Senior Research Advisor, Data Science

PLEASE NOTE: This search is being conducted by SAMS. Please apply DIRECTLY through the link below:

Senior Research Advisor – Data Science, New Delhi

Job Purpose

The Senior Research Advisor, Data Science, based in New Delhi, will lead the design, management, and translation of advanced data science and digital intelligence initiatives within the Policy & Communication Division of Vital Strategies India Services Private Limited. The Senior Research Advisor will work closely with program leads and external partners to oversee cross-country data engineering, AI-enabled analytics, and digital monitoring systems that inform policy. This role is responsible for leading applied analytics and machine learning–based classification, harmonizing multi-platform and multi-country datasets, developing decision-focused dashboards, and translating complex digital and social listening data into actionable insights for governments and partners.

The position is full-time and based in New Delhi, requiring a valid work permit for India, the ability to work across time zones, and periodic domestic or international travel as needed.

Duties & Responsibilities

Data Engineering, Harmonization, and Governance

• Design, implement, and maintain data pipelines for digital and social media data sources, ensuring clean, well-documented, and reproducible datasets.
• Align data structures, metadata standards, and coding frameworks (Python preferred) across multiple datasets to enable cross-country and longitudinal analyses.
• Support data governance, documentation, and quality assurance processes to ensure consistency, accuracy, and cross-country comparability of digital monitoring systems.

Applied Analytics, Modeling, and AI-Based Classification

• Apply advanced data science, statistical, and machine learning methods, including classification, clustering, and text analysis, to generate policy-relevant insights.
• Train, test, and refine AI and Large Language Model (LLM)–based classification systems for digital content analysis, documenting methodological improvements and validation processes.
• Conduct complex quantitative and qualitative analyses, including statistical modeling, trend analysis, and mixed-methods synthesis.

Digital Intelligence, Social Listening, and Online Behavior Monitoring

• Lead the analysis of digital content and digital media campaigns across global health communication programs, including social media platforms, online marketing content, and other publicly available digital signals.
• Support social listening and online behavior monitoring initiatives to assess narratives, exposure, engagement, and marketing tactics related to public health issues.
• Conduct trend analysis, content analysis, and comparative regional analyses to identify shifts in digital communication tactics, targeting strategies and online behavior over time.

Visualization, Dashboards, and Decision Support

• Develop and maintain clear, decision-focused dashboards and visualizations (internal and external-facing) using tools such as Power BI.
• Ensure dashboards and analytical outputs are updated regularly, quality-checked, and tailored to the needs of internal teams, governments, and external partners.
• Troubleshoot data and visualization issues to ensure reliability and usability of outputs.

Research Management

• Lead cross-country research planning and contribute to applied research design including protocol development, analytical plans, and evaluation approaches as needed.
• Lead data science and analytics workstreams, ensuring methodological rigor, quality assurance, and delivery of policy-relevant insights aligned with project objectives, including oversight of data pipelines, analysis, and reporting.
• Coordinate and manage project implementation as required, monitoring technical milestones, timelines, and deliverables, and updating workplans to reflect analytic needs and operational realities.
• Manage vendor coordination, contracts, ethics processes, field monitoring, and related activities.

Reporting, and Knowledge Translation and External Engagement

• Draft and contribute to high-quality reports, monthly briefs, desk research summaries, technical memos, policy briefs and academic manuscripts.
• Translate digital intelligence and analytical findings into actionable insights that inform campaigns, regulatory discussions, and policy design, working closely with communications and country teams.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison with partners and stakeholders, maintaining clear communication, facilitating structured input, and ensuring timely dissemination and access to data products, findings, and project outputs.
• Provide technical guidance and training to researchers, analysts, and program teams through training and knowledge-sharing on analytics, AI-based classification, and data visualization.
• Coordinate with external partners, including academic institutions, technology vendors, research agencies, and multilateral organizations to integrate research insights into programmatic and policy initiatives, build collaborative partnerships, and promote knowledge translation and adoption.

Qualifications

Education

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Data Science, Statistics, Epidemiology, Computer Science, Behavioral/Social Sciences, Economics or related field. Ph.D preferred.

Experience

• 10 years of progressive experience in applied research, data analytics, statistical modelling, or analytics roles relevant to public health, policy or strategic communications for policy or regulatory exposure.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages - Python and SQL, with experience managing, cleaning, and analyzing large or complex datasets and ensuring reproducibility and data quality.
• Experience applying advanced quantitative and qualitative analytical methods, including statistical modeling, classification, clustering, text analysis, or mixed-methods approaches.
• Demonstrated experience leading the application of computational and machine learning methods to quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods research, including scaling, validating, and interpreting unstructured data to inform communication programs decision-making.
• Demonstrated experience working with digital, media, or online data, including social media, web-based content, or digital campaign data.
• Experience developing clear, decision-focused dashboards and visualizations using Power BI or similar tools for both technical and non-technical.
• Familiarity with data governance, documentation, and harmonization challenges in multi-country or multi-platform contexts.
• Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams, work across time zones, and deliver high-quality outputs on deadline.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.

Skills

• Strong command of statistical software (SPSS, Python, R, STATA, NVivo, Atlas.ti) and statistical learning.
• Experience with AI/Machine Learning/LLM classification models preferred.
• Proficiency in dashboarding tools (Power BI, Excel).
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize data succinctly and clearly.
• Strong writing, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work across time zones and manage multiple deadlines.
• High attention to detail, data accuracy, and methodological rigor.

4. Working Conditions

• This is a full-time position based in our New Delhi office, where a hybrid, 4-day-per-week office schedule is in place.
• Work across different time zones.

• Possible domestic/international travel for research coordination and dissemination.

   

   

  How to Apply:

   

  This search is being conducted by SAMS. Please apply DIRECTLY through the link below:
   

  Senior Research Advisor – Data Science, New Delhi