ROLE PURPOSE

RightWalk operates on the principle that what gets measured, gets governed. This role owns the data spine of the organisation — the independent control room that tells every layer of RightWalk whether systems are working, outcomes are real, and learning is being captured. Critically, this function must be independent of the program teams whose performance it measures. Data inflation and incentive-driven reporting are existential threats to RightWalk's credibility. The Head – Data, M&E & Institutional Intelligence is the institutional conscience of the organisation's evidence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Data and indicator architecture

Design and own the end-to-end data architecture: from field input to impact indicators — definitions, collection protocols, validation logic, and storage.
Build common data dictionaries across programs and states.
Ensure indicator definitions are clear, auditable and usable by teams.
Align program indicators with donor reporting, government dashboards and internal learning needs.

2. Dashboards and institutional intelligence

Build and maintain real-time dashboards and standard report packs for the CEO, state teams, and donors.
Drive institutional intelligence: cross-state comparisons, learning loops, and evidence synthesis for policy refinement.
Convert data into actionable intelligence for policy, program and product decisions.
Manage the Knowledge Management function — evidence library, document repositories, and institutional memory.

3. M&E systems and quality assurance

Lead the M&E framework: indicator design, sampling methodology, periodic evaluation cycles, and external evaluation partnerships.
Own data governance — data quality audits, mystery beneficiary calls, red-flag dashboards, and anomaly detection.
Lead and develop State M&E Leads (embedded in states, functionally reporting to this role).
Conduct periodic verification, mystery beneficiary calls, red-flag reviews and quality audits.
Maintain strict independence from Program and State teams — this role's credibility depends on it.

4. Learning loops and evidence building

Ensure field learning feeds into policy redesign, process improvement and product updates.
Support impact evaluation readiness and external evaluation partnerships.
Produce public-good outputs — impact reports, evidence briefs, and external publications that build RightWalk's credibility.

5. Data governance and ethics

Define data access, privacy, anonymisation and data security protocols with Tech and People teams.
Ensure responsible handling of beneficiary, field and government data.
Create data discipline without making teams feel they are entering a tax raid.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE — SIX MONTHS

Organisation-wide M&E and data architecture drafted and adopted.
A live dashboard exists that the CEO, State Directors, and donors can access — real-time, reliable, and action-oriented.
Data quality audits are conducted every quarter; anomalies are surfaced, not suppressed.
The organisation makes at least two key program design changes in direct response to M&E evidence.
RightWalk publishes at least one credible external evidence brief that strengthens its policy positioning.

WHAT THIS ROLE DOES NOT DO

Setting programmatic targets — that is the program team's domain.
Managing field delivery or GDN operations.
Policy authorship or advocacy strategy.
Tech platform development (though close collaboration with Tech is essential).
Sit under state programs whose performance it must assess.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Experience: 10–16 years in M&E, data systems, evaluation, or research — ideally within development sector, government advisory, or research institutions.
Methods: Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills — comfortable with both survey-based M&E and systems-level data architecture.
Tools: Experience with MIS/dashboard design and BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent).
Independence: Track record of building independent M&E functions that are trusted by leadership and donors alike.
Orientation: Governance mindset - more interested in data integrity than in making numbers look good.
Sector: Exposure to government data systems, HMIS, DISE, or similar public data infrastructure

Head - Data M&E & Institutional Intelligence