Research Manager

Designation: Research Manager

About the Role:

We are seeking a results-oriented Research Manager to spearhead comprehensive research operations for a large-scale political campaign in Punjab. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of Punjab’s socio-political landscape and will be adept at designing and implementing both qualitative and quantitative research studies. You will work hands-on with surveys, focus groups, interviews, and other research methodologies to uncover meaningful voter insights that guide campaign strategy. If you are well-versed in conversational Punjabi, possess meticulous research skills, and thrive in a high-stakes, fast-paced environment, we want you on our team.

Years of Experience Required: 5+ years in political/social research, polling, or related fields

Type: Work from Office (Mohali/Chandigarh)

Language & Cultural Requirement:

Must be fluent in conversational Punjabi (essential for field interviews and focus groups).

Deep familiarity with Punjabi cultural and political nuances, voter behavior, and regional issues.

Proficiency in Hindi and English for cross-team and stakeholder communication.

Key Responsibilities

End-to-End Political Research Management

Design, plan, and execute qualitative and quantitative research studies including surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires targeting diverse voter segments across Punjab.

Develop research frameworks that ensure the collection of actionable insights directly linked to campaign objectives.

Field Operations & Data Collection

Recruit and train field investigators, facilitators, and enumerators for on-ground data collection.

Personally conduct interviews (in conversational Punjabi) with community leaders, key influencers, and representative voters in target regions.

Oversee fieldwork, ensuring reliability, representativeness, and adherence to timelines.

Intelligence Gathering & Analysis

Gather political intelligence through primary and secondary channels: media monitoring, stakeholder conversations, opinion polls, and local sources.

Synthesize data to identify ground realities, voter concerns, emerging trends, and strategic threats or opportunities.

Research Instrumentation & Question Design

Draft and test robust research instruments (surveys, questionnaires, interview guides), tailored for both mass surveys and qualitative explorations.

Ensure that questions are designed to elicit clear and meaningful responses that will shape campaign planning and messaging.

Insight Generation & Reporting

Analyze qualitative and quantitative data to surface actionable insights, sentiment patterns, and voter micro-segmentation.

Prepare regular research reports and executive summaries for the strategic and communications teams.

Present findings and insights to inform campaign content and outreach.

Continuous Feedback Loop

Maintain ongoing channels for rapid field feedback via surveys, digital tools, and local networks to monitor dynamic voter sentiment during campaign phases.

Recommend real-time tactical changes based on field intelligence and research findings.

Stakeholder/Liaison Coordination

Coordinate with project officials, local volunteers, and external analytics partners to ensure seamless research execution and stakeholder buy-in.

Train team members on best practices in data gathering and engagement.

Core Competencies

Research Expertise: Advanced skills in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, ideally in a socio-political context.

Political Acumen: Strong understanding of Punjab’s political landscape, constituency-specific issues, and voter behavior.

Language and Interpersonal Skills: Superior communication and interviewing skills in Punjabi; able to build trust and rapport with a wide variety of respondents.

Data Analysis: Proficient with survey tools, spreadsheet analysis, and basic statistical methods; experience with research software (SPSS, Qualtrics, or similar) is a plus.

Critical Thinking & Insight Translation: Ability to convert raw data into strategic findings and actionable recommendations.

Organizational Rigour: Exceptional attention to detail, project management skills, and ability to multi-task under tight deadlines.

Discretion & Integrity: High regard for confidentiality and sensitivity in handling data and insights.

If you are passionate about leveraging research to shape the future of political engagement in Punjab and have the expertise to extract actionable intelligence from complex environments, we invite you to apply.

This is a 12-month contractual position based in Mohali/Chandigarh, with the possibility of renewal based on performance and project requirements.