Associate Fellow – Research Programme on Business-Society Relations

About the Programme

The newly launched Programme on Business–Society Relations at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), New Delhi, will investigate business-society relations and how various stakeholders perceive responsibilities of Indian businesses towards society. Within this broad theme we will research how Indian corporates are responding to social demands and how their responses are moderated by internal factors such as ownership structures and corporate governance and external context set by the regulatory regime and public expectations. While the research will draw upon various theoretical frameworks, the objective will be to produce evidence-based, policy-relevant research at the intersection of business strategy, corporate governance, and public accountability of corporates. The research outputs will be disseminated through publications/workshops and in an annual flagship event that will include a lecture by a globally recognised thought leader followed by a symposium on the theme.

Role Overview

The research programme is directed by a Senior Fellow. The chosen Associate Fellow will work with the Senior Fellow and anchor the intellectual agenda of the programme. Operating with a high degree of independence, the chosen candidate will contribute to programme design, lead research streams, manage the work of research analyst(s) and produce agreed-upon research outputs. The candidate will also be required to represent CSEP in scholarly and policy forums. The role demands both rigorous academic engagement and the ability to translate findings into policy-relevant outputs that inform India’s corporate governance discourse.

Advantages of Being Associated With CSEP

• Opportunity to engage with policymakers, senior government officials and distinguished academics from leading global institutions.
• Opportunity to grow and work at the forefront of collaboration with a diverse network of global partners, including multilateral organisations, research institutions, and leading industry stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead one or more research streams, including conceptualisation, design, and delivery of findings on topics such as business-society relations, corporate legitimacy, stakeholder governance, and CSR policy in India.
• Develop research designs combining theoretical analysis, case studies, expert interviews, stakeholder surveys, and analysis of regulatory disclosures. Develop survey instruments and interview protocols.
• Conduct literature reviews and synthesise international and Indian scholarship.
• Undertake stakeholder interviews with corporate leaders, investors, regulators, civil society organisations, regulators and policymakers to ground research in practical realities and ensure policy uptake.
• Produce high-quality research outputs including working papers, journal articles, policy briefs, and edited chapters, and take them through peer review and publication processes.
• Present findings at conferences, roundtables and stakeholder consultations.
• Represent CSEP at national and international conferences, roundtables, and executive forums, and contribute to public discourse through media and opinion articles.
• Supervise, mentor, and provide intellectual guidance to the Research Analyst(s) and other project staff.
• Plan and deliver the annual flagship event including the Annual Lecture and Symposium and other preparatory events leading up to the annual event.
• Contribute to proposal writing for external funding and assist in programme planning, monitoring, and evaluation.

Educational Qualifications

• PhD in Management, Economics, Political Economy, Sociology, Law, or a closely related discipline.
• Formal training or advanced coursework in research methods (both qualitative and quantitative).

Required Experience

Essential

• Minimum 5-7 years of post-doctoral (or equivalent) research experience, with a demonstrable track record of independent research on business-related themes, preferably on corporate governance, business-society relations, CSR, sustainability, or related themes in the Indian context.
•  A good publication record, including journal articles, book chapters, or equivalent scholarly outputs.
• Demonstrated experience in mixed-methods research design, including stakeholder surveys, interviews, document analysis, and case study methodology.

Preferred

• Experience working at or closely with a policy research institution, think tank, regulator, or multilateral organisation.
• Familiarity with India’s corporate regulatory architecture, including the Companies Act 2013, SEBI’s LODR and BRSR regulations, and allied frameworks.
• Experience supervising junior researchers or managing research projects.
• Experience engaging with senior corporate, government, or civil society stakeholders in a research or advisory capacity.

Key Competencies and Skills

Essential

• Ability to design and execute independent research from conceptualisation through publication, with minimal supervision.
• Strong understanding of theoretical concepts relating to CSR, ESG, Stakeholder theory, Corporate Governance, Legitimacy theory, Sustainability, Public Policy, Theory of the Firm and development issues.
• Excellent research writing and communication skills — ability to produce both rigorous scholarly papers and accessible policy briefs for non-specialist audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to represent CSEP credibly before senior stakeholders.
• Ability to mentor and develop junior team members.

Preferred

• Working familiarity with quantitative analysis tools (STATA, R, or similar) and tools for qualitative data analysis.
• Familiarity with globally recognised ESG rating methodologies and impact assessment frameworks such as GRI, TCFD, etc.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit their CV, including the names and contact details of two referees, along with a work sample, by June 30, 2026.  Please upload single PDF file.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Click here to apply

About CSEP

The Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) conducts in-depth, policy relevant research and provides evidence-based recommendations to the challenges facing India and the world. It draws on the expertise of its researchers, extensive interactions with policy makers as well as convening power to enhance the impact of research.

Our researchers work across domains including, but not limited to, Growth, Finance, Health & Human Development; Energy, Natural Resources and Sustainability; and Foreign Policy and Security. All our research and policy recommendations are freely available to the public.

CSEP is an independent, non-partisan research organisation based in New Delhi. It is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons regardless of race, colour, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age or sexual orientation shall have equal access to positions, limited only by their ability to do the job.

CSEP is based in New Delhi and registered as a company limited by shares and not for profit, under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 (earlier Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956).