MERLA Manager

Job Description

Title: MERLA Manager

Company Name: Centre for Disability in Development (CDD)

Vacancy: 01

Age: 40 to 55 years

Job Location: Dhaka (Savar)

Salary: Tk. 100000 - 120000 (Monthly)

Experience:

• At least 8 years

• Master’s Degree in any Discipline preferable in Statistics/Economics/Social Science/Development Studies/Environmental Science/Agriculture.

• Professional Certification M&E Certification, Data Analysis Tools Training, SPSS, STATA, Power BI, or Excel Advanced, Project Management, Result-Based Management (RBM), Humanitarian Accountability Standards, CHS (Core Humanitarian Standard), Sphere Standards, Digital Data Collection Tools, Kobo Toolbox and related certifications will be an advantage.

• At least 8 years

• Age 40 to 55 years

Monitoring & Results-Based Management

• Knowledge of RBM, ToC, Log frame, results chains, indicators, baselines, targets, milestones, output/outcome/impact measurement, multi-year & multi-partner monitoring, programme quality assurance & compliance monitoring

• Develop project & organisational monitoring frameworks, SMART & disability-inclusive indicators, Performance Measurement Frameworks & Indicator Tracking Tables; establish routine monitoring systems; identify gaps & corrective actions; conduct field monitoring & programme quality assessments

Evaluation

• Knowledge of baseline, mid-term, end-line, process, outcome & impact evaluations; evaluation standards; qualitative, quantitative & mixed-method designs; contribution analysis, outcome harvesting & partnership-based programme evaluation

• Ability to develop evaluation ToRs & methodologies, manage consultants & evaluation teams, review evaluation quality, assess relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability & impact & track management responses to recommendations

Research & Evidence Generation

• Knowledge of applied social research, quantitative, qualitative & mixed methods, sampling, survey design, participatory & inclusive research, & ethical research involving children & persons with disabilities

• Ability to design & manage studies, conduct literature & secondary data reviews, develop research questions, analyse findings & translate evidence into programme recommendations, research reports, learning papers, case studies

Data Management & Analysis

• Knowledge of data quality principles, database management, data protection & confidentiality, digital data collection, data disaggregation & inclusion-sensitive data management

• Ability to develop data collection & reporting systems; manage databases & repositories; clean, validate & analyse data; conduct data quality assessments; disaggregate data & other relevant vulnerability factors; identify trends & anomalies; & produce dashboards & visualisations

• Preferred technical skills: Advanced Microsoft Excel; KoboToolbox/ODK or similar platforms; Power BI/Tableau; & SPSS, Stata or similar statistical software

Disability-Inclusive MERLA

• Knowledge of rights-based & social models of disability, CBR/CBID, UNCRPD, disability-inclusive development, Washington Group Questions, participation of persons with disabilities in MERLA & accessible research methodologies.

• Ability to design inclusive MERLA systems; ensure meaningful participation of children & youth with disabilities; develop accessible tools; analyse disability-disaggregated data, respondents, researchers, analysts & decision-makers, where appropriate

Accountability & Feedback

• Knowledge of accountability principles, inclusive feedback & complaints mechanisms, safeguarding, PSEA, protection, participation of persons with disabilities & CHS as relevant

• Ability to design accessible feedback mechanisms; analyse complaints & feedback; ensure confidentiality & safe referral; close the feedback loop; assess client satisfaction & ensure accountability to persons with disabilities, caregivers, communities, partners, government & donors

Reporting & Communication of Evidence

• Knowledge of donor reporting requirements, evidence-based reporting, data storytelling & visualisation

• Ability to review reports for accuracy & evidence; prepare organisational performance reports & management dashboards; present complex data clearly; communicate findings to technical & non-technical audiences; & translate evidence into messages for fundraising & advocacy

Management, Leadership & Behavioural Competencies

• Ability to lead & manage a MERLA team; develop plans & budgets; coordinate with programme, finance, HR, compliance & fundraising teams; set quality standards; manage multiple projects & deadlines, promote learning, reflection & accountability

• Demonstrates analytical & critical thinking, attention to detail, integrity, confidentiality, objectivity, strong communication & facilitation, problem-solving, adaptability, time management & the ability to translate data into action.

Other:

• Knowledge of requirements of INGOs, UN agencies, government bodies & financial institutions

• Commitment to disability inclusion, meaningful participation, learning & evidence-based decision-making.

*** Job Responsibilities:


1. Establishment and Strategic Leadership of MERLA:

• Establish, institutionalize and continuously strengthen CDD’s MERLA Department.

• Lead and coordinate the MERLA team, ensuring effective allocation of responsibilities, resources and technical support.

• Develop and implement an organizational MERLA strategy, annual work plan and budget aligned with CDD’s Strategic Plan.

• Establish organization-wide MERLA standards, systems, tools, protocols and quality assurance mechanisms.

• Support management in developing performance tracking systems and mechanisms for measuring organisational progress.

• Promote evidence-based decision-making, learning, accountability, innovation and adaptive management across CDD.

2. Monitoring, Results Measurement and Programme Quality Assurance:

• Develop and maintain monitoring frameworks, matrices and systems for all CDD projects and programmes, including partner-implemented programmes.

• Develop project-specific M&E plans based on goals, logical frameworks, theories of change, indicators, targets and donor requirements.

• Define and review KPIs for measuring outputs, outcomes and impact, and establish regular monthly, quarterly and annual performance monitoring.

• Compare actual achievements with planned results and identify gaps, underperformance, risks and emerging issues.

• Support programme teams in establishing realistic, evidence-based targets during project design and proposal development.

• Develop annual plans for spot checks, internal assessments and reviews of critical controls and MIS systems.

• Conduct or coordinate field monitoring visits, spot checks, programme quality assessments and internal reviews of CDD and partner organizations.

• Review field and partner reports and provide technical guidance to improve programme quality and data reliability.

• Track findings and agreed actions from monitoring, audits, assessments and investigations, ensuring timely follow-up and closure.

3. Data Management, MIS and Data Quality Assurance:

• Establish and strengthen systems for the collection, consolidation, analysis, storage and reporting of programme and organisational data.

• Ensure regular consolidation of data from CDD projects, programmes, field offices and partner Organizations.

• Design and maintain appropriate data collection tools, databases and digital/mobile data collection systems.

• Ensure systems respond to CDD information needs, donor requirements and the changing development context.

• Establish data quality standards covering accuracy, completeness, consistency, timeliness, validity and integrity.

• Conduct regular data quality assessments, spot checks, audits and verification exercises.

• Ensure staff and partners are trained in data collection, documentation, data management and ethical standards.

• Promote appropriate use of digital systems, GIS, real-time monitoring and data analysis and visualisation tools, including Excel, SPSS, STATA and Power BI.

• Ensure appropriate protection, confidentiality and responsible management of programme and participant data.

4. Evaluation, Research and Evidence Generation:

• Develop research and evaluation questions aligned with project objectives, outcomes, organisational priorities and evidence gaps.

• Design or oversee appropriate quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method research and evaluation methodologies.

• Lead or coordinate baseline, mid-term, end-line, outcome, impact, process and other relevant evaluations.

• Develop Terms of Reference and provide technical oversight to external researchers, evaluators and consultants.

• Ensure rigorous analysis of research and evaluation findings and translate them into actionable recommendations.

• Promote the generation and use of evidence to improve programme design, implementation, quality and impact.

• Provide evidence and data insights for proposal development, project extensions, fundraising and strategic decision-making.

• Ensure research and evaluation processes follow appropriate ethical standards, including informed consent, confidentiality, participant protection and required ethical approvals.

5. Learning, Knowledge Management and Adaptive Management:

• Establish and continuously improve organisational systems for learning, knowledge management and evidence sharing.

• Facilitate quarterly, annual and other learning, reflection and review processes across CDD.

• Promote reflection on programme performance, field realities, emerging challenges, successes, failures and unintended outcomes.

• Systematically document good practices, innovations, lessons learned, challenges and unintended results.

• Analyse lessons and facilitate actions for programme quality improvement and adaptive management.

• Support innovation through pilot testing, learning and scaling of successful approaches.

• Develop and maintain a central knowledge repository containing reports, evaluations, research, case studies, learning products and other relevant resources.

• Facilitate knowledge sharing through workshops, webinars, newsletters, learning events and other appropriate platforms.

6. Accountability and Feedback Mechanisms:

• Establish and strengthen accessible, inclusive and effective feedback and complaints mechanisms across CDD programmes and field operations.

• Support appropriate channels including suggestion boxes, hotlines, feedback forms, community meetings and other context-appropriate mechanisms.

• Ensure communities, participants and stakeholders receive relevant information on project plans, activities, progress and decisions, and understand how to participate and provide feedback.

• Establish systems for recording, analysing, responding to and following up on complaints and feedback.

• Ensure confidentiality and appropriate referral of sensitive and safeguarding-related complaints in accordance with CDD policies.

• Align accountability systems with relevant standards, including the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), where applicable.

• Analyse feedback and complaints data and use findings to improve programme quality, relevance and accountability.

7. Reporting, Dashboards and Communication of Evidence:

• Consolidate and analyse programme and organisational data and prepare MERLA reports and analytical updates for management and relevant governance and coordination platforms.

• Present consolidated MERLA findings for Executive Committee meetings, annual reviews, management meetings and other relevant forums.

• Ensure donor reports are accurate, evidence-based, timely and aligned with project requirements.

• Develop internal dashboards and regular performance updates to support management decision-making.

• Prepare charts, maps, infographics and other visual products to communicate evidence effectively.

• Link CDD performance and results, where relevant, to the CDD Strategic Plan, SDGs, national plans and other strategic frameworks.

8. Capacity Development of Staff and Partners:

• Assess MERLA capacity needs among CDD staff, field teams and partner Organizations.

• Develop and implement capacity-building plans on monitoring, evaluation, research, data management, data ethics, learning and accountability.

• Conduct workshops, coaching, mentoring and on-the-job training for HQ, field and partner staff.

• Strengthen the capacity of programme officers and partners to use MERLA data for programme improvement and decision-making.

• Provide technical support during field visits and promote consistent application of CDD MERLA systems, standards and tools.

9. Proposal Development, Strategy and Decision Support:

• Provide technical input into logical frameworks, theories of change, results frameworks, indicators and targets during proposal development.

• Ensure project objectives, indicators and targets are realistic, measurable and evidence-based.

• Provide MERLA data and analysis to support organisational strategy development and implementation.

• Use monitoring, research, evaluation and learning evidence to influence programme and strategic decisions.

• Support management in tracking strategic priorities, organisational commitments and progress against agreed plans.

• Promote evidence and learning in programme design, resource allocation and organisational decision-making.

10. Compliance, Due Diligence and External Coordination:

• Collaborate with internal departments and external stakeholders on MERLA, data quality, programme quality and accountability matters.

• Coordinate, as required, with external agencies, auditors, NGO Affairs Bureau, government authorities, local administration and other relevant stakeholders.

• Track and support timely implementation of actions arising from due diligence assessments, audits, reviews and external assessments.

• Support monitoring and follow-up of agreed actions related to organisational and programme compliance.

• Ensure MERLA systems and evidence contribute to accountability, transparency and continuous improvement.

11. Organisational Performance and Impact Measurement:

• Develop systems for consolidating project-level results to provide an organisation-wide overview of CDD’s performance and contribution.

• Analyse trends in programme performance, outcomes and impact across projects and geographical areas.

• Identify cross-cutting organisational strengths, weaknesses, risks, gaps and opportunities for improvement.

• Ensure MERLA evidence contributes to understanding CDD’s broader contribution to disability-inclusive development and strategic priorities.

• Promote the use of evidence to demonstrate organisational results, learning, value addition and impact to management, partners, donors and stakeholders.

12. Safeguarding Responsibilities:

• Adhere to CDD’s Children and Adults at Risk Safeguarding and other relevant safeguarding policies, ensuring the safety and well-being of project participants.

• Promote a safe and secure environment for all participants and stakeholders.

• Report safeguarding concerns promptly and follow designated reporting procedures.

13. Additional Responsibilities:

• Perform any other responsibility or special duty delegated by the project or CDD management.

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*** Job Context:

• CDD is an NGO established in 1996 to contribute towards an inclusive society for persons with disabilities. It is supported by national and international development partners. CDD offers an inclusive, amicable, and respectful work environment.

• CDD’s former Executive Director received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2010. In 2018, CDD was recognized by the Government of Bangladesh as one of the best organisations working on disability and development issues. CDD has also received Zero Project Awards.

• CDD invites applications for ‘MERLA Manager’, supported by the Liliane Fonds. The position will be a senior member of CDD’s Team, responsible for data review, analysis, reporting, storage and archiving. She will support MIS, strengthen monitoring frameworks, mitigate information errors, and improve CDD’s overall organisational MERLA system.

• The selected candidate will initially be hired for a three-month probationary period. Upon successful completion, the contract may be renewed annually, subject to performance and project funds.

For detail job requirement, click the following link:

• https://cdd.org.bd/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/job_detail_merla_manager-cdd.pdf

• T/A,Weekly 2 holidays,Mobile bill

• Prorata basis festival bonus;