JOB DESCRIPTION
Senior Officer (Research Analyst), RM&E, Room to Read, New Delhi
 

1. POSITION VACANT: Senior Officer (Research Analyst), RM&E, Room to Read, New Delhi

2. ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:

Room to Read India (RTR India) was established in 2003 and presently has programs in nine states across India, comprising Chhattisgarh, Delhi NCR, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. The organization’s Literacy Program has been implemented in 15,642 government schools and 25,741 teachers trained in library management and reading activities. RTR India’s Girls’ Education & Gender Equality Program has benefitted over 62,457 girls during this period.

RTR 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®, their innovative model focuses on deep, systemic transformation within schools during the two time periods that are most critical in a child’s schooling: early primary school for literacy acquisition and secondary school for girls’ education.

RTR works in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations, and governments to develop literacy skills and the habit of reading among primary school children and to ensure that girls complete secondary school with the skills necessary to negotiate key life decisions. By focusing on the quality of education provided within communities and ensuring that these outcomes are measured, RTR has created a model that can be replicated, localized and sustained by governments. With its, global headquarters in San Francisco, RTR 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.

RTR India has received several awards and recognition over the years, including recognition as one of the top 10 NGOs to work for during the past six years by the Great Places to Work Institute.

For more information please visit, https://www.roomtoread.org/

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Senior Officer (Research Analyst), Research, Monitoring & Evaluation (SORA-RM&E), shall primarily be responsible for formulating and applying different data modeling and other optimizing methods, to develop and interpret data of various research and assessments studies that assist management with decision making, program implementation and managerial functions. The SORA-RM&E will work in coordination with Global Offfice (GO), RM&E and support program teams in planning, reporting and improving program quality, and allocating resources, based on observations and learnings from past experiences. The post holder shall report directly to the Director, RM&E and interact regularly with program staff. Based in New Delhi, s/he will require to travel frequently to all areas where RTR India operates.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

(1) Define data requirements and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests to understand the issues around foundational literacy and gender equality;
(2) Collaborate with program teams to identify and address problems relating to program implementation, research and assessment, using data gathered from various sources;
(3) Perform validation and testing of statistical models to ensure robustness of data evidence;
(4) Prepare reports defining and evaluating problems and recommending solutions;
(5) Bring new ideas to advance RTR India’s research and monitoring agenda and contribute to the field;
(6) Expand the dissemination of research findings, best practices and lessons learned to different audiences, including government ministries, researchers and other actors, working to advance literacy and gender equality;
(7) Introduce various technical tools and platforms to enhance the effectiveness of the RM&E Department in terms of quality, cost and time;
(8) 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 RTR India’s programs (Literacy program and Girls Education program);
(9) Contribute to the development of log frames, M&E frameworks, assessment/ evaluation tools and reports, as required;
(10) Work with Program Officers and Associates, State Managers and Program Directors, to ensure quality, authenticity and timeliness of all monitoring and evaluation data and information. Carry out periodic data checks, as required;
(11) Work with short term/ external consultants to conduct project evaluation/ assessments and compile best practices and lessons learned for sharing, learning and decision making;
(12) Ensure that staff are periodically updated about GI and other M&E tools/ approaches and have the ability to utilize the same to generate reliable data/ information;
(13) Take initiative or support in developing/ designing tools or formats to collect data/ information for monitoring, as well as analysing and reporting, the same;
(14) Synthesize and analyse data and write summary reports by program based on M&E results. Work towards smarter communication of RTR India program achievements;
(15) Work closely with Program and Operations Departments to provide regular feedback on program quality, results and impact. Ensure that CMT, Program Teams and Field Staff have adequate information through quarterly internal reports on the achievement of program targets, and quality of outcomes, recommending areas that needs attention and improvement;
(16) Work with program and GO staff to codify best practices for RTR programs, so that they can be shared across countries with existing operations and rolled out to new ones;
(17) Conduct regular site visits to active project sites to ensure compliance with implementation plans, identify problems, and make necessary improvements;
(18) Stay informed about research and trends in the area of monitoring and evaluation and recommend appropriate improvements to RTR India systems. Network with external researchers and research institutions and create awareness/ visibility about RTR research and evaluations;
(19) Follow up on GSD and GI data collection and coordinate with program staff. Supervise the work of the Data Management Associate to enter/ update GSD&GI data, ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of the same;
(20) Network with M&E staff of other RTR countries and other like-minded organisations to find areas of collaboration and knowledge sharing;
(21) Conceptualize use of technology in RM&E activities and develop a plan for the same;
(22) Represent RTR in different forums and advocate the importance of their educational work in the developing world;
(23) Perform other duties as assigned by Supervisor. 

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

Qualifications:

Master’s degree in Economics, Development Studies, Statistics, or similar data science field.

Experience:
(1)  Eight years of professional experience of working with large data sets in data management and/or data analytics roles, with responsibility for independently handling data collation, cleaning, validation and analysis;
(2) Experience in programming/ coding for the purposes of advanced statistical analysis;
(3) Experience in developing Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews through various applications;
(4) Experience in data entry and analysis;
(5) Prior experience living and/or working in rural areas;
(6) Good knowledge and understanding of education issues, including community involvement.

Skills and Competencies:

(1) Strong technical competence in research and monitoring and evaluation methods;
(2) Strong operational management ability with a clear focus on results, including effective setting of goals, plans and prioritizes, and of monitoring the quality and progress of work against plans;
(3) Strong analytical skills;
(4) Strong quantitative and qualitative analysis skills, with proven ability to work with data software packages such as STATA/ SPSS;
(5) Ability to travel frequently to states throughout India;
(6) Strong verbal and written communication skills, both in English and Hindi;
(7) Experience in successful implementation of a wide range of tasks;
(8) High energy level, comfortable performing multifaceted projects in conjunction with day-to-day activities;
(9) Have a passion for the RTR mission and a strong desire to impact an up-and-coming non-profit organization;
(10) Superior interpersonal abilities; Ability to get along with diverse personalities; Tactful, mature, and flexible;
(11) Good reasoning abilities accompanied by sound judgment;
(12) Good communication and negotiation skills;
(13) Resourceful and well organized;
(14) Participative management style. Advocate of team concept;
(15) Ability to establish credibility and be decisive, and at the same time recognize and support the organization's preferences and priorities;
(16) Results and people oriented, with sound judgment and ability to balance these with business considerations. Service oriented but assertive/ persuasive.

5. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

The gross compensation budgeted for the position is attractive. The offer made to the selected candidate shall be based on experience and salary history. 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.

6. LOCATION: New Delhi

7. REFERENCE: SORA-RM&E-RTR

8. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Team SAMS
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phone Nos.: 011- 2684 2162; 4165 3612

9. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates interested in the position are requested to apply using the link https://recruitment.samshrm.com/jobs/RTR, by or before February 8, 2022.

Room to Read has zero tolerance of child abuse and exploitation and believes that all children have equal rights to protection. Selected candidates shall be expected to adhere to the organization’s child protection policy, code of conduct and standards and undergo rigorous reference and background check through third party, including employment history and criminal check. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information for this purpose.