Senior Research Lead

JD for Senior Research Lead at Involve Learning Solutions Foundation

At Involve, we’re on a mission to bring students to the center of their own learning journeys. We believe that when students are trusted, supported, and given space to lead, they don’t just learn better they thrive.

We started back in 2018 when our founders, Divanshu and Samyak, both fresh out of IIT Madras, chose to skip placements and instead build something that mattered. They envisioned classrooms where students weren’t just passive listeners, but active participants—teaching, mentoring, leading, and growing together.

Today, that vision is alive and growing, and we are working with government schools in six Indian states. Our core program, Peer Teaching, trains senior students to mentor their juniors in foundational skills like reading and math. But it’s about more than academics—it’s about building confidence, communication, problem-solving, and agency. Because we believe agency is the key to breaking cycles of inequality and helping young people truly own their futures. Over the next 5 years we look forward to creating impact for 10 million children across the length and breadth of India!

We work hand-in-hand with state and district governments in places like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Karnataka. We’ve been lucky to be backed by incredible partners like the Agency Fund, Acumen, Central Square Foundation, and Wells Fargo. And along the way, we’ve been recognized by platforms like HundrED and Reimagine Education for doing things differently—and effectively.

But honestly, what keeps us going is our students. The girl who ran her first peer-led session with shaky hands and a steady voice. The boy who found his voice helping his classmates. The thousands of stories that remind us every day why this work matters.

Experience: 2–4 years (Development Sector | Research-Intensive Roles)

Location: Bengaluru

Role Intent

This role is designed for a research professional who already functions as a lead, someone who does not require handholding, close supervision, or micromanagement. The Senior Research Lead will own the research agenda, bring intellectual leadership to projects, and position education research within broader development discourses including gender, climate, inclusion, equity, and SDGs.

The role requires original thinking, methodological confidence, and the ability to independently steer complex research work.

Core Responsibilities

• Contribute to shaping the organisation’s research strategy and agenda by identifying emerging research themes, partnerships, and funding opportunities aligned with organisational priorities.
• Support leadership in translating research findings into strategic narratives for policy engagement, advocacy, and donor communication.
• Develop the annual research plan, prioritise key research questions, and independently lead rigorous research studies from design to dissemination.
• Apply a strategic and interdisciplinary approach to research, identifying connections across datasets, disciplines, and development goals.
• Lead quantitative data analysis, including trend analysis and interpretation of large and complex datasets, with minimal external guidance.
• Produce publication-quality outputs, including research papers, policy-oriented reports, and opinion pieces, grounded in strong evidence and analysis.
• Engage deeply with academic literature by critically reading, synthesising, and applying theories and concepts to inform research design and interpretation.
• Provide technical and intellectual leadership to research team members through mentoring, capacity building, and rigorous review of research outputs.
• Build and sustain professional research networks and represent the organisation in academic, policy, and sectoral forums.
• Uphold high standards of research ethics, quality, and intellectual rigour across all research processes and outputs.
  
  
  

• Education: Master’s in Education, Social Sciences, Economics, or a related field with a strong research and quantitative training.
• Experience:
• Must have 2+ years of experience in research, monitoring, and evaluation, preferably in the education or development sector.
• Experience designing and executing mixed-methods & quantitative research studies.
• Proven track record of independently managing research projects from conception to dissemination.
• Experience contributing to or authoring research papers, policy briefs, or analytical reports.
• Exposure to interdisciplinary research (e.g., education intersecting with gender, inclusion, climate, or equity).
  
• Technical Skills:
• Strong proficiency in quantitative & qualitative data analysis.
• Familiarity with education policies and frameworks in the global and local contexts.
• Working knowledge of statistical and data analysis software (e.g., R, Stata, SPSS, Python, or equivalent).
• Experience with data visualisation and presentation of findings for technical and non-technical audiences.
  
• Other Skills:
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
• Ability in working with ambiguity and shaping direction proactively.