Political Intelligence Unit (PIU) Associate

*Location:* Kumaon Region, Uttarakhand
*Number of Positions:* 10
*Salary:* ₹45,000–₹60,000 per month, depending on experience and capability
*Benefits:* Free Boarding & Lodging + Field Travel & Approved Work Expenses
### About the Role
We are hiring *10 experienced Political Intelligence Unit (PIU) Associates* for a confidential political intelligence assignment in the *Kumaon region of Uttarakhand*.
The assignment involves extensive on-ground political and social intelligence gathering, constituency research, issue tracking, political monitoring, source development, and preparation of actionable intelligence reports for senior leadership.
This is a *full-time field-intensive role* and requires candidates who have previously worked on *multiple election campaigns* in professional PIU, political consulting, election strategy, war-room, or constituency intelligence teams.
*The specific constituency, political organization, and client details will be disclosed only to shortlisted candidates.*
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## Key Responsibilities
* Conduct systematic on-ground political intelligence gathering.
* Develop a detailed understanding of local political, social, administrative and economic dynamics.
* Track public sentiment and identify emerging political issues.
* Identify important local grievances and assess their political significance.
* Monitor activities, positioning and public perception of political parties, elected representatives and significant local political actors.
* Develop and maintain a network of reliable local sources and information channels.
* Identify influential individuals, community networks, social organizations and local opinion leaders.
* Independently verify important information through multiple sources.
* Distinguish genuine ground sentiment from rumours, speculation and politically motivated information.
* Conduct regular field visits across villages, towns, markets and other important locations.
* Prepare concise and actionable daily intelligence reports.
* Prepare structured weekly intelligence reports covering:
* Emerging issues
* Public sentiment
* Political developments
* Local leadership dynamics
* Governance and administrative concerns
* Potential political opportunities
* Potential risks and early-warning signals
* Maintain accurate records of field observations and source inputs.
* Coordinate with other PIU members while maintaining confidentiality of individual sources.
* Maintain strict confidentiality regarding the assignment, client, political strategy, sources and internal information.
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## Mandatory Experience
Candidates must have:
* *Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience* in political intelligence, election research, political consulting, campaign strategy, constituency research or war-room operations.
* Experience working in *multiple election campaigns, preferably **3 or more elections*.
* Proven experience in *field-based political intelligence*, not merely desk research or data entry.
* Experience working independently in politically sensitive environments.
* Demonstrated ability to convert raw field observations into meaningful political intelligence.
Experience across *Assembly and Lok Sabha elections* will be strongly preferred.
Experience in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh or other North Indian political campaigns will be an advantage.
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## Required Skills
* Strong political and social understanding.
* Excellent field interviewing and information-gathering ability.
* Strong observation and analytical skills.
* Ability to identify patterns and emerging trends from conversations and field observations.
* Ability to verify information before reporting.
* Excellent spoken Hindi.
* Good written Hindi and/or English for professional reporting.
* Comfortable using smartphones, WhatsApp, Google Sheets/Excel and digital reporting systems.
* Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
* Ability to work long hours and travel extensively.
* High level of discretion and confidentiality.
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## Preferred Educational Background
A Bachelor's or Master's degree in any of the following will be preferred:
* Political Science
* Sociology
* Journalism / Mass Communication
* Public Policy
* Law
* Social Sciences
* Rural Development
* Management
* Other relevant disciplines
*Relevant election and political intelligence experience will be given greater importance than academic qualifications.*
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## Ideal Candidate
We are looking for professionals who:
* Have already worked on several election campaigns.
* Understand how political intelligence is collected and verified at the grassroots.
* Can build relationships with people from different sections of society.
* Can spend substantial time in the field without requiring constant supervision.
* Can identify what is *politically important*, rather than simply recording what people say.
* Can write clear, concise and actionable reports.
* Understand the difference between *information, intelligence and verified intelligence*.
* Can maintain complete confidentiality in politically sensitive assignments.
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## This Is NOT a Surveyor Position
Candidates whose experience is limited to:
* Telecalling
* Data collection
* Door-to-door surveys
* Booth-level mobilisation
* Event management
* Social media posting
* General political volunteering
will generally not be considered unless they also have substantial professional political intelligence experience.
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The selected candidates will be expected to be available for the assignment on a *full-time residential basis*.
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## Application Requirements
Applicants must provide:
1. Updated CV.
2. Number and details of elections worked on.
3. Election year, state and type of election.
4. Organization / political consulting firm / campaign team worked with.
5. Role and responsibilities in each campaign.
6. A brief *300–500 word example of political intelligence work* they personally conducted during an election.
*Please do not disclose confidential information, client names or proprietary campaign information in your application.*
Only candidates with *genuine, demonstrable experience in professional political intelligence / election campaign teams across multiple elections* will be shortlisted.
*Note:* Details of the specific political assignment and constituency will be disclosed only during the interview/selection process.

Work arrangement
No