Job ID: 291206

Field Researcher

The Penn Collective Trust

Location: Chennai, Ennore, Pulicat, Tamil Nadu

Apply by: 02 May 2026

Relevant Sectors

Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy

Environment, Climate, Energy, Water, Sanitation

Social, Gender, Education, Youth, Child

Job Title: Field Researcher

Focus Area: Gender/Displacement/Climate Change/Livelihoods

Location: Chennai & Ennore/Pulicat regions

Employment Type: Contract

About The Penn Collective Trust:
The Penn Collective Trust is a non-profit, non-partisan, public charitable trust that has been committed to strengthening democratic participation and advancing gender-just, inclusive leadership across governance structures in India since 2023. The Penn Collective aims to redefine the socio-political spaces by equipping women with the skills necessary for political engagement, encourage them to pursue a career in politics as a long-term goal, and foster a strong community of women leaders. Our aim is to nurture, equip, and sustain a diverse pipeline of socially conscious leaders, particularly women and gender minorities from historically marginalized communities - through education, research, cultural engagement, mentorship, and ecosystem-building, grounded in constitutional values of equality, dignity, and justice.

Role Overview:
The Field Researcher is responsible for collecting high-quality, reliable data from communities, stakeholders, and program sites to support evidence-based decision-making. This role involves direct engagement with target communities, taking up participatory research, and ensuring ethical and accurate data collection in alignment with organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct field visits to gather quantitative and qualitative dataAdminister participatory research and appraisal tools
- Administer surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions
- Build rapport with community members and local stakeholders
- Ensure informed consent and maintain ethical research standards
- Accurately record, manage, and submit field data
- Identify and report emerging trends, challenges, and insights
- Collaborate with team to refine data collection tools
- Maintain field notes, documentation, and reports
- Support monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities
- Travel regularly to project locations, including remote areas

Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field
- 1–3 years of experience in field research, data collection, or community work (freshers with strong skills may be considered)
- A woman candidate from Ennore/Pulicat or surrounding regions/Chennai
- Familiarity with research methodologies and data collection techniques
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to work independently in diverse and sometimes challenging environments
- Fluency in Tamil and working proficiency in English
- Cultural sensitivity and experience working with vulnerable populations

Key Competencies:
1. Strong alignment towards gender equality and constitutional values
2. Attention to detail and accuracy
3. Ethical integrity and confidentiality
4. Adaptability and problem-solving
5. Time management and organization
6. Empathy and cultural awareness

Working Conditions:
- Frequent travel to project areas
- Field-based work with office visits as well

Compensation:
20,000-25,000 per month, based on experience and skillsets. Salary is non-negotiable.

How to Apply:
Write to us at (pennpolitics.tn@gmail.com) with a covering letter and resume on or before 2nd May 2026

Job Email ID:

pennpolitics.tn(at)gmail.com