Research Consultant at Centre for Civil Society, New Delhi

About CCS

Centre for Civil Society (CCS) is a leading public policy think tank advancing social change through market-based solutions. Our work in education focuses on enabling student-centric reforms through rigorous evidence, including Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), regulatory reform, and school choice.

Role Overview

• Team: Research & Training
• Reports to: Senior Fellow
• Contract Duration: 01 May – 30 September 2026 (extension contingent on performance and project pipeline)

CCS is seeking an exceptional quantitative researcher to lead execution of a high-stakes, large-scale field study evaluating school choice and learning outcomes under India’s RTE framework. The study leverages the world’s largest school voucher program as a natural experiment, with a sample of ~10,000 students across urban contexts.

This is a frontline research execution role with end-to-end responsibility for data collection quality, analytical rigor, and delivery of publication-grade outputs under a compressed timeline. The role is explicitly designed for candidates who can operate at the level of top-tier applied microeconomics research, while maintaining operational control over complex field processes.

Eligibility

Qualifications & Experience (Strict Requirements)

• PhD (completed or near completion) in Economics, Public Policy, or related quantitative discipline
• Demonstrated expertise in applied econometrics and causal inference
• Proven experience in:
  Managing large-scale household surveys / field experiments
  Working with complex, high-dimensional datasets
  Writing for (or publishing in) high-quality academic journals
• Prior work in education economics / development economics strongly preferred

Core Technical Skills (Essential)

• Advanced proficiency in:
  Econometrics (experimental and quasi-experimental methods)
  Statistical programming (R / Stata / Python)
• Experience with:
  Field RCTs or natural experiments
  Survey design, sampling strategies, and data pipelines
• Strong emphasis on replicable research workflows and coding discipline

Core Competencies

• Exceptional analytical precision and intellectual rigor
• Ability to operate independently in high-pressure, time-constrained environments
• Strong ownership mindset with zero tolerance for compromised quality
• Clear, structured academic writing (journal-ready)
• Ability to bridge technical depth with execution discipline

What Success Looks Like (Non-Negotiable Outcomes)

• Completion of high-quality, large-scale data collection with minimal error rates
• Fully validated, analysis-ready dataset delivered on schedule
• Submission-ready draft of an academic paper by September 2026
• Outputs that meet standards expected for top-tier peer-reviewed journals
• Seamless execution with no major delays across project milestones

Roles & Responsibilities

1. End-to-End Field Execution (Non-Negotiable)

• Lead execution of large-scale household and student-level data collection (~10,000 observations)
• Design and enforce rigorous quality control systems (back-checks, audits, real-time monitoring)
• Manage survey firm(s) with strict performance benchmarks and accountability structures
• Troubleshoot field challenges in real time without compromising data integrity

2. Causal Inference & Quantitative Analysis

• Lead econometric analysis using lottery-based identification strategy
• Implement high-quality estimation frameworks (ATE, LATE, heterogeneity, robustness)
• Ensure full reproducibility: clean code, version control, and documentation standards
• Maintain analytical rigor consistent with top field journal expectations

3. Publication-Grade Research Output

• Lead drafting of an academic paper targeting top-tier peer-reviewed journals
• Produce outputs that meet standards of:
  Conceptual clarity
  Empirical rigor
  Contribution to literature
• Drive internal iteration cycles to rapidly refine drafts toward submission quality

4. High-Control Project Delivery

• Own delivery across all phases: data collection (May–June), analysis (July), draft paper (August-September)
• Work in close coordination with the Research Manager to ensure zero-slippage execution
• Maintain tight control over timelines, outputs, and dependencies across stakeholders

5. Research Integrity & Standards

• Ensure adherence to best practices in:
  Survey design and implementation
  Data validation and cleaning
  Ethical standards and research protocols
• Uphold standards expected in international research collaborations

How to Apply?

Interested candidates can apply online via the link given at the end of the post.

Compensation

Competitive consulting fee; benchmarked to high-end research consulting roles

Location

New Delhi (significant field engagement required in Mumbai/Pune; in-person presence expected during critical phases)

Click here to Apply.

Click here for the Official Notification.