Who we are

Zen Citizen was started in August 2024 with a mission to empower citizens to navigate Government procedures with confidence reduce their reliance on intermediaries and push back against bribery. 

We do this by uncovering undocumented and practical information and developing lightweight tech tools that make using Government websites easier. 

See what The Hindu, The Times of India, Deccan Herald and Bangalore Mirror have to say about us. 

About the role

This position is a 6 month internship, ideal for an early-career graduate who can provide strong research and project management support to the Founder.

Funding comes from Dr. Aniruddha Malpani’s Malpani Foundation. 

Location: Remote, based in Bengaluru to allow for in-person meetings and Govt. office visits as needed
Compensation: Rs. 15,000 per month

Duration: 6 months. 40 hours a week.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for an early-career candidate who: 

• Takes ownership of their tasks, communicates proactively about any delays, and doesn’t require reminders
• Is comfortable digging into Govt. portals and discussion forums to understand how processes work or fail to work
• Follows up gently yet persistently with stakeholders

We have a low-ego culture. We’re looking for someone who is comfortable saying “I don’t know, but I can find out” and is open to learning from situations instead of shifting blame. 

You’ll be working remotely with volunteers across different cities, countries, and cultures, so you’ll fit in best if you naturally assume good intent and give others the benefit of the doubt.

Strong written and verbal communication skills in English. Spoken Kannada is an added advantage.

What you’ll do

Research

• Conduct online primary research through platforms like Reddit to identify pain points of people navigating specific Govt. processes and validate our content
• Fact-check information on processes which may include visiting Govt. offices and filing RTI’s
• Update guides and the knowledge base based on citizen feedback and changes in Govt. processes.
• Opportunities to grow into advanced responsibilities:
  • End-to-end ownership – Identify pressing topics and write guides
  • Data analysis and visualization 
  • Liaise directly with bureaucrats and Govt. officials

Community Engagement

• Monitor comments and questions on our website, Reddit, and YouTube; respond when you can and loop in the guide’s author when needed
• Share our work on social media

Project Management

• Maintain a project tracker and keep documentation and files organized
• Follow-up as needed with volunteers and other stakeholders

Why join – Visible Impact

Zen Citizen’s approach is rooted in tangible impact in the here and now; the effort you put in will directly reflect in the experiences of ordinary people trying to navigate Govt. systems. All this while being part of a group finding creative ways to solve governance challenges despite having no control over Govt. websites or processes.

You’ll hear directly from people whose lives got easier because of your contribution. Like these generous pieces of feedback we received recently:  

“Sincere thanks to you. I was able to get my father’s property Ekatha done without paying a bribe. The BBMP officials and agents were asking 20–25K for the Ekatha. I got it done within a day by paying just Rs.125. I also got the ECs by referring to your website. The agents were asking for Rs.2500 for the EC, but I got it online for Rs.40. Keep up the good work.” 

“Trust me, I have worked in IT for 2 decades and it was taking me multiple tries and stumping me to use online tools to meet the criteria of the file size, file type and photo size combination that is demanded by the portal. I would have continued to battle another hour had I not stumbled on this portal which made formating the photo file a breeze!” (For the Kaveri Image Resizer)

How to Apply

Create a process document on “How to get a legal heir certificate in Karnataka” or “How to withdraw PF” and attach it to your resume. We’ll reach out to selected applicants for an interview. 

You can refer to these pointers, use these two guides for the level of detail we expect, and these two for the content structure. 

Please send your application to hiring@zencitizen.in with “Civic Research & Operations Associate – Zen Citizen” in the subject line.