Sanitation First India
Website:
sanitationfirstindia.org
Job details:
Job Profile: Research Assistant
Project: Water, Women, and Family Systems: A Comparative Study of Water-Secure and Water-Insecure Areas in Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu
Funding Agency: ICSSR – Indian Council of Social Science Research
Host Institution: SRM Institute of Science and Technology
Partner Organisation: Sanitation First (SFI)
Project Duration: 24 Months
The project examines how water security affects women’s well-being, family relationships, and the gendered division of labour using mixed-method research across two villages.
Position Summary
The Research Assistant will support the Project Director of the study and research team in implementing the ICSSR-funded research project. The RA will contribute to community support, field coordination, data collection, qualitative study, and any other tasks required at the field level.
The role requires strong field research capability and coordination with community stakeholders and enumerators.
Key Responsibilities
Research Preparation and Tool Development
- Assist with translation and back-translation of research instruments (Tamil–English).
- Support pilot testing and refinement of data collection tools & training materials for field enumerators.
Fieldwork Coordination and Data Collection
- Assist with recruitment and training of field investigators and enumerators.
- Coordinate household listing and sampling procedures.
- Support implementation of household surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions.
- Ensure adherence to ethical research standards and informed consent procedures.
- Monitor data quality and field protocol compliance.
- Liaise with village leaders, community members, and local institutions.
Data Management and Quality Assurance
- Support data collection and conduct data cleaning, verification, and consistency checks.
- Assist with transcription and translation of qualitative interviews as needed.
- Organize and maintain research datasets, field notes, and documentation.
- Participate in data quality audits and field verification exercises as needed.
Knowledge Dissemination and Stakeholder Engagement
- Support community dissemination meetings and validation workshops.
Qualifications
Essential Qualification
- Postgraduate degree in Social Sciences / Public Health / Sociology / Psychology / Development Studies or related discipline with minimum 55% marks.
Preferred
- NET / MPhil / PhD (desirable).
- Prior experience in research or field surveys.
Required Skills and Competencies
Research Skills
- Field research and data collection
- Qualitative interviewing and FGD facilitation
Field & Coordination Skills
- Community engagement
- Enumerator training and supervision
- Project coordination
Personal Competencies
- Strong analytical thinking
- Cultural sensitivity and ethical research practice
- Ability to work in rural field environments
- Strong communication and documentation skillsBottom of Form
Send your resume along with cover letter to hrsanfirst@gmail.com by close of business 27.03.2026
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