Job Description: MEAL – Sr Program Officer / Research Assistant (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning)
Position: Sr Program Officer
Location: Delhi (Head Office)
Reporting To: MEAL Data Manager
1. Purpose of the Role:
The MEAL (Data) Assistant will play a critical role in supporting the Mobile Creches MEAL team by managing the flow of data from our childcare centers across Delhi and the NCR. The primary focus of this role is to ensure that all data related to child health, nutrition, education, and safety is recorded with 100% reliability and accuracy. You will be responsible for transforming raw data into clear, actionable insights that help us measure and improve child outcomes.
2. Key Responsibilities:
A. Data Management s Quality Assurance:
• Data Collection Oversight: Regularize the collection of monthly/quarterly reports from various childcare centers (construction sites, urban slums, etc.).
• Validation s Cleaning: Conduct rigorous data cleaning to identify
inconsistencies, missing values, or outliers. Ensure that data aligns with ground-level realities through spot checks and field visits to centers in Delhi/NCR.
• Database Maintenance: Update and maintain the central MEAL Management Information System (MIS) or digital data platforms.
B. Analysis s Insight Generation:
• Child Outcome Tracking: Analyze longitudinal data to track progress in child outcomes (e.g., Weight-for-Age, Height-for-Age, developmental milestones, and immunization coverage).
Trend Identification: Identify trends in center performance and child wellbeing to highlight areas requiring immediate intervention.
• Visualization: Create simple dashboards, charts, and tables that make data accessible and understandable for program teams.
C. Reporting s Documentation:
• Monthly Summaries: Assist in drafting monthly MEAL summaries for program managers.
• Case Studies: Support the team in identifying "positive deviance" or success stories based on data-driven improvements in child outcomes.
• Feedback Loops: Ensure that data findings are shared back with center-level staff to foster a culture of data-informed decision-making.
D. Accountability s Learning:
• Maintain the community feedback and grievance mechanism data.
• Support the organization of learning sessions where center data is reviewed to improve pedagogical or nutritional strategies.
3. Required Qualifications Skills:
Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Statistics, Development Studies, or a related field.
Technical Skills:
o Proficiency in Microsoft Excel is mandatory (Pivot tables, VLOOKUP, complex formulas, and data visualization).
o Familiarity with digital data collection tools and platforms is highly preferred.
o Basic understanding of statistical concepts (data aggregation, frequency distributions, trend analysis, and comparative indicators).
o Basic understanding of qualitative data collection methods - familiarity with Interviewing techniques and FGDs
o Knowledge of review of secondary literature
Experience: 2–3 years of experience in data entry, monitoring, or research, preferably within the NGO sector or early childhood development (ECD) space.
Attributes:
o Extreme attention to detail (a "hawk-eye" for data errors).
Strong commitment to the mission of child rights and early childhood care.
o Ability to translate "numbers" into "stories" about children's lives.
o Ability to write first level of reports from field and based on data analysis.
4. Why Join Mobile Creches?
Mobile Creches has been a pioneer in the field of Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) for over five decades in Delhi. By joining our MEAL team, you will be at the heart of our evidence-based approach, ensuring that every child in our centers receives the quality of care they deserve through the power of accurate data.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit their CV and a brief cover letter explaining their experience to: hradmin@mobilecreches.org with the subject line "Application: MEAL (Data) Assistant.
Mobile Creches is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
We will review applications on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close the position as soon as a suitable candidate is found. Hence, early applications are strongly encouraged.