Research & Publication Project Manager [6 Month Contract]

Rouya is seeking an experienced researcher and seasoned writer to lead the development of high-quality, research-led publications and oversee research workstreams. This 6 month, project-based role that combines investigative research, knowledge management, and collaborative writing, working closely with both the narrative and research teams to deliver impactful projects.

1. Strategic Research, Framework Design & Insight Development

• Design and iterate overarching research frameworks, including key questions, thematic pillars, methodologies, and evaluative criteria, to guide publications from initial inquiry through to final narrative.
• Map the end-to-end journey from raw data to finished essay, ensuring a logical and coherent flow between archival findings and contemporary stakeholder insights.
• Execute deep-dive investigations using National Libraries and Rouya’s internal library to uncover historical context and primary source documents.
• Maintain exhaustive desktop research across academic papers, reports, and relevant media to ensure our insights remain at the cutting edge.
• Lead stakeholder engagement by identifying and interviewing key figures, translating qualitative, on-the-ground perspectives into narrative-driven insights.
• Synthesise complex data into clear, recurring themes and compelling long-term narratives.

2. Knowledge Management

• Build and maintain the project’s central Research Repository within Google Workspace, ensuring all data is logged, categorised, and searchable.
• Ensure research assets in Google Workspace are organised, version-controlled, and meet Rouya's formatting and citation standards.
• Serve as the ultimate gatekeeper for accuracy by implementing a rigorous fact-checking process and ensuring the published content is grounded in primary evidence.

3. Publication Development & Writing

• Translate dense research into sophisticated, engaging essays and articles in close collaboration with the wider writing team.
• Distill high-level findings from stakeholder interviews and archival data into clear, concise Executive Summaries for diverse audiences.
• Maintain brand integrity by ensuring publication uphold a consistent intellectual tone and meet Rouya's visual and narrative standards.

4. Project Management

• Oversee the project’s master production roadmap in ClickUp, including building workspaces, setting multi-phase milestones, managing dependencies, and tracking the Writing Pipeline.
• Lead professional client and internal updates, utilising ClickUp Dashboards or Google Slides to communicate progress, obstacles, and key findings.

Requirements

• 5+ years in a senior research, writing, or content development role (e.g., Journalism, Think Tanks, or Strategic Consulting).
• Demonstrated ability to build a research framework from scratch and manage a complex verification trail.
• Strong ability to synthesise information, identify patterns, and draw meaningful conclusions.
• A clear, structured writing style and a proven ability to produce long-form content that is both intellectually rigorous and highly readable.
• Proven experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects.