Director – Research, IWWAGE

About LEAD at Krea University:

LEAD is an action-oriented research centre of IFMR Society (a not-for-profit society registered under the Societies Act), leverages the power of research, innovation and co-creation to solve complex and pressing challenges in development. LEAD specialises in developing in-depth granular understanding of socio-economic contexts and harnessing actionable insights that have a wide range of applications in industry, policy, and academia. LEAD is a collaborative hub that brings experts from diverse disciplines and sectors together to develop innovative solutions by harnessing innovation, technology and analytics.

About IWWAGE:

Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality (IWWAGE) aims to build on existing research and generate new evidence to inform and facilitate the agenda of women's economic empowerment. IWWAGE is an initiative of LEAD, an action-oriented research centre of IFMR Society (a not-for-profit society registered under the Societies Act). LEAD has strategic oversight and brand support from Krea University (sponsored by IFMR Society) to enable synergies between academia and the research centre.

About the Position
:

The Director – Research will be leading a team of researchers in addressing critical issues as identified, fostering innovative thinking, and generating evidence to strengthen gender transformative policies that encourage women to take part in economic activities without facing structural and systemic barriers. They will be providing sharp insights on various policy discourses, and IWWAGE's position on the same. They will support the leadership of IWWAGE in the effective implementation of the IWWAGE strategy, building partnerships, and raising resource mobilisation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Establishing research agenda:
   Consult and collaborate with the senior team to build and lead a strong research strategy and portfolio;
• Provide technical rigour on identified themes and sub-themes:
  Develop high-quality proposals, conceptualise integrated research and policy plans, methodologies and other related areas for maximum impact. Lead the development of research summaries, position papers, blog posts, presentations and other forms of outreach as required. Ensure that data collected through research tools are complete, accurate and comprehensive;
• Build synergies between research and policy:
  Collaborate with relevant policy teams to develop clear pathways from evidence creation to policy;
• Building partnerships with national, state and sub-national governments, experts, academia, think-tanks, and non-government organisations:
  In consultation with the senior leadership, forge partnerships and collaborations with like-minded to drive the IWWAGE research agenda;
• Collaboration in organising panels in conferences, workshops, seminars, roundtable meetings and related dissemination activities
   to place IWWAGE as a credible research and policy institute;
• Institutional building:
  Support the Senior Management Team of IWWAGE/LEAD in building IWWAGE as an institution and brand;
• Project management:
   Develop and update the project plan, assigning tasks to complete the same, and ensure compliance with project requirements. Keep track and be accountable for the development of detailed project reports. Oversee budgets, subgrantees, review their deliverables and ensure compliance with project requirements;
• Team leadership
  : Provide leadership and guidance to the research team, in particular, team anchors, including setting clear goals, managing performance, and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration;
• Professional development
  : Foster the professional development of research staff through training, mentorship, and career advancement opportunities. In particular, for Team Anchors to ensure a strong second line of command;
• Any other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience:

Essential:

• PhD in any discipline, Gender Studies/Public Policy/Sociology/Development Studies or a related field;
• Minimum 
  15 years of experience
   in applied or action research with a strong track record of working on gender issues, with at least 5 years in a leadership or supervisory role;
• Strong track record of designing and executing large-scale or field-based research projects;
• Proven publication record in peer-reviewed journals;
• Experience engaging with policymakers, funders, and practitioners.

Desirable:

• Experience working in India or South Asia, particularly in areas related to livelihoods, gender, health, labour force participation;
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-stakeholder projects and research teams;
• Familiarity with mixed-methods research and participatory or community-based approaches;
• Strong understanding of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems.

Skills and Attributes:

• Strategic thinker with a strong commitment to evidence-based action;
• Excellent communication and writing skills—able to bridge research and policy audiences;
• Collaborative leadership style, fostering inclusion and intellectual curiosity;
• Strong analytical and project management capabilities;
• Passion for advancing social impact and community engagement.

Application Instructions:

Deadline:
 Applications will be open till the position is filled. To apply, please collate your resume, a cover letter and writing sample in a single PDF and apply in the form here.

Note:
Due to the large volume of applications we receive, we are unable to contact each candidate individually regarding the status of their application. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview purposes.