Research/Senior Research Manager - Implementation Science for Education

Research/Senior Research Manager - Implementation Science for Education , J-PAL South Asia

Organization: J-PAL South Asia

Location: Bangalore (or Delhi)

Start Date: January 2026

No. of positions: 1 (Research Manager or Senior Research Manager, depending on candidate qualifications and experience)

Length of Commitment: Two years or more

Minimum education: Master’s Degree

Work Experience: 5 years or more

 

About the Project:

 

The Implementation Science for Education work at J-PAL South Asia aims to rigorously evaluate and study implementation in education in India. The principal researchers include Noam Angrist and Sharnic Djaker. The portfolio will function as a lab within J-PAL South Asia and its work includes A/B testing to conduct ongoing and rapid randomized trials as programs are implemented at increasing scale. Key areas of focus also include generating evidence on evidence uptake, such as studying how policymakers and practitioners engage with and use different types of evidence; conducting cost-effective and nimble impact evaluations at scale using existing administrative and monitoring data; and integrating rigorous methods with ongoing implementation data to generate timely and actionable learning.

 

 

About the Role:

 

The Research Manager/Senior Research Manager will be instrumental in establishing and leading the research and evaluation agenda of this portfolio. The role combines the methodological rigor of randomized experiments with the agility and embedded nature of implementation.

 

Key Responsibilities:

 

The Research Manager/Senior Research Manager will:

 

● Establish and Lead the Research Agenda for the Lab

 

○ Develop and implement a research agenda in close collaboration with PIs, partners, and policymakers.

○ Develop evaluation plans, including theories of change, sampling strategies, and experimental designs

○ Design and manage large-scale quantitative data collection, research protocols, and monitoring frameworks suited for rapid pilots, full-scale experiments, and scaling related research activities.

○ Implement robust data management systems for data collection, validation, analysis and reporting

○ Generate high-quality reports and synthesize insights for dissemination to academic, policy, and practitioner audiences

 

● Stakeholder Engagement

 

○ Engage with policymakers and practitioners, educational institutions, and government partners to align research objectives with partner priorities and operational realities

○ Prepare high quality research briefs, policy notes, and presentations tailored to diverse audiences

○ Represent the Lab and J-PAL South Asia in meetings, conferences and workshops

○ Identify opportunities for new partnerships to expand the Lab’s research and scaling portfolio

 

● Financial Management

○ Oversee financial planning, budgeting, and expenditure tracking across all unit projects

○ Coordinate with internal Finance & Operations teams to ensure compliance with donor and institutional financial guidelines  

○ Coordinate with Finance teams on preparing financial forecasts and to track utilization against project deliverables

○ Ensure financial accountability and transparent use of research and administrative resources

 

● Performance Monitoring

○ Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess performance across all unit activities

○ Conduct regular field visits for quality assurance and provide feedback and guidance to field teams and other stakeholders to strengthen performance

 

● Team Management & Cross-vertical Collaboration

 

○ Manage and mentor a team of Research Associates and field staff, ensuring operational excellence and professional development

○ Collaborate with Policy, Scale-up, and Training teams to align the research objectives across verticals

○ Actively contribute to organizational initiatives that advance J-PAL South Asia’s broader research agenda

 

Desired Qualifications, Experience & Skills:

 

● Master’s degree in economics, public policy/ international development, statistics, mathematics, and related fields. Strong coursework in economics is highly preferable.

● Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, with at least 2 years in a senior or managerial role.

● Proven experience in establishing and leading M&E functions within an organization.

● Strong knowledge of randomized evaluation and other quantitative research methods.

● Proficiency in data analysis software/languages (e.g., R, STATA, Python) and data collection tools (e.g., SurveyCTO, Qualtrics).

● Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

● Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

● Ability to work effectively in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment.

● Strong project management skills and attention to detail.

● Experience working with multilateral organizations or international development agencies is preferred.

● Extensive experience supervising data collection, teams of field workers, survey design and implementation, and data management.

● Excellent management and organizational skills along with strong skills for secondary research and documentation.

● Proven ability to complete assigned tasks and meet deadlines while delivering high-quality outputs.

 

Other Requirements:

 

● Ability to prioritize effectively and successfully handle multiple projects simultaneously

● Ability to “manage up” as well as “down” by working effectively with and mentors associates with differing aptitudes, attitudes and skills on technical and behavioral aspects

● Ability to drive and adapt to change, particularly in the face of uncertainty.

● Ability to work independently, problem-solve, and collaborate with other teams within the organization as needed.

● Ability to build consensus across the team, organization and external partners balancing the needs and priorities of different stakeholders

 

Note on Work Authorizations:

 

Candidates must have necessary work authorization to work in India.