Job Title: Head - Research & Analytics (Skilling & Livelihoods Programs)

Location: [New Delhi, India] | Travel: Occasional field and partner site visits
Experience: 15+ Years
Reporting To: Director - Programs / Chief Impact Officer
Employment Type: Full-Time

Role Summary:

As the Head of Research & Analytics, you will lead evidence-driven decision-making and impact measurement across our skilling and livelihoods programs. The role requires a deep understanding of development sector research, the ability to translate field data into policy insights, and expertise in measuring the long-term outcomes of training and employment interventions.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Research & Knowledge Generation

• Design and lead labor market and sectoral research to inform project design, advocacy, and strategic partnerships.
  
• Collaborate with global and local think tanks, academic institutions, and industry bodies to co-create research outputs.
  
• Produce high-quality knowledge products - research briefs, policy notes, and white papers - for public dissemination.
  

2. Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)

• Oversee the design and execution of baseline, midline, and endline evaluations across multiple projects and geographies.
  
• Develop Theory of Change (ToC), logframes, and indicator matrices aligned with donor reporting requirements (e.g., USAID, GIZ, DFID).
  
• Ensure that lessons learned feed back into program design and strategic decisions.
  

3. Data Systems & Analytics

• Build robust, scalable data systems for capturing and analyzing program performance - from enrollment to job placement.
  
• Use tools like Power BI, Tableau, R, or STATA for real-time analytics, dashboards, and donor presentations.
  
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and ethical handling across all touchpoints.
  

4. Stakeholder Reporting & Advocacy

• Support program teams with research-backed inputs for grant proposals, donor reports, and strategic documents.
  
• Represent the NGO in donor meetings, consortiums, and policy-level dialogues, articulating impact and insights.
  
• Coordinate with field teams to ensure meaningful data collection that centers the learner and community voice.
  

5. Team Management & Capacity Building

• Lead and mentor a team of M&E specialists, field researchers, and analysts.
  
• Foster a learning culture with regular capacity-building sessions on data literacy, qualitative methods, and participatory research.
  
• Promote cross-team collaboration to ensure research drives action and accountability.
  
  

Candidate Profile:

• Education: Master’s or PhD in Development Studies, Public Policy, Statistics, Economics, Education, or related field.
  
• Experience: Minimum 15 years in research, MEL, or analytics roles in NGOs, multilateral agencies, or development consulting firms.
  
• Donor Exposure: Prior experience working with international donors (e.g., World Bank, UNDP, USAID, BMGF, ADB, DFID) is highly desirable.
  
• Tools & Methodologies: Proficient in mixed-method research, RCTs, cohort tracking, and evaluation frameworks. Hands-on with tools like R, STATA, KoboToolbox, Survey CTO, and data visualization software.
  
• Soft Skills: Strong analytical thinking, collaborative leadership, cross-cultural communication, and storytelling skills.