Lead Manager- Programme quality, MEAL and Partnerships

Sense International; Ahmedabad District; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Sense International India is seeking a Lead Manager - Programme quality, MEAL and Partnerships to provide strategic leadership to strengthen programme quality across its portfolio. You will head MEAL, support programme design and ensure donor compliance and learning systems to deliver evidence-based management.

You will work with programme teams, capacity building, finance, partner organisations, government and donors to achieve measurable outcomes for persons with deafblindness and multiple

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work, Development Studies, Disability Studies, Rural Development, or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years leading MEAL systems and 8+ years in programme management within development work.
• Experience with multi-state programmes and donor reporting is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership to ensure high-quality programme implementation across projects.
• Lead MEAL systems development, indicators, data collection tools, and dashboards.
• Design theories of change, results frameworks and monitoring plans.
• Ensure donor compliance, reporting and evidence-based decision making.
• Develop project concepts, proposals, budgets and work plans.
• Coordinate with partners, government stakeholders and donors.
• Lead supervision of programme staff and foster collaboration across teams.

Skills

MEAL leadership

Monitoring & Evaluation

Data analysis

Project management

Donor reporting

Education

Master's degree in Social Work/Development Studies/Disability Studies

Tools

MS Excel

Data visualization

Job description

Job Summary

The Lead Manager - Programme quality, MEAL and Partnerships will provide strategic and technical leadership to strengthen programme quality across Sense International Indias portfolio. The position will lead Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), support programme design and development, strengthen donor compliance and reporting, build organisational learning systems, and ensure evidence-based programme management.

The role will work closely, under the guidance of Head of Programmes, with programme teams, capacity building, finance, partner organisations, government stakeholders, and donors, to ensure that programmes achieve measurable outcomes for persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. The role may evolve over time, and the responsibilities outlined here may increase or be updated based on the developing requirements of the position and the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Programme Quality and Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership to ensure high-quality programme implementation across projects.
• Establish systems to monitor programme performance against organisational objectives.
• Ensure programmes adhere to Sense International India s quality standards and donor requirements.
• Lead periodic programme reviews and recommend corrective actions.
• Promote evidence-based decision making across programme teams.
• Support integration of innovation and best practices into programme conceptualisation and delivery.

2. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

• Lead the development and implementation of organisational MEAL systems.
• Design project-specific MEAL frameworks, logical frameworks, theories of change and results frameworks.
• Develop indicators, data collection tools and monitoring plans.
• Ensure quality assurance of programme data.
• Lead baseline, midline, endline studies and impact evaluations.
• Develop dashboards and performance monitoring systems.
• Ensure data quality through routine verification and field monitoring.
• Promote utilisation of data for adaptive programme management.
• Build organisational learning mechanisms and document lessons learned.
• Document good practices, innovations, success stories and case studies.
• Promote cross-learning among partner organisations.

3. Programme Development and Proposal Writing

• Lead development of high-quality concept notes and project proposals.
• Design logical frameworks, work plans, budgets and results frameworks.
• Conduct needs assessments and situational analyses.
• Support development of multi-state programme strategies.
• Collaborate with technical teams to develop innovative programme models.

4. Donor Management and Reporting

• Coordinate programme reporting for institutional, corporate and individual donors.
• Ensure timely submission of narrative reports with high-quality data and analysis.
• Maintain compliance with donor agreements and reporting requirements.
• Respond to donor queries and information requests.
• Participate in donor review meetings and monitoring visits.
• Build and maintain positive donor relationships.

5. Financial Monitoring

• Monitor programme expenditure against approved budgets.
• Review financial utilisation with programme and finance teams.
• Analyse budget variances and explain corrective actions.
• Ensure value for money in programme implementation.
• Support budget revisions where required.
• Track programme burn rates and financial progress.

6. Partnership Management

• Provide technical support to implementing partner organisations.
• Monitor partner performance against agreed indicators.
• Strengthen partner capacities in programme management and MEAL.
• Facilitate partner review meetings and technical workshops.
• Ensure compliance with partnership agreements.

7. Team Leadership

• Provide leadership, and supervision to programme staff.
• Develop individual performance objectives.
• Conduct performance reviews.
• Promote collaboration across programme, finance, capacity building, advocacy, and public engagement.
• Foster a culture of accountability, learning and innovation.

Person Specification

Essential

• Masters degree in Social Work, Development Studies, Disability Studies, Rural Development, or related discipline.

Desirable

• Additional certification in Monitoring Evaluation, Project Management or Data Analytics.

Experience

• E8 - 10 years of progressively responsible experience in programme management within the development sector.
• At least 5 years leading MEAL systems.
• Experience managing multi-state programmes.
• Experience working with institutional donors and CSR-funded projects.
• Experience managing NGO partnerships.
• Experience leading proposal development.
• Experience supervising multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in disability inclusion, rehabilitation, inclusive education, community-based rehabilitation (CBR), or rights-based programming is highly desirable.

Note: This is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Your job description may be subject to change.

Please note: Sense International India prioritises the well-being and safety of everyone who comes into contact with our organisation. We will keep the people we support safe from harm by checking that applicants for this job are suitable to work with children and vulnerable adults.