Assistant Manager/Manager for Research & Evaluation
Arpan, an organisation working to end child sexual abuse, is now hiring an Assistant Manager/Manager for Research & Evaluation in Mumbai. Candidates need a relevant Master's degree, four to five years of quantitative development research experience, and skills in tools like SPSS, STATA, or R. Salary is market-based plus reimbursements.
9/19/20263 min read
Arpan Is Hiring a Research & Evaluation Manager in Mumbai: What the Role Involves and Who Should Apply
Most research professionals in the development sector eventually run into the same frustration: months of careful data work end up in a report that few people act on. A new opening at Arpan takes a different approach. The organisation, which works towards freedom from child sexual abuse, is looking for an Assistant Manager/Manager for Research & Evaluation in Mumbai, and the job exists to make sure evidence shapes decisions.
A Role Built Around One Big Question
Preventing child sexual abuse is difficult, and it is even harder to know which prevention approaches work. The person Arpan hires will help answer that. They will lead research and programme evaluations that test what is effective, then feed those findings into how the organisation designs, delivers, and scales its work.
This is a managerial-level position, so it comes with real ownership. The listing expects the candidate to lead internal and external research and evaluation projects independently, from the first design discussions to the final report. The salary is offered as per experience and market standards, with reimbursements on top.
What the Work Looks Like Day to Day
The role covers the whole research cycle. On the design side, you will build and pilot quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies, working closely with programme teams so the questions being asked matter to the people running the work.
Analysis is a large part of the job. You will use statistical software to work through programme and research data and turn it into insights that inform strategy and implementation. You will also oversee data quality on both internal and external studies, and make sure ethical and child protection protocols are followed. In a field where the subject matter is this sensitive, that responsibility carries real weight.
Arpan also works with outside research agencies, so part of your job will be holding partners to high standards of rigour and deadlines. You will write and review reports, keep track of new findings in the field through regular literature reviews, and turn dense academic papers into plain-language talking points that colleagues, government partners, and funders can use. Maintaining the organisation's research knowledge databases and coordinating the dissemination of reports round out the role.
Qualifications and Experience Arpan Is Looking For
The educational bar is a Master's degree in a developmental, statistical, or population studies discipline, or a closely related field. What sets it apart is the coursework: candidates should have graduate-level grounding in statistics, econometrics, impact evaluation, and economic development.
On experience, Arpan wants a minimum of four to five years in quantitative research within the development sector. Exposure to child protection or child sexual abuse work is preferred, though the listing frames it as a plus rather than a requirement.
Technically, the posting names tools such as SPSS, STATA, R, NVivo, and SurveyCTO. Experience with experimental or quasi-experimental research designs is an added advantage. Beyond software, the soft skills matter just as much: strong research writing, project management (including anticipating risks and delivering on time and within budget), stakeholder communication, and confident PowerPoint presentation skills, which the listing calls a requisite.
Why This Job Deserves a Look
Three things make this opening more interesting than a typical research vacancy.
First, the link between analysis and action is unusually direct. The listing says research evidence will inform programme strategy, training, government partnerships, and fundraising, which means your work will influence decisions across the organisation.
Second, the role is methodologically broad. You will move between survey design, mixed-method studies, and possibly experimental designs, which is good experience for anyone building a long-term career in impact evaluation.
Third, the mission is specific and serious. Few research roles are tied so closely to protecting children, and Arpan's Great Place to Work certification suggests the organisation also pays attention to how it treats its people.
Who Should Apply
The best fit is an M&E specialist, research officer, or impact evaluation analyst who has spent several years in quantitative development research and is ready to lead studies rather than support them. It also suits professionals from other social sectors who want to move into child protection and can show strong methodological credentials.
How to Apply
Applications are open through Arpan's official link: https://lnkd.in/dqyFcDke. The full job description is on the careers page at https://www.arpan.org.in/careers/.
A focused application will help. Highlight the studies you have led, the statistical tools you used, any reports or evaluations you authored, and at least one example of turning a complex finding into a practical programme recommendation. That last point matters, because it is the skill this role is really about.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the job located? Mumbai.
How much experience is required? At least four to five years of quantitative research experience in the development sector.
Is child protection experience mandatory? It is preferred, not listed as compulsory.
What is the salary? As per experience and market standards, plus reimbursements.
Which tools should I know? SPSS, STATA, R, NVivo, and SurveyCTO are named, along with PowerPoint for presentations.
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