Assistant Manager – M&E

Balrakshabharat; Hinoba-an; On-site; PHP 796,000 - 1,194,000; Full time

Job summary

Bal Raksha Bharat (BRB) invites an Assistant Manager-MERL to lead Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning across India projects. You will design and maintain MERL tools, coordinate with PMU, and support field teams for high-quality data collection and analysis.

You will supervise data quality, conduct analyses, train staff, and contribute to donor reporting while collaborating with cross-functional teams and external partners.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in statistics, population studies, information science, developmental studies, social studies, or related field.
• At least 8 years of experience relevant to responsibilities in development/MERL.
• Excellent verbal & written communication skills, fluent in English.
• Sound aptitude for impact assessment and tool designing.

Responsibilities

• Develop understanding of BRB’s programme strategy, goals, and projects for evidence-building.
• Input MERL system design, pilot, and rollout for projects under PMU guidance.
• Establish MIS designs linked to reporting and build field team capacities.
• Approve strategic goal linking on PRIME for new project rollouts.
• Support data quality checks and periodic reviews of programme data.
• Train field staff in MERL activities and lead simple analyses.
• Share insights from field observations to project discussions.
• Ensure MIS updates across projects under technical supervision.

Skills

Communication

English fluency

Analytical thinking

Data handling

Education

Postgraduate degree in statistics / information science / development studies

Tools

KoBo

SPSS

STATA

Job description

Reporting to: Senior Manager – Monitoring, Evaluation & Research

About Bal Raksha Bharat

Bal Raksha Bharat (also known as Save the Children) is India's leading independent child rights organisation. It is a member of the Save the Children movement that operates globally with the mission to inspire breakthroughs in how the world treats children and achieve immediate and lasting changes in their lives. We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their fifth birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We run programmes in the remotest corners of India and urban areas in the areas of Health & Nutrition, Education, Child Protection, Livelihood & Economic well-being to facilitate quality education, healthcare, protection from harm and abuse and life-saving aid during emergencies for children.

ROLE PURPOSE

Bal Raksha Bharat (BRB) is seeking a highly organised and detail-oriented Assistant Manager-M&E for the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning domain, reporting to the Head of the PMU (Programme Management Unit) and collaborating closely with the programme/ project implementing teams and thematic/technical support teams. The Assistant Manager-M&E will support the design, implementation, and maintenance of project M&E and Knowledge Management systems aligning with BRB’s Goals, Programme Strategy & Result Frameworks, including necessary training & supportive supervision. This role requires strong coordination, communication, and analytical skills to facilitate programme system practice strengthening, knowledge sharing, collaboration, and learning among our teams, with a deeper understanding of data around themes of Health & Nutrition (H&N), Education, Child Protection, Poverty alleviation programs, and Child Centred Disaster Risk Reduction (CCDRR). The role holder will single-handedly develop LFAs, MERL Plans, Project MIS Tools, in-project Study Tools, etc. The role holder will also support project managers in third-party research & studies with ToR development, Review of Tools, Training Plans, draft reports, and assist with MIS process & quality monitoring. The ideal candidate must have an aptitude for extensive data handling, research, storytelling, and capacity building.

The candidate must be able to travel to field offices and project sites at various locations across India for capacity building, quality monitoring, and supportive supervision of the project's field team.

SCOPE OF ROLE

Context:

Development /Humanitarian

Scope:

This role’s effort and delivery cover all development and humanitarian projects implemented across India, including all associated technical collaboration and reporting engagement, either committed, statutory or voluntary, which may even cover geographies and cities beyond the current programme implementation geography.

Reports to:

Staff reporting to this post:

None

Budget Responsibilities:

None

Role Dimensions:

The Role holder will actively collaborate with all MIS/M&E role holders within individual projects, states & PIUs, including Project managers, to drive the agenda of quality programme implementation, MIS setting up, practice and analysis to programme implementation strategy & delivery.

And, to execute the above-mentioned dimension, the role holder will also be required to engage with the thematic team for subject matter indicators application, and the IT team for any IT solution design and operation.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

MERL:

• Develop an understanding of BRB’s programme strategy, goals, and projects to strengthen the comprehensive Impact evidence-building and harvesting system.
• Provide input to MERL system design, pilot, and rollout for assigned implementation projects aligning with BRB strategy & donor commitments under the guidance of the PMU Head, and with the support of the thematic team.
• Establish MIS designs for assigned projects, ensuring linkage to reporting requirements, and build the field team's capacities for carrying out the work with quality.
• Approve strategic goal linking on PRIME for all new project rollouts and any further revisions.
• Assist project leads, project MIS Leads, and PIU M&E Leads with PRIME usage for Log frame filling and progress reporting management.
• Supervise the quality of data collected on paper and/or via digital tools on a timely basis and provide necessary inputs.
• Review data inputted into the database for quality assurance. Conduct periodic reviews of programme data and suggest course corrections.
• Communicate critical project information and results with stakeholders.
• Train field staff and volunteers in conducting field-based MERL activities.
• Lead in simple analyses and reflective discussions on ongoing monitoring data. Contribute and share initial findings and field-based insights to project discussions.
• Share insights and perspectives based on observations and interactions with community members, colleagues and stakeholders.
• Ensure MIS is updated across the projects under technical supervision.
• Support the line manager in organisation MERL strategy & management.

Coordination & Communication

• Support evaluation & research studies in projects for evidence-based programming.
• Monitor project compliance and communicate results to project leadership for action.
• Liaison with the PMU team to ensure compliance with donor MERL requirements.
• Contribute to reflective community-based conversations on ongoing projects.
• Support field-level implementation project teams with feedback mechanisms.

Documentation and Reporting

• Support the field project teams in preparing timely programme updates and appropriate reports on project activities in compliance with donor, external stakeholder and leadership requirements.
• Facilitate the Field Team in data collection & timely submission of all required reports.
• Support the field team in need-based planning and reporting.
• Contribute to project-level monthly, quarterly, and annual reviews and reporting. Regularly share progress reports with the Line Manager.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability

• Proactively demonstrate the work, plans and progress on an ongoing basis to drive accountability among all related stakeholders.

Ambition

• Demonstrate plans of design frameworks, systems and tools in anticipation of project delivery expectations within the MERL domain.
• Demonstrate composed engagement with all key stakeholders, especially Project and PIU teams, to drive deliverables in the MERL domain with required quality in a time-bound manner.

Creativity

• Demonstrate creativity in design developments to ensure ease of usage of tools and systems which invite people to engage with the tools and designs with excitement.

Integrity

• Demonstrate integrity in handling all organisation data, including in setting up systems for programme MIS, to demonstrate adherence and promotion of BRB’s policies on Data and Privacy protection, and safeguarding the business interests of BRB.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Postgraduate degree in statistics, population studies, information science, developmental studies, social studies, or a related field. Any relevant certifications are a plus.
• At least 8 years of experience relevant to job responsibilities, after a relevant minimum qualification in the Development sector, in a similar context.
• Excellent verbal & written communication skills, fluent in English.
• Sound Aptitude for impact assessment and tool designing.
• Strong understanding of social development program designs, MERL & RBMS frameworks, & data analytics.
• Strong skills in large data handling, statistical analysis, analytical report generation, and data interpretation.
• Proven experience in designing, developing, and conducting technical training on M&E.
• Excellent command of data collection & statistical software like KoBo, SPSS, STATA, Etc.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent planning, facilitation, presentation and monitoring skills.
• Analytical mindset and attention to detail to ensure accuracy and quality of knowledge resources.
• Willingness to travel extensively to field offices & project sites at various locations across India, away from metro cities.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Excellent organisational and coordination skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Willingness to work on irregular hours when the situation requires (Example: event, emergency response)
• Command over Hindi and other regional languages will be an added advantage.
• Strong commitment to the aims and objectives of Save the Children – Bal Raksha Bharat.

MERL Design: Developing project-level Theories of change, results frameworks, Performa, related MERL system tools and competencies, and accompanying MERL narratives.

ICT for MERL: Applying knowledge of information and communication technologies (ICT), hardware and software, for opportune and accurate data collection, database management, conducting analyses, and making information easily accessible.

Monitoring: Implementing monitoring activities, including timely collection of quality data, set up and maintenance of databases, facilitating participatory reflection on monitoring results, and submitting timely progress reports.

Evaluation: Supporting project and program evaluations and reviews by ensuring the quality of evaluation methods, tools, and data and facilitating the use of evaluation results to inform decision-making and enhance learning.

Analysis & Critical Thinking: Engaging with data, challenging biases and assumptions, posing thoughtful questions, pursuing a deeper understanding of evidence through reflection and perspective taking, and making informed programming decisions.

Accountability: Improving our accountability to a range of stakeholders through increased participation, transparent communication, responsive feedback mechanisms, and adherence to internal and external quality standards and requirements

Learning: Promoting excellent knowledge management and collaborative learning processes at the project, program and institutional levels, generating robust evidence for the project and programmatic learning that leads to action, decision-making, and influence.

Being the Voice of Children: Utilises being part of a global movement to promote change in the policy and public sphere on child-related issues

Advancing Equality & Inclusion: Drives an enabling environment for gender equality and inclusion, and prioritises the most deprived and marginalised children

Builds & Strengthens Partnerships: Inspires others to embrace the values and principles that underpin partnerships and the localisation agenda

Child Rights: Promotes the rights of children in their work and works with colleagues and peers

Knowledge of at least one or two languages from South India (Tamil/Kannada/Telegu), and an understanding of the NGO programme context.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Bal Raksha Bharat aims to be an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief or creed. Women candidates are encouraged to apply.

Child Safeguarding

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING (Strike out whichever is not applicable)

Level 1: The role holder will not have contact with children and/or young people, or access to personal data about children or young people, as part of their work; therefore, a police check will not be mandatory unless the content or location of the role changes, in which case the Child Safeguarding level will be reviewed.

Level 2: Either the role holder will have access to personal data about children and/or young people as part of their work; or they will be working in a ‘regulated’ position (Finance, Monitoring & Evaluation, Legal etc.); therefore, a police check will be required.

Level 3: The role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in programs; or are visiting programs; therefore, a police check will be required.

Safeguarding our Staff

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the BRB’s anti-harassment policy.