Chief Research Officer

Job Title: Chief Research Officer – Spiritual & Cultural Studies

Location: Mumbai

Employment Type: Full-time

Seniority Level: Leadership (CXO equivalent)

About NIRU India

NIRU India is the newest initiative under the globally respected NIRU Group. With a legacy of craftsmanship, culture, and excellence, NIRU is now laying the foundation for a new chapter that draws upon ancient spiritual wisdom, cultural scholarship, and artistic mastery.

At NIRU India, we are building one of the most authoritative research platforms in the world for the study and preservation of sacred traditions and heirlooms. This role marks the beginning of a long-term effort to integrate deep spiritual knowledge with timeless design and storytelling.

Role Overview

As Head of Research, reporting directly to the founder, you will anchor the intellectual and cultural foundation of this initiative. You will build and lead a team of scholars, researchers, pundits, and cultural custodians to ensure that our work is grounded in truth, reverence, and scholarly rigor.

Your insights will shape narratives, influence design, guide partnerships, and establish our positioning as a trusted and visionary custodian of spiritual knowledge.

Key Responsibilities

1. Research Leadership

a. Architect and implement a structured, long-term research strategy

b. Build a citation-based knowledge system covering ancient Indian scriptures (Vedas, Puranas, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads), iconography, temple architecture, and ritual science

c. Continued organization and monitoring of the collected data

2. Community & Network Building

a. Forge deep relationships with temple trusts, religious scholars, Sanskrit academics, traditional artisans, and spiritual institutions

b. Build an external research network comprising pundits, priests, historians, archaeologists, and theologians

3. Scholarly Outputs

a. Drive the creation of whitepapers, visual research decks, critical commentary on ancient texts, and annotated symbol libraries

b. Co-author publications with academic collaborators and serve as the initiative’s scholarly voice in global forums

4. Collaboration with Design & Content

a. Work closely with design and creative teams to ensure all work aligns with scriptural symbolism and theological coherence

b. Provide source material, narratives, and design justifications for sacred objects, storytelling artifacts, and related works

5. Team Building & Management

a. Hire, train, and mentor a high-caliber research team including Sanskrit translators, field researchers, and junior fellows

b. Define KPIs aligned with our strategic framework across sub-components such as “Vedas,” “Iconography,” and “Manuscript Acquisition”

6. Integrity & Quality Control

a. Review all research outputs for scriptural accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and intellectual rigor

b. Establish SOPs for peer review, source triangulation, and citation standards within our internal systems

Ideal Candidate Profile

1. Academic & Spiritual Credentials

a. Ph.D. or equivalent qualification in Indian Philosophy, Sanskrit, Religious Studies, Temple Architecture, or Comparative Theology

b. Recognized by peer institutions, academic circles, or spiritual bodies

2. Work Experience

a. 15-20 years in academic, spiritual, or cultural institutions

b. Prior leadership in a trust, ashram, think tank, university department, or independent research project

3. Networks & Community Ties

a. Deep access to religious scholars, temple priests, manuscript custodians, and cultural institutions in India and globally

4. Personal Attributes

a. Deeply spiritual yet intellectually rigorous

b. Humble, detail-oriented, and emotionally attuned to the sacred

c. Comfortable working in a startup environment and bridging academia with artistry

Why Join Us

This is a rare opportunity to shape a globally significant body of work rooted in spiritual authenticity and scholarly integrity. If you are someone who believes in the sacred power of knowledge and wishes to be part of something enduring, we invite you to join us at the very beginning.

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