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, including Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), regulatory reform, and private sector participation.

Role: Research Manager

Team: Research & Training
Reports to: Senior Fellow

Role Overview

The Research Manager will lead rigorous, quantitative, policy-oriented research to support CCS’s mission of translating ideas into actionable policy change. The role is central to CCS’s strategic priority of “funding students, not schools”, by producing decision-ready evidence, fiscal analysis, and simulation tools that influence policymakers and enable reform adoption. 

This is not a purely academic role; the expectation is to generate high-quality empirical work that directly feeds into policy design, government engagement, and real-world reform pathways.

Key Responsibilities

1. Policy-Relevant Quantitative Research

• Design and execute econometric and data-driven research on education financing, DBT, and school choice
• Build state-specific fiscal models, simulations, and costing frameworks to assess reform feasibility
• Analyse large administrative and survey datasets to generate policy insights on efficiency, equity, and outcomes
• Lead or contribute to RCTs, quasi-experimental studies, and impact evaluations (where relevant)

2. Decision-Ready Policy Outputs

• Translate research into clear, actionable policy products:
  • Policy briefs, decision notes, and advisory memos
  • Simulation models and scenario analyses for policymakers
• Develop rapid-response analytical inputs (2–3 week turnaround) for ongoing policy discussions 
• Support articulation of implementation pathways and design frameworks for reforms such as DBT

3. Policy Engagement & Influence

• Work closely with senior leadership to support high-value policymaker engagements
• Present research insights to government officials, advisors, and external stakeholders
• Contribute to positioning CCS as a credible, evidence-backed advisory partner in education reform

4. Research-to-Policy Translation

• Ensure all research aligns with CCS’s strategic goals of:
  • Shaping policy discourse
  • Building government buy-in
  • Enabling pilot design and policy adoption
• Bridge the gap between technical research and policy communication

5. Research Leadership & Collaboration

• Manage and mentor junior researchers and associates
• Collaborate across teams (policy, outreach, partnerships) to maximise impact
• Build external collaborations with academics, data partners, and domain experts

What Success Looks Like (Indicative Outcomes)

• Research outputs are used in real policy discussions and decisions, as well as are consistently published in tier-1 academic journals
• Policymakers engage with CCS’s analytical tools and fiscal models
• CCS is seen as a go-to partner for evidence-backed education financing reform
• Tangible contribution to pilot design, policy adoption, or reform integration

Compensation: Competitive for the non-profit sector; commensurate with experience and expertise.

Location: New Delhi, with work-related travels (no WFH)

To Apply:

Interested candidates should fill out this application form: link. The last day for submission is 30th April 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Note on Role Fit

This role is best suited for candidates who:

• Prefer applied economics over purely academic research
• Are motivated by real-world policy change
• Can operate at the intersection of data, ideas, and government decision-making
• Has clear openness towards Austrian Economics and Classical Liberalism