Director: Knowledge Management, Research & Design

BACKGROUND:

Passing Gifts Private Limited (PGPL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Heifer International USA and it provides services in educating, consulting, training, advising, and providing professional and technical services to individuals, associations, and entities in India and abroad, particularly those who support or are working in the areas of social advancement and sustainable development. This position may also require service agreements, secondment agreements, between entities, etc.

PGPL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identify, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

FUNCTION:

The Director of Knowledge Management Research and Design is a senior leadership position responsible for driving the research, knowledge management, and project design efforts of PGPL. The Director will lead proposal writing, proposal team selection, and project design calendar development and management. This role plays a critical part in shaping the organization’s projects, ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation, and facilitating the dissemination of knowledge.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVERABLES : ( including approximate percentage effort)

Project Design and Writing and Coordination: (40%)

• Lead the design of new projects, including defining project objectives, target outcomes, and impact indicators.
• Ensure effective and quality funding proposals and concept notes writing at country office and regional levels.
• Maintain project proposal tracking system.
• Lead the development of project concept notes and proposals, including literature reviews, gathering knowledge and evidence from internal and external sources, in response to opportunities for submission to donors.
• Create and refine application packages (concept note, logical framework, proposal, budget, MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning) frameworks, and impact pathways) ensuring compliance with donor guideline and internal/external requirements.
• Maintain a pool of project ideas that can be expanded on as/when needed.

Knowledge Management and Documentation: (30%)

• Conceptualize and execute quantitative and evaluative analysis on issues of community development work and synthesize findings into appropriate outputs for various audiences. Identify critical gap areas in the existing body of knowledge, that could be filled through future endeavors.
• Create informative and insightful knowledge products, such as factsheets and databases, that enable informed decision-making and showcase impact created in PGPL’s Sustainable Locally Led Development work.
• Develop a body of knowledge to position PGPL for thought leadership. Contribute to communication plans with support in the form of strategies and tactical plans, written pieces, design support, presentations.
• Develop and disseminate the project’s knowledge assets internally and externally with stakeholders and partners. Support to strengthen the knowledge management structures and enhance the KM capacity for various projects/partners.
• Integrate large volumes of data to develop and communicate key messages in line with specific project priorities.
• Prepare case studies to increase visibility of major program results and activities, aiming at increasing smallholder farmer incomes.
• Partner with teams to build, develop and cultivate a culture of shared knowledge and learning.
• Develop sustainable approaches to content generation and information use to promote a culture of continuous knowledge sharing.
• Participate in regional events to raise PGPL’s profile, disseminating information and knowledge extracted from the current work of the organization.

Research, Monitoring and Evaluation: (25%)

• Provide oversight to the development and updating of the program(s) Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, including review of its theory of change, results framework, identify indicators, relevant and applicable baseline data collection strategies and methodologies, and the financial and human resources needed to successfully implement the strategy.
• Develop tools for data collection and protocols for performance monitoring as well as baseline, midline, end line and other assessments as needed, and ensure that tools developed by the MELS team are adequate and appropriate for the context.
• Provide quality assurance for programmatic work to ensure that projects stay on time, on scope and on budget.
• Ensure regular communication of program activities to all key stakeholders and contribute to the quarterly, annual, and project reports to donors. Package any data that comes from the MELS team for external audiences.
• Collaborate with the Project Heads to monitor the progress of the program in terms of the compliance requirements of results and indicators.
• Manage resources and ensure that Monitoring and Evaluation information and resources are up to date, available to staff and widely disseminated.
• Act as thought leader, incorporating appropriate research ideas, and implementing new tools/systems for strengthening MELS.

May perform other job-specific duties as assigned (5%)

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• Minimum 15 years of hands-on experience in international development, research, and knowledge management.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., development, social sciences, research).
• Extensive experience in project design, monitoring, and evaluation, particularly in the context of profit-making social enterprise organization.
• Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience in communicating persuasively to a broad range of audiences, and the ability to tailor communications according to audience.
• Proven experience in writing strong proposals.
• Experience in knowledge management, thought leadership, and the development of knowledge products.
• Proven ability to manage and collaborate with diverse teams.
• Knowledge of donor reporting requirements and expectations.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to navigate challenging situations to achieve goals and deadlines.
• Demonstrate a high degree of honesty and integrity.
• Motivated to work responsibly with little supervision.
• Ability to meet and deal with others in a courteous and tactful manner.
• Ability to work with sensitive information and to always maintain confidentiality.
• Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule.
• Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues, government officials, and the public.
• Willingness and ability to travel locally and internationally.
• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint, web designing, collaboration platform and tools, and electronic mail software (Microsoft preferred).
• Constant sitting, standing and walking, with occasional bending and lifting; may work at a computer for extended periods of time.