Vacancy (EN)

Research Manager

Research Manager

Job specifications

The company

Communication for Change (C4C) is a social enterprise that applies a Research-to-Messaging approach in public-interest communication.
We never hire people to be our little assistants. We nurture them to replace their bosses and eventually become equity partners.
We don’t care about which schools you graduated from or the degrees you hold. We care about your skills and how you can enrich our work culture.
Minorities founded Communication for Change, and it is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, religion, disability, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation.

The objectives of the Research Manager

To lead the research project and work closely with the Consultant, Principal Consultant, and Research Director in providing consulting services, especially in research-to-messaging projects.

Responsibilities

  • Involved in strategic direction discussion and ensuring all project activities, including those involving external partners, are delivered on time and aligned with objectives.
  • Oversee project budgets and resource allocation to ensure efficiency and accountability.
  • Supervise documentation, reporting, and knowledge management across research projects.
  • Lead and ensure the quality of research design, data collection, analysis, and outputs from both internal teams and external vendors.
  • Review and refine research instruments, reports, and recommendations to ensure clarity, rigor, and strategic relevance.
  • Oversee the development and presentation of research findings to partners, funders, and stakeholders.
  • Support leadership in translating research insights into strategic decisions and communication directions.
  • Contribute to the development and management of our open data platform, LabNarasi
  • Collaborate with other teams within C4C, especially the messaging team

Expected qualities and requirements

Since communication in C4C always integrates research with creativity, we expect the same from our Research Manager. We understand it’s rare to find someone equally strong in both, but thriving in C4C requires the ability to bridge analytical rigor with narrative and strategic clarity.
As a Research Manager, you will lead multi-disciplinary projects that connect evidence, storytelling, and policy insights. You are expected to not only conduct or supervise research but also translate data into meaning, into arguments, strategies, and actions that drive change.
The expected qualities and requirements are:
1. Strong research and analytical foundation
  • Minimum 3-5 years of professional experience in research or consulting projects, ideally in economics, public policy, behavioral science, or social research.
  • Proven expertise in designing and implementing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
  • Strong understanding of research ethics, data quality assurance, and evidence-based decision-making.
  • Possess proficiency in any data programming languages: Stata, R, or Python.
2. Exceptional project leadership
  • Demonstrated ability to plan, execute, and oversee multiple research projects end-to-end, from scoping and design to analysis, reporting, and dissemination.
  • Skilled in stakeholder management, resource planning, and risk assessment.
  • Proven track record in delivering high-quality outputs on time, within budget, and aligned with organizational objectives.
  • Ability to mentor and supervise junior researchers while maintaining a collaborative and high-performance team culture.
3. Advanced communication and writing skills
  • Highly proficient in written communication in both English and Indonesian, with the ability to craft compelling research reports, proposals, policy briefs, and presentations.
  • Capable of reading and synthesizing complex materials in English (e.g., academic journals, The Economist, The Atlantic, or policy white papers) and communicating insights with clarity.
  • Adept at translating technical findings into accessible and persuasive narratives for clients, policymakers, and broader audiences.
4. Strategic and scientific thinking
  • Applies the fundamentals of the scientific method in managerial decisions: asks sharp questions, identifies patterns, formulates hypotheses, and tests ideas systematically.
  • Possesses strong numeric reasoning skills and can interpret statistical results into actionable insights.
  • Understands how to connect research evidence with social narratives, campaigns, and strategic communication outputs.
5. Self-discipline and autonomy
  • A self-directed leader who thrives in a hybrid or remote setting, capable of structuring their own and their team’s workflow into clear milestones and deliverables.
  • Anticipates challenges, resolves ambiguity, and ensures accountability without micromanagement.
6. Appreciation for social and behavioral sciences
  • Values interdisciplinary thinking, understanding that people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors shape how communication strategies succeed in the real world.
7. Confident and adaptive communicator
  • Articulate in discussing complex ideas and methodological decisions with both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Skilled in persuasion and negotiation, able to align diverse stakeholders toward a shared vision.
  • Calm, adaptive, and strategic in high-stakes discussions or client interactions.

Behavior and skills we value from our employees

In Communication for Change, people who are rewarded and promoted are those who
  • Consistently refuse to do mediocre work: we want team members who put serious effort into their work and tie their professional pride to the quality of their output. We hire those who want to disprove the myths of unprofessional Indonesians.
  • Are respectful to others: we respect others’ time: We are punctual and come to meetings prepared. In meetings, including virtual ones, we refrain from multitasking, allowing us to pay full attention and listen carefully to others. Lastly, we don’t believe brilliant jerks exist: nobody can be so brilliant that they can get away with treating others rudely.
  • Make things happen, not wait for things to happen: we promote people who take initiative. We anticipate and prevent problems rather than react and fix them.
  • Are intellectually hungry and humble: we never stop learning about topics that are related to work and ones that give us personal satisfaction. We publicly admit when we don’t know and deliver on the promise that we’ll find out as soon as possible.

Work conditions

  • We operate in full remote mode from Day 1
  • We minimize meetings by maximizing written communications in an asynchronous context
  • We provide an allowance to use the common workspace for people who need it
  • We open our financial data to everyone on the team, and this includes each other’s salaries
  • Our structure is flat with almost no hierarchy, as our company is small; this may make us unsuitable for those seeking to climb the corporate ladder

Remuneration and other benefits

  • The monthly salary for a Research Manager ranges from Rp 16.000.000 to Rp 20.000,000. All numbers are after-tax (but you must pay your BPJS Ketenagakerjaan contribution). BPJS Kesehatan is included.
  • We provide good health insurance, max 25% above monthly salary per year, inpatient and outpatient, which in most cases extends to family members.
  • You have a training allowance with the freedom to choose the programs you want to enroll in.
  • There are no limitations on annual leaves. We will treat C4C team members as adults who can care for themselves and not let their teammates down.
  • There is a track to become equity partners for employees who consistently perform, deliver business results, and stick around with us for a specific period of time.
  • You will be expected to use your computer or laptop when working at C4C. However, you may receive financial support to upgrade your work equipment as your career progresses.
Send your updated CV via email to: kedung.soejaya@communicationforchange.id