Job Opportunity for Economic Policy Analyst at CEGIS in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

## Job Description – Economic Policy Analyst

**About The Convergence Foundation**

The Convergence Foundation (TCF) is a grant-making incubator, run by philanthropist Ashish Dhawan, which builds and scales new foundations in key areas of India’s development sector. TCF’s mission is to accelerate India’s development by supporting high-impact organizations that are working to address critical challenges in the country.

**About CEGIS**

The Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS) is a TCF initiative that aims to help state governments strengthen their capacity and public systems to improve governance, service delivery, and the effectiveness of public expenditure. CEGIS works closely with state governments to identify and implement evidence-based policy solutions that can improve the lives of millions of people.

**Job Location**

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

**Experience Required**

* A Masters degree in Economics, Public Policy, or a related field is strongly preferred.

* Relevant work experience of at least 3 years related to empirical research in the domain of public policy is an additional asset, although not a strict requirement.

* Applicants without work experience must be able to demonstrate requisite skills and inclination through a strong academic record.

**Position Summary**

CEGIS is seeking multiple Economic Policy Analysts to join the Economics and Statistics Unit. In this role, you will conduct economic analysis focused on state-level policy issues in India, helping drive analytical work and impactful research on policies and programs that can boost the effectiveness of public spending and improve development outcomes.

**Role and Responsibilities**

* **Economic Research and Technical Analysis:** Conduct comprehensive economic research and analysis on various policy and programmatic issues relevant to state governments. Develop data-driven insights and recommendations to support effective policy implementation and governance reforms. Support CEGIS field projects, including sampling design, data analytical frameworks, and analytical tools. Curate and update datasets (international, national, and state) for rapid analysis.

* **Policy Development and Collaboration:** Engage with senior government officials to identify research, analysis, and knowledge gaps that can be filled by CEGIS. Engage with a range of stakeholders, including government officials, researchers, and think-tanks, to foster effective policy dialogues and knowledge sharing across Indian states, and beyond. Support CEGIS teams and projects in developing and implementing evidence-based policy solutions, providing critical economic insights and analyses. Translate economic research findings into practical policy ideas and reforms that can be presented to state governments for consideration.

* **Knowledge Creation and Dissemination:** Draft high-quality notes, reports, policy briefs, and academic papers, applying economic concepts and analytical methods effectively. Create and present accessible content to communicate complex economic findings and insights to both academic and non-academic audiences.

**Skills**

* Proficiency in data science and experience working with large datasets.

* Knowledge of at least one statistical analysis software (STATA, R, etc.) is an essential requirement. Proficiency in these will be a strong advantage.

* Knowledge of other programming languages (like Python), and GIS software packages will provide candidates with a strong advantage.

* Familiarity with major research datasets covering India and experience in compiling and using complex datasets.

* Strong writing and communication skills in English; fluency in any other Indian languages is a plus.

* Capability in preparing high-quality policy briefs, research papers, and notes.

* Demonstrated interest in government functioning improvement and using research and evidence to inform policy.

* Exposure to project design and implementation, particularly in collaboration with government officials or large-scale projects, is advantageous.

**Personal Characteristics and Desired Qualities**

* Strong quantitative, analytical, and conceptual skills in economics.

* Ability to work effectively across a range of projects at any given time.

* Adaptability to work independently and as part of a small, dynamic team.

* Creative thinking, willingness to experiment with new ideas, and ability to translate ideas into action plans and execute them.

* Intellectual curiosity and commitment to continuous learning.

* Passion for working with governments to enhance state effectiveness.

**Location and Compensation**

This role will be based out of Chennai. Remuneration will be competitive with Indian academic, and think tank pay scales and will depend on the candidates experience levels.

**Note:** CEGIS has zero tolerance to sexual harassment. We therefore expect each applicant to self-declare related to the same. CEGIS could, if required, initiate a prevention of sexual harassment-based background verification. If an applicant is reported of misconduct, appropriate action that may include employment termination would be taken.