Civic Research And Operations Associate

Who we are

Zen Citizen was started in August 2024 with a mission to empower citizens to navigate Government procedures with confidence, reduce their reliance on intermediaries and push back against bribery. 

We do this by uncovering undocumented and practical information and developing lightweight tech tools that make using Govt. websites easier. 

This position is ideal for an early-career professional who can provide strong research and project management support to the Founder.

This position is funded by Dr. Aniruddha Malpani’s Malpani Foundation, and is budgeted for 12 months. 

Location: Remote, preferably based in Bengaluru to allow for in-person meetings as needed

Compensation: Rs.10,000 to Rs.20,000 a month

We are looking for a candidate who: 

• Takes ownership of their tasks, communicates proactively about delays, and doesn’t require reminders.
• Is comfortable digging into Govt. portals and discussion forums to understand how processes work (or fail to work).
• Follows up with stakeholders gently and persistently as needed 

We have a low-ego culture. We’re looking for someone who is comfortable saying “I don’t know, but I can find out” and is open to learning from situations instead of shifting blame. 

You’ll be working remotely with volunteers across different cities, countries, and cultures, so you’ll fit best if you naturally assume good intent and give others the benefit of the doubt.

Strong written and verbal communication skills in English are essential. Spoken Kannada is an added advantage.

• Fact-check information on processes which may include visiting Govt. offices.
• Update guides and knowledge base based on feedback from citizens, and changes in Govt. processes.
• File RTIs to gather data from the Govt. when it isn’t available.
• Opportunity to grow into advanced responsibilities:

--End-to-end ownership - Identify pressing topics and write guides.

--Data analysis and visualization 

--Liaise directly with bureaucrats and Govt. officials.

• Monitor comments and questions on our website, Reddit, and YouTube; respond when you can, and loop in the guide’s author when needed.
• Share our work on social media
  

• Maintain a project tracker and keep documentation and files organized
• Follow up as needed with volunteers and other stakeholders

Zen Citizen’s approach is rooted in tangible impact in the here and now; the effort you put in will directly reflect in the experiences of ordinary people trying to navigate Govt. systems. All this while being part of a group dedicated to finding creative ways to solve governance challenges, despite having no control over Govt. websites or processes.

You’ll hear directly from people whose lives got easier because of your contribution. Like these generous pieces of feedback we received recently: 

“Sincere thanks to you. I was able to get my fathers property Ekatha done without paying a bribe. The BBMP officials and agents were asking 20–25K for the Ekatha. I got it done within a day by paying just Rs.125. I also got the ECs by referring to your website. The agents were asking for Rs.2500 for the EC, but I got it online for Rs.40. Keep up the good work.” 

“Trust me, I have worked in IT for 2 decades and it was taking me multiple tries and stumping me to use online tools to meet the criteria of the file size, file type and photo size combination that is demanded by the portal. I would have continued to battle another hour had I not stumbled on this portal which made formating the photo file a breeze!” (For the Kaveri Image Resizer tool)

Write a guide on “How to get a legal heir certificate in Karnataka” or “How to withdraw PF” and attach it to your resume and a brief note on why you are interested in the role. We’ll reach out to selected applicants for an interview.

The ‘How to Apply’ section in this link includes resources with guidance for writing this guide, examples that illustrate the level of detail expected, and the overall content structure: https://zencitizen.in/2025/11/22/hiring-civic-research-operations-associate/

Please send your application to hiring@zencitizen.in with “Civic Research & Operations Associate - Zen Citizen” in the subject line.