Senior Program Associate

Location: Chennai
Experience: 3–6 years in research, consulting, policy think tanks, or government advisory projects
Compensation: Competitive

Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States

The Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS) helps state governments deliver better development outcomes by strengthening their capacity in four core areas: outcome measurement, personnel management, strategic public finance, and effective engagement with external actors. Established in 2019 with support from Ashish Dhawan and research leadership from Prof. Karthik Muralidharan, CEGIS blends rigorous research with on-ground implementation. Today, it partners with states including Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Delhi and Assam, as well as national entities like NITI Aayog, to design evidence-based solutions, build administrative capacity, and ultimately improve how governance works for India’s citizens.

Role

CEGIS is seeking a Senior Program Associate to join its public finance and taxation stream. This role offers a unique opportunity to work with state governments on institutionalising data-driven decision-making, strengthening fiscal systems, and enhancing policy reforms. From research to on-ground implementation, you’ll contribute at every stage of projects, helping states make more evidence-based and effective governance choices.

Responsibilities

Data Analysis & Insight Generation

Collect and organise data in collaboration with state departments.
Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
Extract actionable insights from complex datasets to guide decision-making.
Address data-related issues and ensure compliance with security protocols.

Research & Documentation

Undertake independent research, root cause analysis, and policy diagnostics.
Draft concept notes, briefs, and presentations for government engagement.
Support solution design and adaptation to state contexts.
Maintain knowledge repositories and ensure project documentation.

Stakeholder Engagement

Engage with government counterparts, partners, and other stakeholders regularly.
Coordinate meetings, gather feedback, and ensure continuity in communications.
Foster deeper connections with stakeholders to enable project progress.

Project Management & Delivery

Support the full cycle of project design, pilots, and scale-up.
Coordinate with internal and external teams for delivery excellence.
Monitor project risks, timelines, and contingencies.
Track milestones and support adaptive implementation.

Requirements

Master’s degree (preferred) in economics, public policy, or related fields; strong graduates will also be considered.
3–6 years of relevant experience in India in research, consulting, policy think tanks, or government advisory projects (minimum 3 years required).
Strong experience in managing large datasets, data analysis, and econometric tools.
Proficiency in STATA or R (preferred), plus MS Office.
Experience engaging with government stakeholders and managing complex projects.
Strong research, report writing, and communication skills.
Fluency in English and proficiency in Tamil required.

Benefits

Opportunity to work directly with state governments on reforming governance systems.
Exposure to leading thinkers, bureaucrats, and policy makers in India.
Be part of a high-calibre, mission-driven team working on complex development challenges.
Build expertise across data systems, finance, and governance reforms.