Crashfree India is accepting applications for the Cause Marketing Fellow position under its Safer Mobility Impact Fellowship (SMIF) Cohort 2026–27. The full-time fellowship offers an opportunity for graduates and early-career professionals to contribute directly to road safety and safer mobility initiatives across India.
Based in Gurugram at the Cars24 headquarters, the fellowship runs for one year and provides a monthly fellowship allowance of ₹50,000. The programme is designed as an immersive professional placement rather than a conventional academic fellowship, giving participants responsibility for meaningful projects and exposure to government institutions, civic authorities, researchers and other stakeholders.
About the Fellowship
The Safer Mobility Impact Fellowship focuses on one of India’s most pressing public challenges: road safety and safer mobility. Fellows are expected to work closely with experienced teams, take ownership of defined workstreams and contribute to projects intended to generate measurable real-world impact.
The programme places strong emphasis on execution, accountability, problem-solving and leadership. Rather than simply observing existing programmes, fellows are expected to contribute to designing, implementing and improving initiatives.
The Cause Marketing Fellow track is currently open for applications for the 2026–27 cohort, while other fellowship tracks have closed after receiving sufficient applications.
Fellowship Details
Position: Cause Marketing Fellow
Programme: Safer Mobility Impact Fellowship
Cohort: 2026–27
Location: Gurugram, India
Workplace: Cars24 Headquarters
Duration: One year
Schedule: Full time
Monthly allowance: ₹50,000
Eligibility: Graduates and early professionals
Current track: Cause Marketing Fellow
Who Should Apply?
Crashfree India is seeking individuals who demonstrate initiative, ownership and a genuine interest in solving complex public challenges.
The fellowship is particularly suited to candidates who are comfortable working in ambiguous and high-accountability environments. Successful fellows are expected to make decisions, move projects forward and focus on measurable outcomes rather than simply contributing to discussions.
Candidates should have a genuine interest in road safety, urban systems, evidence-based policy or related public-interest issues. Strong communication, problem-solving and execution capabilities are also important.
The programme values demonstrated potential and the ability to deliver over credentials alone.
Cause Marketing Fellow Role
The Cause Marketing Fellow will contribute to Crashfree India’s efforts to build awareness, engagement and support around road safety initiatives.
The role provides an opportunity to work on communications and cause-marketing activities connected to major road safety programmes. Depending on organisational priorities, responsibilities may involve campaign development, stakeholder engagement, content and communications, public outreach and efforts to increase the reach and visibility of road safety initiatives.
The fellow will be expected to take ownership of assigned projects and work closely with internal teams and external stakeholders.
Selection Process
The fellowship selection process consists of five stages designed to evaluate problem-solving ability, communication, ownership and alignment with the organisation’s mission.
Step 1 – Registration: Candidates submit basic information and a résumé and indicate their preferred fellowship track.
Step 2 – Assignment: Applicants complete a short assignment relevant to the selected role. The exercise assesses problem-solving, communication, ownership and execution thinking.
Step 3 – Round 1 Interview: Candidates participate in a skills and capability assessment focused on how they structure and approach problems under conditions of ambiguity.
Step 4 – Round 2 Interview: The second interview focuses on mission alignment, culture and the candidate’s commitment to the road safety cause.
Step 5 – Fellowship Start: Selected fellows begin their placement at the Cars24 headquarters in Gurugram.
What Fellows Gain
The programme is designed to provide professional experience through direct involvement in real projects.
Fellows receive expert mentorship from senior practitioners and academic experts, with guidance connected directly to their work and deliverables.
Participants also gain external stakeholder exposure, including opportunities to engage with government bodies, civic authorities and institutional partners as professionals rather than observers.
The fellowship also provides experience in leadership and programme ownership, with fellows expected to manage workstreams, timelines, stakeholders and other components of project execution.
Previous Fellowship Impact
Crashfree India highlights several outcomes generated by its inaugural fellowship cohort. These include Project Rakshak, a youth-led road safety audit initiative that assessed high-risk locations across India and secured civic authority approval for infrastructure interventions.
Another initiative, the NextMile Ideathon, generated more than 250 policy submissions addressing gig rider safety and crash claim compensation. Shortlisted proposals were formally submitted to the Government of India.
The fellowship also supported research into gig worker safety and post-crash legal challenges, involving hundreds of stakeholder and worker interactions and engagement with government ministries.
These examples demonstrate the programme’s emphasis on moving from research and analysis to practical implementation, policy engagement and public impact.
Career Development
The fellowship offers participants an opportunity to develop career capital through substantial professional responsibilities. Fellows can strengthen their experience in cause marketing, communications, stakeholder engagement, public policy, research, programme management and social-impact initiatives.
Participants may also develop professional networks through engagement with government agencies, civic institutions, academic experts, private-sector organisations and other road safety stakeholders.
How to Apply
Candidates interested in the Cause Marketing Fellow position should submit their application through Crashfree India’s official fellowship application process. The organisation encourages prospective applicants to review the role carefully and demonstrate their ability to take ownership of consequential projects.
Questions about the fellowship can be directed to hr@crashfreeindia.org.
The opportunity is particularly relevant for graduates and early-career professionals seeking a demanding, hands-on experience in road safety, cause marketing, public-interest communications and social impact.
