Research and Development Program Manager

Company Description

At Atmadhruti, we are a life planning organization committed to empowering individuals to achieve resilience, balance, and harmony in their personal and professional lives. Our holistic approach combines personalized coaching, strategic life planning, and sustainable practices to help individuals thrive in today's world.

Role Description

The Research Lead will spearhead the design, execution, and dissemination of research initiatives that strengthen the organisation's coaching methodologies, wellness programs, and institutional offerings. This role ensures that all interventions are evidence-based, culturally relevant, and aligned with the organisation's mission to empower individuals and communities through behavioral transformation and experiential learning.

What You Will Do: Key Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Research Strategy & Design
• Develop and implement a research roadmap aligned with organisational goals.
• Identify emerging trends in life coaching, behavioral sciences, and wellness practices.
• Design qualitative and quantitative studies to measure program impact.
• Program Evaluation & Impact Measurement
• Establish metrics and frameworks to assess effectiveness of coaching interventions, workshops, and retreats.
• Conduct longitudinal studies to track participant growth and resilience outcomes.
• Prepare detailed reports and dashboards for leadership and stakeholders.
• Knowledge Development & Innovation
• Curate global best practices in coaching, psychology, and education.
• Collaborate with facilitators to integrate research insights into training modules.
• Innovate new tools (e.g., psychometric assessments, experiential learning frameworks).
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Partner with academic institutions, wellness experts, and industry bodies for collaborative studies.
• Present findings at conferences, seminars, and internal forums.
• Support marketing and outreach teams with data-driven insights for credibility building.
• Team Leadership & Capacity Building
• Mentor junior researchers and interns.
• Build a culture of inquiry and evidence-based practice across the organisation.
• Ensure ethical standards and compliance in all research activities.

Core qualifications :

- Advanced degree: MA/MSc or PhD in Education, Educational Psychology, Curriculum & Instruction, Cognitive Science, or Humanities with pedagogy focus. Bonus: certifications in instructional design (e.g., ID, ADDIE), positive psychology, or contemplative studies.

- Knowledge of UGC frameworks: Demonstrated familiarity with UGC's Jeevan Kaushal/Value Education/NEP 2020, outcome-based education, and NAAC/NBA quality norms.

- Research methods: Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills; competence with impact evaluation, psychometrics, rubric design, and mixed-methods studies.

- Curriculum design: Proven ability to design competency-based, interdisciplinary curricula covering communication, life skills, cognitive and non-cognitive domains, and spirituality/ethics in a secular, plural framework.

- Assessment expertise: Experience creating valid/reliable measures for soft skills, SEL, and values; pre-post studies; longitudinal tracking.

- EdTech literacy: Familiarity with LMS/LXP, learning analytics, AI-assisted content creation, and micro-credentialing/badging.

Experience

- 10-15+ years in R&D or academic leadership in higher education/skill development, including 5-8 years managing multi-disciplinary teams (content, pedagogy, psychology, data, and tech).

- Track record aligning curricula with national frameworks (UGC/AICTE/NSQF) and implementing at scale across institutions.

- Published work or completed pilots on SEL, life skills, values education, contemplative pedagogy, or wellbeing programs.

- Successful grant writing/industry or NGO partnerships; evidence of budgets, timelines, and ethics compliance management.

- Implementation experience in teacher/faculty development (ToT), change management, and monitoring & evaluation.

Competencies :

• Strong grounding in behavioral sciences, psychology, or education research.
• Expertise in data analysis, impact measurement, and report writing.
• Ability to translate complex findings into practical coaching strategies.
• Collaborative mindset with facilitators, coaches, and outreach teams.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Minimum bar

- Master's in relevant field, 10+ years curriculum/R&D experience, direct work with UGC/NEP-aligned programs, and demonstrated assessment expertise for soft skills/values.

Nice-to-have

- PhD; experience across multiple Indian states; publications on SEL/values; EdTech analytics; multilingual content leadership.

Why Join Atmadhruti

Be part of an organization that is not just teaching skills, but shaping lives. We offer a competitive salary, a collaborative work environment, and the opportunity to build a curriculum that has a direct, positive impact on career success and emotional well-being globally.

Work Location

Kolkata

Job Type

Full time, Permanent, General Day Shift

Compensation

We offer a competitive salary based on experience.

Ready to design the future of learning Apply today at [Confidential Information]