Design Research Manager, Youth Futures Studio

About Quest Alliance:

Quest Alliance is a not-for-profit organization working across India, dedicated to equipping young people with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world of work. Since 2008, we've been reimagining how young learners, especially those from underserved communities experience education, career readiness, and lifelong learning. We have been enabling equitable school-to-work transitions by building future-ready learning ecosystems that prioritize access, inclusion, and innovation.

Through strong collaboration with government systems, educators, communities, and civil society, we co-create tech-enabled learning experiences that empower young learnersespecially those from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds to build dignified, thriving and future-ready careers.

We envision a world where education goes beyond access, becoming a powerful tool for self-empowerment, social mobility, and lasting impact.

About the role:

Quest Alliance is looking for a dynamic and creative Design Research Manager to join our Youth Futures Studio. The studio serves as an innovation lab, leveraging futures thinking, speculative design methodologies, design research and ethnography to empower young people in navigating a rapidly changing world of work and life.

Key Responsibilities:

Support in designing and executing innovative research projects through a design thinking lens:

• Design research projects that prioritize youth voices and lived experiences
• Employ mixed-methods approaches employing ethnographic approaches, participatory methods, and co-creation techniques
• Create research tools including interview guides, observation frameworks, cultural probes, and participatory design workshops
• Investigating and consolidating secondary research, including mapping trends and discourses in the field and the sector
• Support the team in facilitating workshops and action research with young people

Support in transforming research into actionable design insights:

• Analyse, synthesise and distill research findings into knowledge products which can be appreciated by a wider audience - including reports, academic papers, blogs, and op-eds.
• Synthesize insights from qualitative and quantitative research to inform design processes and speculative outputs.
• Integrate quantitative data with qualitative insights to create compelling narratives
• Develop design principles and opportunity areas that can guide intervention development
• Document the research and action research process and outcomes in visually compelling formats.
• Share learnings and outputs through internal and external communication channels, including events, reports, and media.

Creative Prototyping & Storytelling:

• Conceptualise physical and digital prototypes (e.g., objects, experiences, or simulations) that represent future scenarios for youth.
• Craft compelling narratives and visual materials that help stakeholders imagine alternative futures.
• Lead creative workshops with youth and partners to co-create future scenarios and concepts.
• Use speculative design methodologies to explore what if scenarios in youth development, education, and workforce readiness.
• Conceptualise artifacts, prototypes, and experiences that challenge existing assumptions and inspire innovative thinking.
• Translate complex research insights into engaging narratives, visuals, and future possibilities.

Design participatory events and knowledge-sharing experiences:

• Conceptualize and design the flagship, research informed event Quest2Learn using experience design principles
• Create participatory workshop formats that engage diverse stakeholders in knowledge co-creation
• Facilitate collaborative sense-making sessions that build dialogue across the sector

Qualifications:

• 3-5+ years of experience at the intersection of research, design, and communications.
• Background or understanding of participatory research methods, social design, design research, futures thinking, or related disciplines.
• An experimental mindset and interest in developing innovative design research methods.
• Excellent storytelling skills, with experience in facilitation and ecosystem engagement.
• Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Fluency with tools like Figma and Adobe Creative Suite would be good to have.
• Experience in coordinating with creative vendors and studios.
• Proficiency in Hindi and/or other regional languages preferred.

Must Haves:

• Portfolio of work showcasing artefacts, exhibits, games, workshops, and other designed experiences you've created or led. (upload as Other on the application form alongside your resume)

Preferred:

• Established experience involving knowledge product development and dissemination.
• Willingness to travel to field locations, convenings, and other engagements.

Salary: The pay band for the position starts at Rs. 77,000/- per month (cost to company)(The salary offered will be commensurate with the experience and expertise of the candidate)

Benefits:

In addition to your compensation, you are also eligible for a suite of benefits designed to support your well-being and growth:

- Comprehensive Personal Accident Insurance covering up to 10,00,000 annually

- Mediclaim Insurance covering up to 3,00,000 annually, supported through our insurance partner, Loop, which also offers additional wellness benefits

- Reach for the Stars (RFS) amount of up to 5,000 to support your self-learning and knowledge-building efforts

- Internet allowance of up to 750/month, reimbursable based on actual usage to support flexible and hybrid working arrangements

- For employees with children under the age of 6 years, Quest offers childcare or day care fee support through a monthly matching contribution of up to 3,000, helping you create a supportive work-life balance

- Access to emotional health and wellbeing programs such as:

* Group sessions worth 7,500 per session fully covered by the organisation

* 1:1 counselling sessions (worth 1,800 per session), fully covered by the organisation

At Quest Alliance, we pride ourselves on being an Equal Opportunities employer, embracing applications from all segments of the community. We are committed to ensuring that every applicant and employee is treated with fairness and respect, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, social status, caste, religious belief, age, or any other factor that is irrelevant to performance. Your individuality is valued and respected within our organization. At Quest Alliance, we pride ourselves on being an Equal Opportunities employer, embracing applications from all segments of the community. We are committed to ensuring that every applicant and employee is treated with fairness and respect, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, social status, caste, religious belief, age, or any other factor that is irrelevant to performance. Your individuality is valued and respected within our organization.

WEBSITE: https://www.questalliance.net/

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/school/quest-alliance/