Role Overview
The Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Manager – PathShila will play a central role in strengthening the evidence, learning, and research backbone of PathShila’s programs. The role goes beyond compliance-driven M&E and focuses on generating credible insights, validating outcomes, simplifying data capture for scale, and co-authoring high-quality research and impact reports for external stakeholders.
The individual will work closely with program design, operations, product, and leadership teams, and will contribute to translating Theory of Change (ToC) frameworks into practical, measurable, and scalable monitoring systems.
Key Responsibilities
Research Design & Evaluation
- Design and implement appropriate research and evaluation methodologies, including quantitative, qualitative, process, mixed-methods, and action research, aligned with program objectives
- Contribute to rigorous program evaluations to assess outcomes related to student awareness, decision-making, and post-school transitions
- Apply and adapt established research and evaluation frameworks to education and youth-focused interventions
Theory of Change & Measurement Systems
- Work with existing ToC frameworks and lead efforts to simplify ToC-based indicator selection and outcome capture mechanisms
- Translate complex ToC pathways into practical monitoring tools usable by counselors, field teams, and partner organizations
- Support operational teams in aligning program delivery with ToC-driven outcomes
Data Collection, Validation & Analysis
- Design and manage tools and processes for primary data collection (surveys, assessments, monitoring instruments)
- Ensure data quality through appropriate statistical models, validation techniques, and consistency checks
- Conduct quantitative and qualitative data analysis, including secondary research and synthesis of findings
- Apply statistical and econometric methods to validate trends, outcomes, and program effects
Research Outputs & Knowledge Products
- Co-write research reports, white papers, and impact studies for funders, government stakeholders, and knowledge platforms
- Support the development of evidence-based narratives, dashboards, and learning briefs
- Contribute to dissemination of insights through reports, presentations, and external communications
Stakeholder Engagement & Capacity Building
- Coordinate closely with operations, communications, and partner organizations to align M&E outputs with program needs
- Conduct orientations and trainings for counselors, students, and partners on M&E tools, processes, and surveys
- Build strong working relationships with field teams and partners to enable effective data capture and learning
Field Engagement & Learning
- Undertake 30–40% field visits to understand implementation realities, identify bottlenecks, and document impact stories
- Use field insights to continuously refine monitoring systems and research approaches
Skills & Qualifications
Education
- Master’s degree in Economics or Public Policy (strongly preferred)
- Bachelor’s degree in economics, public policy, education, statistics, or a related field (mandatory)
Experience
- 5-8 years of relevant experience in Monitoring & Evaluation, research, or public policy analysis within education, social impact consulting, think-tanks, foundations, or implementation agencies
- Demonstrated experience in writing or co-authoring research reports, white papers, or policy briefs
- Prior exposure to education systems, education policy, or large-scale social programs in India is a strong advantage
Technical & Analytical Skills
- Strong grounding in quantitative research methods, statistics, and econometric analysis
- Experience with statistical models for data validation and outcome analysis
- Working knowledge of tools such as Stata or R; familiarity with Excel, Python, PowerPoint, and qualitative tools (NVivo, Dedoose) is an advantage
- Exposure to educational assessments, psychometrics, or Item Response Theory (IRT) will be an added advantage
Desired Qualities
- Ability to simplify complex research frameworks and translate them into actionable, field-friendly systems
- Strong analytical thinking combined with clear, persuasive communication skills
- High ownership mindset with the ability to independently drive research and reporting workstreams
- Comfort working across multiple stakeholders, including government bodies, foundations, and field teams
- Willingness to travel and adapt to the dynamic nature of implementation-linked research
- Deep motivation to contribute to large-scale, evidence-driven impact in education
Equal Opportunity Statement
iDreamCareer is committed to building an inclusive workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, identity, disability, neurodiversity, or any other status.