Job Opportunity for Program Associate – Research & Framework Development at CEGIS in Delhi

Job Description

Position: Program Associate- Research and Framework Development
Reporting to: Senior Program Manager
Location: New Delhi
Experience: 1-3 years

About CEGIS:

Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS pronounced See-Jis) aims to improve lives by helping Indian state governments deliver better development outcomes. We work with the State Governments of India to enable a transformative improvement in the functioning of the Indian state in the coming decade. Informed by cutting-edge research and evidence as well as a practical orientation toward implementable ideas, CEGIS aims to provide Indian states with both an analytical roadmap for governance and expenditure reforms as well as strategic implementation support to deliver on this vision.

The organisation has a sharp focus on improving the quality of public expenditure, personnel and data and through it, develops templates for achieving a step-function improvement in development outcomes across India. We strive to produce high-quality economic analysis to inform state-level policy-making and work closely with top bureaucratic leadership in states. CEGIS possesses world-leading technical expertise across teams and a deep understanding of service delivery in India. Today, CEGIS works across 6 Indian states and 15+ projects across 6 sectors – Education, Nutrition, and Local Governance among others.

The Personnel Management team leads capacity building initiatives for the sustained and targeted learning of government officials in collaboration with partners such as Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, IDinsight and Tarento. The team works with government officials to improve their capacity to execute, by equipping them with the tools to build upon their competencies required at work.

Position Summary

Join our team as an Associate – Research and Framework Development and be at the forefront of pioneering work to professionalise HR management practices within the Indian government. Through in-depth research, innovative thinking, and strategic framework development, you will lead the charge in revolutionising competency-based recruitment and goal-setting methodologies. This groundbreaking initiative marks the first of its kind in India, aiming to elevate government HR practices to international standards and drive organisational excellence. If you’re passionate about driving organisational excellence through research-driven solutions, we want to hear from you!

Roles and Responsibilities:

1. Competency-Based Recruitment Research: 

• Conduct thorough research on competency-based recruitment practices in India, including regulatory reports, government committee findings, and international models.
• Generate a comprehensive literature review and approach note synthesising key insights and recommendations.
• Develop prototypes to enhance recruitment workflows and pilot/test them in client engagements for refinement and optimization.

2. Goal Setting Framework Development:

• Research best practices in goal setting for ministries, departments, and organisations in India, exploring relevant literature and conceptual frameworks.
• Create a framework for setting realistic, achievable, and SMART targets to improve performance reviews and accountability within the Indian government landscape.
• Design workflows and templates for data collection to support the implementation of the framework, and develop prototypes for testing in client engagements.

3. Supporting the Competency Mapping workflow

• Supporting mapping and development of competencies, population of the database of competency building products, and procurement and onboarding of assessment providers as required

4. Project Management and Collaboration:

• Collaborate with team members to ensure alignment with project goals and timelines.
• Manage project tasks effectively, ensuring timely completion of deliverables and milestones.
• Communicate findings, progress, and recommendations to internal stakeholders and clients in a clear and concise manner.

5. Continuous Improvement and Innovation:

• Stay updated on emerging trends and best practices in competency-based recruitment and performance management.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and process improvement within the research and framework development processes.
• Proactively contribute to the development and enhancement of tools, methodologies, and deliverables to drive client success and organisational growth.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Public Policy, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with experience in synthesising complex information and generating actionable insights.
• Excellent project management abilities, with the capability to manage multiple tasks and stakeholders concurrently.
• Proficiency in data analysis and visualisation tools (e.g., Excel, Tableau) is preferred.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present findings and recommendations persuasively.

Behavioural Requirements:

• Embrace an open, diverse, and positive work environment.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Work collaboratively with multiple teams at horizontal and vertical levels in a result-oriented manner.
• Practise proactive reflection and continuous improvement of behaviours and actions.

Note:

Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy and social sector pay scales and will depend on the candidates experience levels.