Manager - MELS

BACKGROUND:

Passing Gifts Private Limited (PGPL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Heifer International USA and it provides services in educating, consulting, training, advising, and providing professional and technical services to individuals, associations, and entities in India and abroad, particularly those who support or are working in the areas of social advancement and sustainable development. This position may also require service agreements, secondment agreements and agreements between entities, etc.

PGPL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability

FUNCTION:

The Manager – MELS will lead the operationalization and strengthening of MELS systems across PGPL’s projects and portfolios. Sitting between the Associate Director – MELS & Program Quality and the MELS Officer/Sr. MELS Officer, the position plays a pivotal role in:

• Ensuring high-quality MEL planning and execution,
• Leading project-level evaluations and outcome monitoring,
• Driving data quality, analytics, and reporting, and
• Ensuring learning integration across projects and partners.

The Manager – MELS will work with the MELS Officer/Sr. MELS Officer and ensure alignment of their work with project and organizational MEL frameworks. The role bridges strategic direction from the Associate Director with operational execution at the field and project levels.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVERABLES: (including approximate percentage effort)

Strengthen Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and System (MELS) at Organization Level (30%)

• Lead the development and periodic revision of MEL Plans for all projects, ensuring alignment with the organization’s program model.
• Guide and support the MELS Officer/Sr. MELS Officer in executing project-level MEL tasks, ensuring alignment with organizational standards.
• Ensure effective rollout and management of Project Management Information System (PMIS).
• Standardize MEL tools, SOPs, quality assurance protocols, and reporting templates across all projects.
• Coordinate quarterly and annual data reviews, ensuring data integrity and consistency across all programs.
• Support digital transformation initiatives in MEL—including automation, dashboards, Power BI, and AI-enabled quality checks.
• Ensure integration of standard indicators, harmonized PIRS definitions, and alignment with Heifer’s MELS standards.

Project Level MEL Execution and Quality Assurance (30%)

• Lead implementation of baselines, midline, endline surveys, outcome monitoring, and special studies across projects.
• Prepare and review ToRs for external evaluators; supervise consultants and research partners.
• Review data sets, conduct data cleaning, and ensure analysis is accurate and ready for reporting.
• Oversee routine Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) at partner and field levels.
• Ensure real-time tracking of log-frame and IPTT indicator progress for all projects.
• Support adaptive management through technical advisories and evidence-based recommendations.

Data Analytics, Reporting, and Knowledge Management (15%)

• Lead consolidation and analysis of program data for monthly, quarterly, and donor reporting.
• Lead data validation, triangulation, and synthesis before reports are shared with external stakeholders.
• Develop dashboards, analytical briefs, and presentations for leadership and stakeholders.
• Develop periodic program performance briefs for decision-making.
• Support the Associate Director in generating evidence for proposal development, resource mobilization, and program design.
• Document and disseminate learning products, case studies, and program insights.
• Organize learning events and cross-project knowledge exchange sessions.
• Capacity Building (15%)
• Provide direct supervision, mentoring, and performance oversight to the MELS Officer/Sr. MELS Officer to ensure consistent quality of MEL implementation across projects.

• Build capacities of program teams, partner NGOs, enumerators, and field staff on MEL tools, data systems, and analytical methods.
• Support onboarding of new project staff on MELS guidelines, systems, and digital tools.
• Lead training on SurveyCTO, data quality protocols, ODK, dashboards, and evaluation methodologies.
• Support the Associate Director in building a culture of evidence-driven decision-making within the program team.

Sub Award Design, Program Quality, and Donor Compliance (5%)

• Support development of MEL budgets, theory of change, logical framework, PIRS, and evaluation frameworks for new proposals.
• Contribute to donor reporting, especially sections related to outputs, outcomes, and impact.

• Track sub-award performance (physical and financial) and provide MEL-related guidance to sub-awardees.

May perform other job-related duties as requested (5%) QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in development studies, Economics, Statistics, Agriculture, Public Policy, Management, or other relevant fields.
• Advanced training in MEL, research methods, or data analytics is preferred.

• A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Systems (MELS) within INGOs/development sector.
• At least 3–4 years leading MEL functions at project or portfolio level, including evaluation design, sampling, data management, and analysis.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience managing and supervising a team, preferably MELS staff.
• Demonstrated experience managing or quality assuring baselines, midlines, endlines, and outcome monitoring.
• Strong experience in digital MEL systems, including ODK/SurveyCTO, PMIS, and data visualisation platforms.
• Proven ability to validate, analyze, and synthesize complex data for decision-making.
• Experience developing MEL components for proposals (log frames, ToC, indicators, PIRS, MEL budgets, evaluation costing).
• Experience coordinating with external evaluators, research agencies, and managing evaluation contracts.
• Familiarity with agriculture/livestock development programs is an advantage.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• Strong analytical skills with experience in quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Proficiency in at least one statistical or analytical software (SPSS, STATA, R, or equivalent).
• Advanced Excel and Power BI skills for dashboards and performance tracking.
• Strong understanding of MEL planning, logframe/results framework, IPTT, and data quality standards.
• Ability to interpret data and generate actionable insights aligned with program strategies.
• Ability to lead technical teams and coordinate MEL execution across multiple projects.

BEHAVIORAL & MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and deliver within deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, coach, and build capacity of team members, ensuring high-quality MEL execution.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and meticulous attention to data quality.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse cultures and stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to translate evidence into program improvements.
• Commitment to continuous learning and innovation in MEL.