Research Manager
Prayoga, Bengaluru Full time, On-site 812 years experience
Role at a Glance
Reports to: Director Research | Works with: Scientist leads, Finance, External partners
Purpose The Research Manager is the operational backbone of Prayoga's research enterprise freeing our scientists to focus entirely on science by owning everything else: administration, procurement, finance, and stakeholder management.
Key Responsibilities
Research Operations
Own project schedules, milestones, risks and interdependencies across all active programmes
¢ Run operating rhythms weekly stand-ups, monthly reviews, quarterly Board updates
¢ Maintain a live project tracker covering status, blockers and spend vs. budget
¢ Oversee lab operations: instrument calibration, consumables, safety compliance and record-keeping
Resource Planning
¢ Translate scientific plans into operational plans (people, time, instruments, budget)
¢ Forecast annual headcount, capex and opex; prepare the research operations budget
¢ Allocate resources dynamically as projects evolve
¢ Manage recruitment, onboarding and performance logistics for research staff and interns
Operational Effectiveness
¢ Continuously improve systems lab booking, sample tracking, expense approvals, publications workflow
¢ Use technology to enable efficient workflows and processes across the research enterprise
¢ Define and track operational KPIs (time-to-procure, grant cycle time, lab utilisation)
Funding Agencies
¢ Primary operational contact for philanthropic, governmental and multilateral funders
¢ Manage the full grant lifecycle: identifying calls, budget preparation, proposal coordination, reporting,
close-out
¢ Maintain a forward-looking funding pipeline and deadline calendar
Contract Research (Industry)
¢ Identify and onboard industry partners for contract research consistent with Prayoga's charitable objects
¢ Lead scope definition, pricing, contracting and delivery management
¢ Ensure commercial work remains incidental to mission and complies with Sections 2(15), 11(4) and
11(4A) of the Income-tax Act
Vendor Management
¢ Own the vendor ecosystem: instruments, consumables, analytical services, IT
¢ Empanel vendors, negotiate rates and SLAs; maintain a preferred-vendor list
¢ Run end-to-end procurement specifications, quotations, POs, delivery, payment, performance reviews
¢ Maintain vendor compliance documentation (GST, PAN, TDS, KYC)
Qualifications & Experience
Essential
¢ Master's in science, engineering or a research-adjacent discipline (or equivalent professional qualification)
¢ 8+ years of relevant experience, including 4+ years in a research, R&D; or lab setting
¢ Demonstrated management of concurrent projects, budgets and cross-functional stakeholders
¢ Direct experience in at least one of: grant management, contract research, or lab operations
¢ Proficiency with project-management and collaboration tools
¢ Robust familiarity with technology comfortable adopting and championing digital tools across research operations
¢ Excellent written and spoken English; Kannada/Hindi proficiency a plus
Desirable
¢ PhD or equivalent research exposure
¢ Familiarity with Indian grant frameworks (ANRF, DST, DBT, ICSSR) and CSR-funded research
¢ Working knowledge of Indian tax provisions for charitable trusts (Sections 11, 12A, 80G)
Key Competencies
¢ Systems thinking sees how parts fit together and where friction accumulates
¢ Organisational rigour documentation and follow-through on every commitment
¢ Stakeholder range equally at ease with scientists, donors, vendors and the Executive Chairman
¢ Commercial judgment negotiates without losing sight of the charitable mandate
¢ Financial literacy reads a budget, grant report and vendor invoice with equal ease
¢ Quiet enabler finds satisfaction in making others' work possible
¢ Integrity absolute reliability with funds, contracts and confidential data
How Success Is Measured
¢ Measurable reduction in scientist time spent on non-research tasks within 12 months
¢ Research projects delivered on scope, on time and within budget
¢ Healthy, multi-year funding pipeline with improving conversion rates
¢ Reductions in time-to-procure, grant-submission cycle time and open compliance items
¢ Clean statutory and grant audits; no material findings
¢ Positive feedback from scientist leads on operational support
What Prayoga Offers
¢ A mission-driven workplace at the frontier of scientific research, with access to high-end research labs and cutting-edge instrumentation
¢ Direct collaboration with experienced scientists and policy thinkers, and exposure to India's national scientific research ecosystem
¢ Genuine scope you will shape the operating system of Prayoga's research enterprise
How to Apply
Send your CV and a one-page cover note to
[email protected] with subject line Research Manager [Your Name].
Please include names and contact details of two professional references. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
📌 Research (Bengaluru)
🏢 Prayoga Institute of Education Research
📍 Bengaluru