Job ID: 300354

Program and Research Associate

Access Assist

Location: Gurugram/Lucknow/Bhubaneswar, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha

Apply by: 14 Aug 2026

Relevant Sectors

Agriculture, Livelihoods, Microfinance, Rural, Urban

Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy

Environment, Climate, Energy, Water, Sanitation

About Access Assist
Access Assist (ASSIST) is an action tank building practical, scalable solutions for inclusive economic mobility and climate-smart development. Since 2009, we have worked across India and South Asia to advance the well-being of underserved communities particularly women, youth, farmers, and small enterprises by harnessing finance, capital, data, and digital technologies. We work closely with donors, financial institutions, and governments not just to advise, but to act—testing solutions on the ground, bringing catalytic capital to early-stage ideas, and supporting systems to evolve for long-term impact. Access Assist is a Non-Profit Trust registered under the Indian Trust Act, based in New Delhi.

Our work is organized around five strategic focus areas—Inclusive Finance, Economic Mobility & Jobs, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Climate Action & Water, and Responsible Tech & AI—delivered through four intervention vehicles: Research, Convening & Connect; Data-Driven Advisory; Tech Solutions & Incubation; and Blended Finance. https://www.accessassist.in/careers

Role Overview
The Program and Research Associate will lead components of ASSIST's programs, driving research, program design, and stakeholder engagement with a good degree of independence. This role is suited to an experienced development-sector professional who can manage workstreams end-to-end, mentor junior team members, and engage directly with senior stakeholders across government, financial institutions, and donor organizations.

Key Responsibilities

Research & Strategy
Lead research design, market diagnostics, and policy analysis to inform program strategy and organizational positioning.
Design and oversee primary research studies (surveys, interviews, FGDs) and lead analysis of qualitative and quantitative data to generate strategic insights.
Track and synthesize sector trends in inclusive finance, DPI, climate finance, and livelihoods, translating them into implications for ASSIST's programs.
Lead the development of high-quality knowledge products, policy briefs, case studies, and technical reports.

Program Leadership & Implementation
Lead planning, implementation, and monitoring of assigned program(s)/project(s), ensuring alignment with donor requirements and organizational strategy.
Manage relationships with government agencies, financial institutions, implementation partners, and community-level stakeholders.
Own project workplans, budgets, and monitoring frameworks; proactively identify and resolve implementation bottlenecks.
Design and oversee pilots and field-level interventions, including tech and financial inclusion solutions, in coordination with technical teams.
Supervise and mentor Analysts and junior team members.

Data, MIS & Evidence
Oversee the design and use of MIS/data systems for real-time program monitoring and adaptive learning.
Ensure quality and timeliness of donor/government reporting, dashboards, and progress documentation.
Drive evidence-based decision-making, including periodic reviews and evaluations of program performance.

Stakeholder Engagement, Fundraising & Communication
Lead the organization of multi-stakeholder convenings, workshops, and learning platforms.
Represent ASSIST in external forums, donor meetings, and government engagements.
Contribute to proposal development, concept notes, and donor engagement to support program growth and fundraising.
Draft and review high-quality presentations, briefing notes, and strategic communications for senior stakeholders.

Qualifications
Master's degree in Economics, Development Studies, Public Policy, Finance, Statistics, Social Sciences, or a related field.
4–8 years of relevant experience in the development sector, research organizations, financial inclusion, consulting, or related fields, with demonstrated project/program management experience.
Experience with donor-funded programs, government engagement, and/or financial sector/DPI-related work strongly preferred.
Prior experience managing or mentoring junior team members is an advantage.

Skills & Competencies
Strong research design, analytical, and quantitative/qualitative data analysis skills, with the ability to translate findings into strategic recommendations.
Proven program/project management skills, including budgeting, workplanning, and donor reporting.
Proficiency in MS Excel; familiarity with statistical tools (e.g., SPSS, STATA, R, or Python) preferred.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including proposal and report writing for senior/donor audiences.
Demonstrated ability to build and manage relationships with government, financial institutions, and donor stakeholders.
Strong leadership, team management, and mentoring skills.
Willingness to travel to field locations as needed.
Deep commitment to financial inclusion, climate-smart development, and inclusive economic growth.

What We Offer
The opportunity to lead high-impact, on-ground programs across India and South Asia.
A collaborative, mission-driven environment with direct exposure to government, financial sector, and donor ecosystems.
Compensation commensurate with experience and sector benchmarks.

Location

This position is being hired for across Gurugram, Bhubaneswar, Lucknow, and Mumbai. Candidates are requested to indicate their location preference (Preference 1, 2, and 3) in order of priority in their application. Final location will be assigned based on candidate preference and organizational requirements.

How to Apply

Interested candidates may send their updated CV along with a cover letter to hr@accessassist.in, mentioning "Program and Research Associate" in the subject line and indicating their location preferences (1, 2, and 3, in order of priority) from among Gurugram, Bhubaneswar, Lucknow, and Mumbai.

Access Assist is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, and candidates from underrepresented backgrounds.

Job Email ID:

hr(at)accessassist.in