Policy & Research Associate

Role:- Policy & Research Associate

Location:- Gurugram

About ACE-Impact:

ACE-Impact is a 9-month hybrid accelerator in Delhi NCR where we work closely with founders to help them get to product-market fit and set them up for scale. We do this by creating a unique sandbox for nonprofits, which includes support for leveraging data/evidence, partnering with the government, and applying product and tech expertise. 

non-profit unicorns

exited for $100M

ten non-profits

We also published a first of its kind Playbook for Nonprofit Unicorns. Based on in-depth research into 30+ non-profit unicorns, this report offers a roadmap to scale impact. 

As a Policy & Research Associate, you will be at the forefront of shaping the knowledge and policy strategy at Change Engine. You will work closely with the leadership team to lead research efforts, distill insights from data and literature, engage with ecosystem experts, and generate actionable intelligence to guide both internal decision-making and external influence. Your work will help shape public discourse, inform nonprofit interventions, and identify key levers to drive systemic change across areas such as gender equity, employment, education, and public sector innovation

Responsibilities:

• Work directly with the Founders to design and lead research initiatives on themes relevant to the nonprofit and development ecosystem.



• Synthesize secondary research, datasets, and academic literature to develop clear, evidence-backed point of view on key social sector themes.

• Develop policy briefs, thought papers, and internal strategy documents to support Change Engine’s programs and partnerships.

• Conduct expert interviews and stakeholder consultations to build practical insight into sectoral challenges and opportunities.

• Track emerging policy shifts and government schemes relevant to ACE Cohort focus areas, and identify engagement opportunities.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with program teams, cohort nonprofits, and external advisors to support strategy development and execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Public Policy, Development Studies, Economics, or related fields from a reputed institution.

•  3-5 years of full-time work experience in policy research, think tanks, impact consulting, or development sector strategy.

• Strong analytical and writing skills with a demonstrated ability to convert research into actionable insights.

• Comfort with working in ambiguity and a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills; experience working with founders, government, or ecosystem leaders is a plus.

• Familiarity with key national development themes, schemes, and policy frameworks in areas such as jobs, gender, education, and technology-for-governance.