Process

Recruitment will be conducted in multiple stages to identify the strongest candidates.

The process includes:

• Longlisting of applicants.

• A written assessment requiring approximately two to three hours, to be completed offline and submitted as a PDF.

• Interviews for shortlisted candidates.

• An additional assessment where required, or a direct employment offer following the interview.

The recruitment process is expected to conclude between 15 and 20 August 2026.

Due to the anticipated volume of applications, individual application status updates will not be provided.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit a single PDF document named using the following format:

lastnamefirstname_date.pdf

The application package should include:

• A curriculum vitae (maximum five pages).

• A one-page statement highlighting any additional information relevant to the position.

Applicants will also be required to complete the online application form, which requests educational qualifications, research experience, software proficiency, references, language skills, and willingness to travel extensively within India.

Application Deadline

The deadline to submit applications is:

31 July 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).

Researchers interested in gender, governance, political economy, and development are encouraged to apply for these highly competitive positions, which offer valuable experience supporting an internationally recognised academic research initiative led by Princeton University.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.

Princeton University Research Project Opens Junior and Senior Program Manager Positions in India – Apply By 31 July 2026 @Unknown