Starting Date: July 2025

Contract type: Full-time and open-ended

Salary: 14,57,872 INR, commensurate with relevant experience and skills

Location: Delhi, India

Application closing date: 21-05-2025

About the Job 

As MEL Officer, you will play an important role in supporting the effort towards ensuring that suitable M&E tools and systems are in place to aid the implementation and improvement of programme activities in India. This will include supporting the expansion of field data digitalisation working closely with Programme Partners on the one hand, and with relevant internal teams on the other. In this role, you will also be responsible for implementing processes for data quality assurance as well as support the execution of MEL-related capacity strengthening for field staff.

The Challenge

Looking ahead to 2030, we are targeting reducing GHG emissions from cotton production by half, big cuts in synthetic pesticide use, improve soil health across our network, improve farm income and support women’s empowerment among farmers and farm workers.

Areas that play to your strengths

We are seeking a motivated MEL Officer to join our Assurance and MEL Team. In this role, you will be responsible for:

1.Field-Level Data Digitalisation Support(40%):

·       Act as a key liaison between Programme Partners, field staff, and internal teams to ensure the seamless integration of digital solutions for field data capturing and reporting.

·       Assist with the design and development of digital tools for data collection, ensuring proper integration into existing systems.

·       Facilitate interactive training sessions with field staff empowering them to effectively use digital platforms and tools while addressing technical issues and challenges raised by the Partners to ensure effective and smooth adoption of digital tools.

·       Oversee and administer user access to digital data collection and reporting tools to ensure system integrity and data compliance.

2.Data Quality Assurance(30%):

Perform regular data quality checks to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and completeness of field-level data.

Identify, report, and work with relevant teams to resolve data quality issues.

Collaborate with field teams to ensure adherence to data collection and reporting guidelines, and quality standards.

3.GIS Mapping and Data Visualisation(15%):

Assist with the integration of Geographic Information System into Assurance and Capacity Strengthening functions to support evidence-based decision-making.

·       Collaborate with field teams to ensure high quality spatial data visualisation to be used in quantifying outcomes and impact across geographies.

·       Support the IT & Data team’s geospatial innovation pilots and initiatives.

4.Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Support(15%):

Assist in the collection, organisation and management of data for MEL processes, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s evidence framework and Results Indicators.

Contribute towards data analysis and development of actionable insights to enhance programmatic outcomes.

Support with designing and delivering MEL-related modules to Partners as part of capacity strengthening to foster a culture of continuous learning.

We are looking for someone who has

the following skills, knowledge, and experience:

Essential

·       1.Master’s degree, or equivalent higher education qualification, in a relevant field

·       2.Demonstrated interest in sustainability and international development

·       3.Skills in Excel, understanding of Power-Bi will be an added advantage, including strong ability to create data visualizations for a range of audiences

·       4.Excellent written and communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly and concisely, and to assimilate and process information for wide-ranging audiences

·       5.Fluency in English and Hindi (spoken and written)

·       6.High proficiency in MS Office, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook

·       7.Minimum 2 years of work experience in the development sector

·       8.Experience of large database management

·       9.Experience using digital data collection tools like ODK, CommCare, Kobo Toolbox etc.

Desirable

1.Experience working in agriculture sector in India; experience with cotton.

2.Experience in capacity strengthening activities with co-workers / partner staff

3.Familiarity with geospatial data tools such as QGIS

4.Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods

5Knowledge of Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu and Kannada will be added advantage

What we offer

- Competitive salary

- Hybrid working – One week work from Delhi office in every 6 weeks

- The opportunity to work from anywhere in the world for up to one month per year

- Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time

- Continuous learning and development

- Profident Fund Benefits

- 25 days paid annual leave, plus 8-9 Bank Holidays and a further 3 discretionary days off over festive period/year end period.

- Enhanced parental benefits

- A warm, positive working environment where everyone is valued

- The opportunity to make your mark and make a difference.

Working arrangements

The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and will be based either in London, Lahore or Delhi. Better Cotton offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm.  The position will require limited travel (approximately 20%) to field locations in India.

Apply now

Send us your CV (2 pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (1-page maximum) by or before 21.05.2025 via apply now link. 

In your cover letter, please include an explanation of why your experience is specifically relevant to this role at Better Cotton. We want to see your personal style – what makes you tick and why you think your next opportunity is here with us.

Our hiring process

Initial Screening:

Applicant screening is a crucial step in our recruitment process. This stage may involve a brief phone interview or video call to evaluate your suitability for the position. During this screening, we review resumes and cover letters, and may conduct initial background checks to narrow down the pool of applicant. Internal candidates are encouraged to inform their line manager about their application to promote transparency and help facilitate a smooth transition if selected.

Interviews:

If you successfully pass the initial screening, you will be invited for interviews. The interview process at Better Cotton may include one or more rounds of interviews with various stakeholders, such as the hiring manager, team members, and potentially senior management. As an internal candidate, you may have discussions regarding your current responsibilities and how they will transition to the new position.

Assessment and Testing: 

Depending on the role, you might be required to complete assessments, technical tests, or skills evaluations to gauge your competency and suitability for the position. Internal candidates may have the option to demonstrate their existing skills through current job performance or past project outcomes.

Reference Checks: 

Once you progress further in the process, reference checks are conducted to validate your work history, skills, and qualifications, and for some roles, your education and criminal history. Internal candidates may be asked for references from current or previous supervisors within Better Cotton to provide insights into their performance and capabilities.

Offer stage:

After completing interviews, assessments, and reference checks, the hiring team evaluates your performance and fit for the role. If you are selected and your references are relevant and satisfactory, you will receive a formal job offer letter outlining the terms of employment, compensation, benefits, and any other relevant details. For internal candidates, the offer process may include a discussion about how your transition to the new role will be managed and any support needed for a smooth handover.

About Better Cotton

Better Cotton is a global not-for-profit organisation supporting the production of more equitable and sustainable cotton at farm level. We exist to catalyse the cotton farming community with partners, governments and others to continuously drive positive impact by setting standards and facilitating the supply and demand of more sustainable cotton from farm to brand. In just 15 years we have aligned more than a fifth of the world’s cotton with our standard and helped farmers and farming communities thrive. Join us in building a better, more sustainable future for cotton worldwide.

About our Values

The post holder will be expected to operate in line with our workplace values which are:  

• Trustworthy (including honest, transparent, credible) 
• As having Integrity (including responsible, authentic) 
• Positive (including problem-solving, pragmatic) 
• Engaging (including adaptable, inclusive, holistic) 
• Daring (including courageous, innovative, game-changing)  

Being you @ Better Cotton

Better Cotton is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human, and financial resources.

We have a zero-tolerance approach to any attitudes or behaviours that put children or adults at risk of harm. Safeguarding incidents are acts of serious misconduct and are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal and referral to relevant authorities for criminal prosecution. Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.