Starting Date: ASAP

Contract type: Full-time and open-ended

Salary: Pakistan PKR 8,697,612/- commensurate with skills and experience

Location: Lahore

Application closing date: 04.09.2026

About the Job 

The Manager Assurance, MEL & Digital Systems leads Better Cotton’s Assurance and Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) functions in Pakistan, ensuring the delivery of credible, efficient, and high-quality assurance outcomes. This role oversees the implementation and ongoing strengthening of Better Cotton’s Certification model, advances MEL systems to generate robust evidence of programme impact and supports field-level digitalisation to improve data quality, accessibility, and decision-making. 

By integrating Assurance, MEL, and digitalisation, the role ensures that Better Cotton maintains credibility, learns from its work on the ground, and leverages data and technology to continuously improve sustainability outcomes in cotton production.

Responsibilities

We are seeking a motivated Manager Assurance, MEL and Digital Systems to join our company. In this role, you will be responsible for:

Assurance:

• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of the Certification-based Assurance model in Pakistan, ensuring processes remain credible, consistent, and adapted to the national context.
• Manage relationships with Certification Bodies (CBs), including contracting, training, performance monitoring, and quality control to ensure high standards and compliance with Better Cotton requirements.
• Collaborate with Programme and Global Assurance teams to align certification operations with broader organisational priorities.
• Monitor certification data and performance trends to identify risks, drive improvements, and inform strategic decisions.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL):

• Lead MEL strategy and implementation in Pakistan, ensuring timely and accurate collection, analysis, and reporting of programme performance data.
• Oversee the design and adaptation of MEL tools, methodologies, and indicators to strengthen evidence of programme effectiveness and impact.
• Steer analysis of various MEL datasets with country and global teams to drive insights, verify impact reporting and contribute to programmatic decision-making.
• Ensure data integrity through rigorous quality assurance and validation processes.

Digital Systems:

• Oversee consultants for third-party assignments to determine quality and authenticity of the datasets received from programme and supply chain perspective.
• Build MEL capacity among staff, Programme Partner staff through structured training and technical support.
• Oversee the deployment and maintenance of digital products.
• Ensure that digital tools meet MEL and programme needs, supporting efficient and real-time monitoring.
• Identify gaps in existing field data systems and propose solutions that are aligned with country context; continuously conduct needs assessment to maximize value addition from the digitalization portfolio for country and global counterparts.
• Co-design and steer creation of dashboards across datasets to enable validation and cross-functional coordination.
• Lead capacity building for staff and partners on the use of digital platforms, ensuring effective adoption and integration into field workflows.
• Monitor and troubleshoot digital systems to ensure seamless data flows and resolve disruptions.

Line Management Responsibilities:

• Directly manage Assurance, Digitalization and MEL staff in Pakistan, providing leadership, feedback, and opportunities for professional growth.

Experience

• Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field (e.g., agriculture, sustainability, development studies, digitalization and/or data management).
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in certification/assurance, MEL, and/or digital systems preferably in the sustainability or development sectors.
• Demonstrated success in managing data systems, leading evaluations, and engaging third-party service providers.
• Experience in agriculture or cotton production in Pakistan is preferred but not required.

Skills and Competencies:

• Systems Thinking – Ability to design and manage interrelated functions for Assurance, MEL, and digitalisation.
• Analytical Rigor – Uses data to identify risks, improve performance, and guide strategic decisions.
• Capacity Building – Ability to mentor and train staff and partners in technical and operational systems.
• Communication – Clear, concise, and persuasive in both written and verbal communication with diverse audiences.
• Adaptability – Thrives in a dynamic environment and adjusts systems and approaches to evolving needs.

Technical Competencies:

• Assurance Systems Management – Oversees delivery, quality control, and continuous improvement of assurance and certification processes.
• MEL Frameworks and Indicators – Designs and implements MEL tools that support program accountability and learning.
• Digital Field Tools – Supervises development and usage of digital tools for real-time data collection and decision support.
• Data Quality and Security – Ensures rigorous data verification, validation, and compliance with organisational standards.
• Capacity Building Delivery – Builds knowledge and competencies of staff, partners, and field teams.
• Analysis and Reporting – Synthesises data from multiple sources to produce actionable insights for internal and external use.

What we offer

- Hybrid working – Two to three days/week in the Lahore office.

- 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

- 25 Days paid Annual Leaves, plus 9 Bank Holidays

- Enhanced parental benefits

- 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 in Lahore. Better Cotton Initiative offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm.  The position may require limited international travel.

Apply now

Send us your CV (2 pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (1-page maximum) by or before 04.09.2026 via the application link. 

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

Better Cotton Initiative does not use artificial intelligence or in its hiring process. Every application is reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team and relevant hiring managers to ensure a fair and human-led assessment experience.

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 Initiative 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 Initiative 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 Initiative

Better Cotton Initiative 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 Initiative

Better Cotton Initiative 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.