Job Opportunity for Senior Officer, RM&E (Research Analyst role) at Room to Read in New Delhi

Position:  Senior Officer, RM&E (Research Analyst role)

Department: Research, Monitoring & Evaluation Department 

Duty Station:  New Delhi

Organization Profile:

Room to Read India was established in 2003 and presently have programs in 9 states- Chhattisgarh, Delhi NCR, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. Our Literacy Program has been implemented in 15642 government schools and 25,741 teachers trained in library management and reading activities. Over the same period, our Girls’ Education & Gender Equality Program has benefitted over 62,457 girls. 

Room to Read is a global organization transforming the lives of millions of children in low-income communities by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, our innovative model focuses on deep, systemic transformation within schools during two time periods that are most critical in a child’s schooling: early primary school for literacy acquisition and secondary school for girls’ education. We work in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations, and governments to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children and ensure girls can complete secondary school with the skills necessary to negotiate key life decisions. By focusing on the quality of education provided within the communities and ensuring these outcomes are measured, we have created a model that can be replicated, localized and sustained by governments. With its, global headquarters in San Fransisco, Room to Read has benefited 18 million children across over 30,000 communities in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Grenada, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Zambia. Room to Read India has received several awards and recognition over the years including recognition as one of the top ten NGOs to work for during the past six years by the Great Places to Work Institute.

Position Overview: 

The Senior Officer (Research Analyst), Research, Monitoring & Evaluation (RM&E), primarily be responsible for formulating and apply different data modeling and other optimizing methods to develop and interpret data of various research and assessments studies that assists management with decision making, program implementation and managerial functions. The analyst will work with coordination of GO RM&E and support program team in planning, reporting, improving programs’ quality, allocation of resources through provision of observation and reflection from past experiences. The position will report directly to the Director, RM&E and will have regular interactions with program staff. This position will be based in New Delhi but will require frequent travel to all areas where Room to Read operates. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Define data requirements and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests to understand the issues around foundational literacy and gender equality.
• Collaborate with program teams to identify and solve a variety of problems based on the data gathered from various program implementation, research and assessment.  
• Perform validation and testing of statistical models to ensure robustness of data evidence.  
• Prepare reports defining and evaluating problems and recommending solutions
• The person will bring new ideas to advance our research monitoring agenda and contribute to the filed.
• The incumbent will focus on expanding the dissemination of our research findings, best practices and lessons learned to a variety of audiences – including government ministries, researchers and other actors working to advance literacy and gender equality.
• S/he is expected to introduce various technical tools and platforms to enhance the effectiveness of RM&E department in terms of quality, cost and time.
• In cooperation with the Global and Regional Offices’ RM&E Sr. Officer, design and analyse annual monitoring activities and facilitate the evaluation process/activities for all Room to Read’s programs (Literacy program and Girls Education program).
• Contribute to developing log frame, M&E framework, assessment/evaluation tools and reports as required. 
• Work with Program Officers & Associate, State Managers and Program Directors, to ensure data quality, authenticity and timeliness of all monitoring and evaluation data and information. Carry out periodic data checks as required. 
• Work with short term/ external consultants to conduct project evaluation/ assessments and compile best practices and lesson learned for sharing, learning and decision making 
• Ensure that at all time staff are aware of GI & other M&E tools/approaches and have the abilities to utilize the tools and generate reliable data/information. 
• Take initiative or support in developing/designing tools or format to collect data/ information for monitoring purposes, analysing the data and reporting 
• Synthesize and analyse data and write summary reports by program based on the M&E results.
• Work towards smarter communication of RtR program achievements. 
• Work closely with Program and Operations departments to provide regular feedback on programs results, impacts and quality of its interventions. Ensure that CMT, program Teams and field staff have adequate information through receiving internal quarterly summary reports which reflect programs’ ability to achieve its targets, the quality of programs delivered, and recommend the areas that needs more attention and improvement. 
• Work with program staff and GO staff to codify best practices for Room to Read’s programs so that they can be shared across existing countries of operation and rolled out in new ones. 
• Conduct regular site visits to active project sites to ensure compliance with implementation plans, identify problems, and make necessary improvements. 
• Stay informed about research and trends in the area of monitoring and evaluation and recommend improvements to our systems, accordingly. Network with external researchers and research institutions and create awareness/ visibility of RtR research and evaluations.
• Follow up on GSD&GI data collection and coordinate with program staff. Supervise the work of Data Management Associate to enter/update GSD&GI and ensure accuracy and timeliness of data.
• Network with M&E staff of other RtR countries and other like-minded organisations to find areas of collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Conceptualize use of technology in RM&E activities and develop a plan for the same.
• Represent Room to Read in different forums and advocate the importance of our educational work in the developing world.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Supervisor.  

Qualifications:

Required Competencies:

• Master’s degree in economics, development studies or statistics or similar data science field 
• Eight years of professional experience.
• Experience of programming/coding skill for advanced statistical analysis 
• Experience in developing Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews through various applications 
• Strong technical competence in research and monitoring and evaluation methods
• Strong operational management ability: a clear focus on results – sets goals, plans and prioritizes effectively, monitors quality and progress of work against plans
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analysis skills, with proven ability to work with data software packages such as STAT/SPSS
• Experience in data entry and analysis
• Ability to travel frequently to states throughout India 
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English and Hindi
• Prior experience living and/or working in rural areas
• Good knowledge and understanding of education issues, including community involvement
• Experience in successful implementation of a wide range of tasks.  

To be successful as a member of the Room to Read team, you will also: 

• High energy level, comfortable performing multifaceted projects in conjunction with day-to-day activities,
• Have a passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact an up-and-coming non-profit organization
• Superior interpersonal abilities. Ability to get along with diverse personalities, tactful, mature, flexible
• Good reasoning abilities, Sound judgment
• Good communication and negotiation skills
• Resourceful and well organized
• Participative management style-advocate of team concept
• Ability to establish credibility and be decisive – but be able to recognize and support the organization’s preference and priorities
• Results and people oriented, but have sound judgment ability to balance other business considerations. Service oriented but assertive/persuasive. 

Compensation:

The salary range for this position will be determined based upon the experience of the candidate hired. Health benefits are also provided. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, and rapidly growing organization that is changing the world through the lifelong gift of education.

Room to Read has zero tolerance when it comes to child abuse and exploitation and believes that all children have equal rights to protection. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to the child protection policy, code of conduct and standards and will undergo rigorous reference and background check through third party. Background check will include the verification of employment history and criminal check. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.