Senior Lead for Monitoring, Evaluation

Shape the Future of Survivor Justice: Jan Sahas Seeks Senior Lead for Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL)

In the fight for social justice, data-driven strategy is not a luxury; it is a necessity. It transforms heartfelt initiatives into measurable, scalable, and systemic change. Jan Sahas Foundation, a leading grassroots organization dedicated to ensuring dignity and equality for all, is seeking a visionary leader to steer its evidence-based approach in a critical domain: the prevention of violence against women and children.

The organization has announced an opening for the position of Senior Lead – Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL). This is a pivotal role designed for a professional passionate about using data to dismantle systemic injustice and empower India's most excluded communities. The position is based in Delhi or Dewas (Madhya Pradesh) and is a unique opportunity to shape the future of one of India's most impactful social programs.

About Jan Sahas: A Legacy of Grassroots Impact

Established in the year 2000, Jan Sahas has built a formidable reputation on its deep grassroots expertise and its commitment to systemic reform. With a vision of achieving "dignity and equality for all," the organization works tirelessly to eliminate sexual violence and forced labour, focusing on India’s most marginalized social groups.

Operating across 13 states and 94 districts, Jan Sahas has impacted the lives of over 6 million people. Its core programs, including the Migrants Resilience Collaborative and the Grassroots Resilience Institute, are testaments to its comprehensive approach, which integrates prevention, response, rehabilitation, and policy reform.

The Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children (PVAWC) Program: A Journey from Support to Systemic Change

Launched in 2012, the PVAWC program has been a cornerstone of Jan Sahas's work. Its mission has been to eradicate sexual violence within marginalized communities by providing holistic support to survivors. Over the past decade, the program has:

• Provided comprehensive support to over 23,000 survivors of sexual violence.

• Delivered essential trauma-informed mental health care to more than 10,000 individuals.

• Launched the landmark Dignity March, a nationwide campaign that mobilized 5,000 women across 22 states, shifting the public narrative around sexual violence from one of shame to one of support and dignity.

• Influenced national policy through survivor-led advocacy, notably contributing to the Supreme Court's suo moto cognizance of sexual violence cases.

Looking ahead, the program is evolving. From 2025, it will be rebranded as the Dignity First Initiative (DFI). This strategic shift reflects a renewed focus on preventing sexual violence and promoting survivor-centric justice by aligning societal systems—from government institutions to community norms—with the lived experiences of survivors.

The Role: Senior Lead, MERL – Architect of Evidence-Based Strategy

Reporting to the Program Director, the Senior Lead – MERL will be the strategic mind behind the PVAWC program's measurement and learning agenda. This individual will not just track metrics but will generate the evidence needed to refine strategies, guide new initiatives, and advocate for large-scale policy change.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Strategic Evaluation: Steer the program's external evaluations and develop a robust measurement and learning framework for new pilot projects under the Dignity First Initiative.

• Rigorous Monitoring: Monitor program progress against key performance indicators, providing early alerts and corrective guidance to ensure program quality and effectiveness.

• In-depth Research: Design and execute both qualitative and quantitative research studies to assess the quality of service delivery and generate critical insights for program improvement.

• Actionable Learning: Document and disseminate lessons learned, case studies, and best practices to both internal teams and external stakeholders, including partners and policymakers.

• Team Leadership: Build and manage a high-performing MERL team, oversee the MERL budget, and collaborate closely with technology partners to enhance data management systems.

Who We Are Looking For: The Ideal Candidate

Jan Sahas is seeking a seasoned professional with a deep commitment to social justice and a strong command of research and evaluation methodologies. The ideal candidate will possess:

• Experience: A minimum of 10+ years of professional experience, with at least 5 years in a dedicated MERL role and 2 years leading a MERL function within a nonprofit, research, or consulting organization.

• Technical Expertise: Proven experience in setting up measurement systems for complex, adaptive programs. Strong understanding of experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental evaluation designs using mixed-method approaches.

• Leadership Skills: Exceptional facilitation skills for fostering collaboration, along with strong management capabilities to build and lead a team.

• Communication: Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills in English are essential. Conversational ability in Hindi is required.

• Empathy and Insight: Experience working with socially excluded communities is highly preferable. The candidate must be able to translate complex data into actionable insights for strategic planning.

How to Apply

This is more than a job; it is a call to action for a professional who believes in the power of evidence to create a more just and equitable world. If you are ready to contribute to a leading organization at a pivotal moment in its journey, we invite you to apply.

• Position: Senior Lead – Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL)

• Location: Delhi / Dewas, Madhya Pradesh

• Apply By: 11th September 2025

• Email: Please send your application to careers(at)jansahasindia.org.

Join Jan Sahas and help build a future where dignity and justice are a reality for every woman and child.

Explore more jobs