Job Title : Senior Consultant – Policy, Research & Digital Transformation
Location: India (with travel as required), Delhi based is preferred
Engagement: Full-time / Project-based (as per study requirements)
About Us
Celebrating over fifteen years of innovative and collaborative work, Athena Infonomics has established itself as a data-driven global consultancy that leverages social science research, data science, and technology to provide user-centric, context-specific solutions and advice to decision makers.
Our multidisciplinary and multi-cultural team of 75+ professionals spread across Asia, Africa, US and Europe exemplify extensive experience in designing and applying research methods to co-design and co-produce useful research that is inclusive and relevant.
Our team of data scientists apply agile programming and ICT tools in order to deliver responsive and practical data and digital solutions—making for an innovative, technology-oriented business model that sets us apart in the international development space.
The international business community is taking notice of this unique approach: in 2021 alone, Athena Infonomics was recognized on The Financial Times, Nikkei Asia, and Statista's High-Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2021 and 2022 ranking, and was selected as one of The Economic Times and Statista's 2021, 2022 and 2023 India Growth Champions.
About The Study
The Senior Consultant will support a national-level study focused on
advancing AI adoption among Manufacturing MSMEs, with sectoral coverage including
textiles, pharmaceuticals (including med-tech), electronics, and related manufacturing ecosystems. The study operates at the intersection of
government policy, industry practices, digital transformation, and applied research, and involves close engagement with government stakeholders, industry bodies, MSMEs, and technology ecosystem actors.
Role Overview
The Senior Consultant will play a critical role in
research design, policy analysis, field-based qualitative and quantitative research, and development of high-quality knowledge outputs such as white papers, policy briefs, and research reports.
The role requires strong familiarity with
government policies, schemes, and institutional frameworks, particularly in the MSME and manufacturing context, along with the ability to translate field insights and data into
clear, evidence-based recommendations for policymakers and ecosystem stakeholders.
This is a
hands-on research and writing role, requiring analytical rigor, stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to work across sectors and data sources.
Key Responsibilities
- Research & Analytical Responsibilities
- Design and execute qualitative and quantitative research methodologies aligned with the study objectives, including surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and case studies.
- Conduct policy and ecosystem analysis related to MSMEs, manufacturing sectors, digital transformation, and AI adoption at central and state levels.
- Analyse government schemes, regulatory frameworks, and institutional mechanisms relevant to MSMEs, electronics, pharmaceuticals/med-tech, and textiles.
- Support data analysis using appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative tools to generate actionable insights.
- Synthesize multi-source data (policy documents, field findings, stakeholder inputs, secondary research) into structured analytical outputs.
- Writing & Knowledge Outputs
- Lead and contribute to the drafting of white papers, research reports, policy briefs, concept notes, and consultation summaries.
- Translate complex research findings into clear, well-structured, and policy-relevant narratives suitable for government and industry audiences.
- Ensure all written outputs meet high standards of analytical depth, clarity, coherence, and evidence-based reasoning.
- Support preparation of presentations, discussion notes, and background papers for stakeholder consultations, workshops, and validation sessions.
- Government & Stakeholder Engagement
- Engage with government ministries, state departments, implementing agencies, industry associations, and sector experts to support research, validation, and dissemination activities.
- Support coordination with ecosystem stakeholders for fieldwork, consultations, and expert inputs.
- Assist in documenting stakeholder perspectives and integrating them into research findings and recommendations.
- Demonstrate sensitivity to government processes, protocols, and communication styles.
- Sectoral Focus & Field Engagement
- Undertake field-based research and consultations with MSMEs, industry bodies, and ecosystem actors across priority sectors.
- Develop sector-specific insights on operational challenges, digital maturity, and AI adoption opportunities in manufacturing MSMEs.
- Contribute to sectoral deep-dives covering textiles, pharmaceuticals/med-tech, electronics, and allied manufacturing segments.
- Project Support & Quality Assurance
- Support the Project Lead/Director in ensuring alignment between research activities, study objectives, and deliverables.
- Maintain documentation, research logs, and version-controlled outputs as per project requirements.
- Adhere to timelines, quality standards, and reporting requirements of the study.
Required Qualifications
Educational Background
- Bachelor's degree in Economics, Engineering, Public Policy, Management, Social Sciences, Technology, or a related discipline.
- Master's degree in Public Policy, Economics, Management, Development Studies, Technology Management, Data/Research-oriented disciplines, or other relevant fields.
Experience
- 7–10 years of relevant professional experience in research, consulting, policy advisory, or program implementation roles.
- Demonstrated experience in policy research, sectoral studies, or government-facing projects.
- Prior exposure to MSME-related policy work and at least one of the following sectors is strongly preferred:
- Electronics
- Pharmaceuticals / Med-tech
- Textiles
- Manufacturing or industrial ecosystems
- Experience contributing to or leading research publications, white papers, or analytical reports.
Key Skills & Competencies
- Strong qualitative and/or quantitative research skills, including tool design and data analysis.
- Excellent writing and documentation skills, with the ability to produce publication-quality research outputs.
- Sound understanding of government policy frameworks, schemes, and institutional ecosystems in India.
- Ability to work across multiple stakeholders and sectors in complex policy environments.
- Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and ability to synthesize complex information.
- Comfort with fieldwork, consultations, and stakeholder interactions.
- Professional communication skills suited to government and industry audiences.
Desirable Attributes
- Exposure to digital transformation, AI, or technology-enabled policy initiatives (conceptual understanding is sufficient; deep technical expertise is not mandatory).
- Experience working with central/state governments, think tanks, research institutions, or consulting organizations.
- Familiarity with MSME ecosystems, industrial clusters, or value-chain–based studies.
Athena Infonomics is an Equal Opportunities Employer
Athena Infonomics is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.
AI Proficiency and Responsible Use
Proficiency in the responsible and sophisticated use of AI is a mandatory requirement for all roles, across all levels and functions at Athena Infonomics 
