Position: Lead, Community Insights & Research
Location: Dehradun
Type: Full-time
Start Date: 1 June 2025
About Nāgrika
Nāgrika is an independent, non-partisan organization committed to amplifying the voices of citizens in India’s smaller cities. As a resource centre and platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of smaller cities in India, we gather and co-create insights from these cities and transform them into resources for citizens, citizen centric organisations and decision-makers.
Over the last 10 years, we have been addressing the critical gap in knowledge and understanding about smaller cities, which are often overlooked in key citizen discussions, urban planning and policy-making. We have been highlighting the distinct challenges and aspirations of these cities by creation of relevant data, narratives, and formal research that reflect their unique character.
Our work has given voice to over 500 smaller cities across India, focusing on creating knowledge, enabling conversations and evoking action in these cities. We have created a wealth of perspectives from smaller cities on governance, mobility, environment, institutions and various such aspects which did not previously exist. Nāgrika’s work is being used across multiple platforms as building knowledge blocks for furthering understanding of India’s urbanisation especially across smaller cities. It is being used by ministries, various government departments, non-profits, businesses, universities, researchers, students and practitioners
Nāgrika's core strength lies in its people—our dedicated team and collaborators who bring a wealth of expertise and passion for creating meaningful change.
Role Overview
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced professional to lead our research and community insight functions. This is a managerial role ideal for someone who is passionate about research, storytelling, citizen-led knowledge, and influencing public discourse and policy. The candidate will lead a team of researchers and interns, guide the research agenda, represent Nāgrika in external platforms, and drive impact through strategic partnerships and knowledge dissemination.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Management
- Manage the Research & Insights vertical at Nāgrika, aligning research priorities with organizational goals.
- Supervise a growing team of researchers, associates, and interns—ensuring quality, timeliness, and contextual sensitivity in all research outputs.
- Manage workflow and task allocation for ongoing and upcoming projects.
Research & Knowledge Building
- Lead research projects on issues relevant to small cities in alignment with Nāgrika’s vision and goals
- Conduct and oversee both primary and secondary research across multiple locations.
- Develop high-quality knowledge outputs such as deep-dive reports, city spotlights, policy briefs, narratives, tools, and other accessible content.
- Ensure research is grounded in citizen experiences and co-created with local voices whenever possible.
- Support development of digital and print tools that translate complex urban issues into citizen-accessible formats.
Strategic Engagement & Representation
- Represent Nāgrika at external platforms such as urban forums, conferences, policy dialogues, and partner meetings.
- Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders including think tanks, academic institutions, government agencies and civil society groups.
- Contribute to strategic discussions within the organization and help refine Nāgrika’s approach to scaling knowledge and impact.
Programmatic Support & Communication
- Provide research support to Nāgrika’s programs such as fellowships, certificate programs, and podcasts.
- Contribute to grant writing, research proposals and other outreach activities.
- Support content development for Nāgrika’s social media platforms and outreach tools.
- Translate insights from the field into actionable ideas for storytelling, advocacy, or tool development.
Who You Are
- You have a deep commitment to equity, local voices, and grassroots knowledge.
- You believe smaller cities are vital to India's future and are curious about their diverse dynamics.
- You thrive in a collaborative, flexible, and mission-driven environment.
- You’re equally comfortable strategizing with leadership, mentoring junior team members, or conducting field research.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in public policy, urban studies, social sciences, journalism, law, design, or related interdisciplinary fields.
- Minimum 2-3 years of relevant experience in the domain of policy and development.
- Strong qualitative research skills; familiarity with quantitative research is an advantage.
- Demonstrated experience in writing high-quality research reports, policy briefs, or similar outputs.
- Excellent communication and writing skills in English; proficiency in Hindi and/or other Indian languages is a plus.
- Experience engaging with government institutions, policy forums, or academic platforms.
- Proficiency in Google Workspace/MS Office; familiarity with tools like Canva, Miro, or data visualization software is an advantage.
- Prior experience working in or on smaller cities will be valued.
Why Join Nāgrika?
- Be part of a pioneering organization redefining urban knowledge from the perspective of India’s smaller cities.
- Work in a collaborative, intellectually stimulating, and impact-driven environment.
- Lead meaningful projects that amplify citizen voices and influence policy narratives.
Fill this form to apply before 30 April 2025
