Qualitative Research Associate

Ek Kutumb   conducts rigorous research to understand the values, attitudes, and beliefs that shape communities across India. The organisation undertakes large-scale mixed-methods research at the state level and seeks to generate insights to inform more inclusive and resonant policy and programme design.

We are seeking a   Qualitative Research Associate   who can contribute meaningfully to this vision.

The   Qualitative Research Associate   will play a central role during the exploratory stages of research, particularly in setting up studies in new states, and will continue to contribute throughout the research process by helping answer critical questions about what people think, why they think the way they do, and how these perspectives are formed in everyday life. The role involves extensive field engagement, including conducting in-depth interviews and moderating focus group discussions to better understand people's motivations, concerns, values, and lived experiences.

The role requires regular travel of approximately ten to fifteen days per month across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. All travel-related arrangements, including safety and accommodation, will be managed by the organisation.
The role also requires familiarity with research methods and the ability to interpret field insights within the local social, political, cultural, and historical context. The candidate should be comfortable conducting the first round of qualitative coding and organising field data for further analysis.
Beyond field research, the   Qualitative Research Associate   will contribute to other research initiatives at Ek Kutumb and work closely with internal teams and external partners to support ongoing projects.
The ideal candidate is curious about people and society, comfortable working in diverse field settings, and able to translate lived experiences from the ground into meaningful research insights.

Key Responsibilities  Design and Adapt Research Instruments    Design and refine research tools such as interview guides and focus group discussion protocols.
Ensure research instruments are methodologically sound, culturally sensitive, and capable of capturing behavioural patterns as well as underlying values, attitudes, and beliefs related to climate change and social change.
Conduct Qualitative Data Collection & Monitor Fieldwork    Conduct in-depth interviews with individuals and community members in different locations across India
Facilitate and moderate focus group discussions and community conversations.
Support coordination of field research activities, including interviews, focus groups, and surveys conducted in collaboration with local partners or agencies.
Ensure high standards of data quality, ethical practices, and adherence to research timelines and protocols.
Qualitative Data Analysis & Insights development    Conduct the first round of qualitative coding and organise field notes and transcripts.
Identify emerging themes, patterns, and insights from qualitative data.
Contribute to identifying meaningful insights that can inform communication strategies, policy thinking, and program design.
Contribute to the Development of Research Outputs    Contribute to the preparation of research outputs, including reports, summaries, and presentations.
Support the development of clear and structured materials that communicate findings to internal teams and external partners.

What You Bring    Experience in qualitative methodologies in social research, market research, or policy research. Experience in areas such as political psychology, social psychology, behavioural science, or public policy is preferred.
Experience working with qualitative research methods, including conducting interviews, moderating focus group discussions, and organising qualitative data.
Ability to interpret research findings within local social, cultural, and political contexts.
Familiarity with qualitative analysis tools such as NVivo or similar platforms is preferred. Comfort with spreadsheets and basic data organisation is expected.
Strong analytical and writing skills with the ability to translate complex insights into clear and structured findings.
Good communication skills and the ability to interact with diverse communities as well as research teams.
Willingness to travel to remove parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh & other Indian States.
Curiosity about topics such as climate change, governance, social values, and social change.
Experience coordinating with external research partners or field agencies is an advantage.
Fluency in English is not mandatory, but candidates should be able to read and understand English. Knowledge of additional Indian languages is highly valued.
Candidates from any academic background are welcome to apply.