Senior Program Associate

Position Summary

The Senior Program Associate will support project teams in developing monitoring, evaluation, and learning plans for their respective projects in alignment with the project logframes. As the projects will be involved with departments engaged in frontline service delivery (health, education, ECD, etc.), the work will include field research and engagement. The Senior Program Associate should have demonstrable experience in conducting monitoring and evaluation studies on the ground and have an in-depth understanding of the logistics and methodologies of impact and process assessments of projects. The Senior Program Associate will collaborate closely with the project teams across CEGIS states.

Key Responsibilities

• Support in designing and finalising the logframes for projects in collaboration with the respective project teams
• Design cost-effective and feasible Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) plans for the identified projects, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methods and leveraging administrative data systems
• Identifying local partners for engaging in MEL studies and assessments in relevant states
• Assist in developing measurement and analysis protocols for the project(s)
• Support with data analysis and creating high-quality outputs for dissemination
• Create MEL protocols and toolkits for use by project teams
• Manage all the primary, secondary, and administrative data by strictly following data management and security protocols
• Develop a sound understanding of the client (Government)s issues and understand the relevance of the interventions (project) to these issues

Required Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Masters degree (or equivalent preferred) in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, or related fields from a reputed institution
• Minimum 3 years work experience in India with organisations working in monitoring and evaluation related fields of work i.e., research agencies, policy think-tanks, government or private sector organisations working on government advisory or consulting
• Demonstrable experience in conducting MEL for long-term projects (preferably for projects involving government collaboration)
• Strong data analysis skills using statistical software such as STATA, R, or any other data analysis software
• Demonstrated fieldwork experience in India (rural and/or urban)
• Prior experience and/or knowledge of experimental and non-experimental research methods
• Prior experience with and/or knowledge of qualitative research methods
• Technical expertise in costing and budgeting for MEL activities

Desired Skills and Competencies

• Fluency in English, both written and spoken
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with an aptitude for research to formulate solutions
• Excellent writing and communication skills (ability to communicate complex ideas in a meaningful way and across different audiences)
• Ability to set priorities, plan timelines, and meet deadlines
• Ability to think creatively, willing to take risks to experiment with new ideas, and the ability to turn ideas into action
• Ability to collaborate and actively listen to others, understand and value others views
• Operating style suited to working independently and in a small-organisation setting, where teamwork and resourcefulness are highly valued

Location and Compensation

Location: