Senior Manager (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning)

Job Title: Senior Manager (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning)

Location: Pune

Reporting to : Founder Lend A Hand India

Travel : As per requirement of the role

Position Overview:

This is a rare leadership opportunity for a visionary MEL professional to build and drive the evidence backbone of one of India's most impactful skill education organizations. As the Senior Manager of MEL, you will be directly responsible for shaping how we measure, understand, and amplify our impact as we scale to reach 1 million students annually by 2028. You will report directly to the Founders, lead a pan-India team, and have a platform to influence policy and practice at the national level.

About Lend A Hand India :

Lend A Hand India, established in 2006, has been pioneering with over 20 years of on-field experience in the integration of skill education with mainstream schooling by working at the intersection of education and livelihood to make learning engaging, and connected to future livelihoods.

Our Mission

Equip School Students to Maximise Their Potential Through Skill Education

Our Approach

• Direct implementation in schools
  
• Partnership with central-state governments to define, and scale policy
  
• Build Centres of Excellence that act as lighthouses for innovation
  
• Become a resource organisation for the skilling ecosystem

Our Knowledge in Action

Through the design & execution of innovative models from training centres, innovation hubs to mobile outreach initiatives, LAHI’s innovative knowledge resource drives both grassroots learning and systemic transformation across India. With 250+ LAHI staff embedded in state education systems across 20+ states, we provide technical and project management support enabling governments to translate policy into action.

Our Reach

LAHI’s current scale of work includes,

• 20+ States and UTs
  
• 15000+ Schools
  
• 15 Lakh+ Students
  
• 250+ Team Members

Impact & Purpose

• 
  Lead MEL for an organization reaching 1 million students annually by 2028

• 
  Shape the future of skill education measurement and evaluation in India

• 
  Contribute to policy development at state and national levels

• 
  Build systems that create lasting change in young people's lives

Responsibility

• 
  Lead a diverse, high-performing team across multiple states

• 
  Collaborate with academic institutions and research organizations

• 
  Represent LAHI at national and international forums

• 
  Continuous learning opportunities in emerging evaluation methodologies

Professional Development

• 
  Direct reporting to Founders with high visibility and influence

• 
  Opportunity to establish MEL as a competitive advantage for the organization

• 
  Platform to build thought leadership in the development sector

• 
  Access to cutting-edge methodologies and technology integration

Innovation Focus

• 
  Pioneer AI and technology integration in skill education evaluation

• 
  Lead cutting-edge research in youth development and employability

• 
  Design scalable solutions with potential for sector-wide impact

• 
  Access to latest tools, technologies, and methodological approaches

Key Responsibilities of the role:

Strategic Leadership:

• 
  Develop and lead the organizational MEL strategy

• 
  Design comprehensive M&E frameworks for multi-state skill education programs and champion the integration of innovative solutions, including AI, to establish MEL as a key competitive advantage for LAHI.

Team Leadership & Development:

• 
  Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of 15+ MEL professionals across various specializations (Quality Monitoring, MIS, Evaluation, Outcomes).

• 
  Foster a culture of excellence and build the next generation of leadership within the organization.

Program Oversight & Delivery:

• 
  Ensure the integrity, quality, and ethical use of data across all programs. Oversee high-stakes evaluations, impact assessments, and complex research initiatives in collaboration with academic partners.

• 
  Drive the adoption of technology for scalable data solutions.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• 
  Serve as the organizational expert on impact data.

• 
  Present insights to the Founders, Board, donors, and government agencies. Represent LAHI at national and international forums and build strategic partnerships with research institutions.

Innovation & Systems Thinking:

• 
  Pioneer new methodologies for measuring complex outcomes like employability, income increase, and systemic change.

• 
  Lead Proof-of-Concept developments and design scalable MEL solutions with the potential for sector-wide influence.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications & Experience:

• Master's degree in Development Studies, Economics, Statistics, Social Research, or related field
  
• 10-12 years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, and learning with minimum 5 years in leadership roles
  
• Expertise in Managing MIS and/or technology
  
• Proficiency in data analysis tools (R, Python, SPSS) and visualization platforms (Power BI, Tableau)
  
• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire diverse, multi-location teams
  
• Strategic thinking with ability to translate vision into operational excellence
  
• Strong presentation skills for senior management and external stakeholders
  
• Deep understanding of skill education, vocational training, or youth development
  
• Experience working with government systems and policy environments

Preferred Qualifications & Experience:

• Knowledge of donor requirements and international evaluation standards
  
• Proven track record in education/skill development/livelihood sectors
  
• Experience in research methodology, statistical analysis, and evaluation design
  
• Experience managing budgets and coordinating with external agencies/consultantsExperience managing budgets and coordinating with external agencies/consultants
  
• Familiarity with technology solutions for monitoring and data collection

Key Attributes:

• Visionary leadership
  
• Collaborative approach
  
• High attention to detail
  
• Ethical commitment
  
• Adaptability to work in dynamic environments