Job Title

About the Role: We are seeking a rural development professional who will be the eyes and ears of our HRDP project in Chamba—someone who understands how grassroots development programs actually work and can ensure our data systems capture that reality accurately. This isn't an IT role or a computer job—this is for someone who knows rural development inside out, has worked closely with communities and field teams, and can guide our community facilitators to document their work properly while maintaining the quality and integrity of our data. You'll spend significant time in the field, understand what's happening on the ground, train community facilitators in simple and practical ways, and ensure our MIS reflects genuine program progress. If you're a development professional who values good documentation as much as good fieldwork, this role is for you. About HRDP Project: Holistic Rural Development Initiative in Chamba district covers agriculture & allied activities, livelihoods promotion, skill development, natural resource management, women's SHGs, health & nutrition, education support, community infrastructure, and institutional strengthening. This multi-year, donor-funded project works with community facilitators across villages and requires robust documentation, regular portal reporting, and quality monitoring systems.Key Responsibilities: Field-Level MIS & Documentation Design simple, practical MIS formats and tools that community facilitators can actually use at grassroots level Ensure data collection systems capture what's really happening in villages—not just numbers but quality of interventions Work closely with community facilitators to understand their documentation challenges and create user-friendly solutions Collect and compile data from field—visiting villages, talking to facilitators, verifying information firsthand Maintain databases and trackers for all project activities, beneficiaries, expenditure and outcomes Ensure data quality by being present in field, cross-checking information, and catching inconsistencies early Training & Capacity Building of Community Facilitators Train community facilitators on how to collect data, maintain records, take photographs, and document activities properly Explain documentation requirements in simple, practical terms that grassroots workers can understand and follow Provide continuous handholding and support—not one-time training but ongoing guidance Develop easy-to-use formats, checklists and job aids that help facilitators remember what to document Conduct regular refresher sessions and address documentation challenges faced by field teams Build understanding among facilitators about why good documentation matters for project credibility Be patient and supportive—recognize that many facilitators may not be highly educated but are excellent field workers Portal Reporting & Compliance Report project data on government monitoring portals (NRLM portal, state government systems, etc.) on time Ensure all required data is entered accurately on portals within deadlines Coordinate with government officials for portal access, clarifications and query resolution Track portal submission schedules and never miss reporting deadlines Prepare donor reports with accurate data and supporting documentation Understand what data different stakeholders need and ensure it's available when required Project Monitoring & Quality Assurance Be the eyes and ears—conduct regular field visits to see what's actually happening in villages Monitor whether activities are being implemented as planned and documented properly Verify data accuracy by cross-checking reports with ground realities Spot gaps in implementation or documentation early and alert program manager Ensure community facilitators are following proper processes and maintaining quality Check that beneficiary lists are genuine, activities are of good quality, and funds are being used appropriately Provide constructive feedback to field teams on how to improve their documentation and implementation Documentation & Reporting Compile comprehensive activity reports with photographs, attendance sheets, participant details and outcomes Document success stories, case studies and testimonials from beneficiaries Maintain organized filing—both physical and digital—of all project documents Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports for management and donors Create presentations and materials for review meetings and donor visits Ensure all documentation meets organizational and donor standards Team Guidance & Coordination Work closely with program manager to provide ground-level intelligence and implementation updates Guide field teams on what needs to be documented, how to maintain records, and what quality looks like Be the go-to person for community facilitators when they have questions about documentation or reporting Coordinate between different thematic teams to ensure integrated documentation Share data updates, progress status and key findings with project team regularly Support program manager with data-backed insights for decision-making Stakeholder Coordination Serve as single point of contact for all project data and information Liaise with government departments for data sharing and coordination Support interactions with external evaluators, auditors or visitors requiring project information Respond to data queries from donors, management and other stakeholders Essential Qualifications: Master's degree in Rural Development, Rural Management, Development Studies, Social Work, Agriculture Extension, or related field (mandatory) 3-4 years of hands-on experience working in rural development or grassroots programs with strong documentation/MIS component Deep understanding of holistic rural development—agriculture, livelihoods, SHGs, community institutions, NRM, women's empowerment Experience working directly with community-level workers, volunteers, SHG members, or village-level functionaries Good working knowledge of MS Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint (not expert level, but comfortable with basic data management) Experience training or building capacity of grassroots workers Familiarity with government rural development programs (NRLM, MGNREGA, etc.) and their reporting systems Must-Have Skills & Competencies: Rural Development Expertise : Deep understanding of how grassroots programs work—not theoretical but practical, ground-level knowledge Field Orientation : Genuinely comfortable spending time in villages; connects well with community facilitators and rural communities Training & Handholding : Ability to train and support grassroots workers with patience, simplicity and practical guidance Documentation : Strong documentation skills—can write clear reports, compile information systematically, maintain organized records Data Quality Consciousness : Natural instinct to verify information, catch inconsistencies, ensure accuracy Communication : Ability to explain things simply to people with varying education levels; good listening skills Observation Skills : Sharp eye for what's happening in field—can spot gaps, quality issues, or data problems Organizational Skills : Systematic in maintaining files, trackers, schedules and deadlines Basic Tech Skills : Comfortable with Excel for data entry and basic analysis, Word for reports, email, portals (not IT expertise, but functional comfort) Analytical Thinking : Ability to look at data and understand what it's telling about program progress and quality Must-Have Traits & Personal Attributes: Eyes and ears of the project- knows what's really happening in villages; picks up on issues through field presence and observations Development sector grounding- understands rural contexts, community dynamics, challenges of grassroots implementation Quality guardian- doesn't accept incomplete documentation or inaccurate data; maintains standards Patient trainer- can train community facilitators multiple times without frustration; adapts training to their level Detail-oriented- catches errors, spots inconsistencies, ensures completeness in documentation Proactive & self-driven- doesn't wait for instructions; sees what needs to be done and does it Team guide- naturally helps others improve; shares knowledge; builds capacity Grounded & practical- creates documentation systems that actually work in field conditions, not complicated academic frameworks Honest & transparent- reports realities as they are; doesn't manipulate data to make things look good Field-first mindset- sees field visits as the core of the job, not desk work Organized & systematic- maintains neat records; meets deadlines; keeps information accessible Calm under pressure- handles multiple data requests, tight reporting deadlines, and field issues without panic What Makes a Candidate Stand Out: Previous experience working in Himachal Pradesh or hill areas; understanding of mountain communities and their livelihoods Experience with NRLM projects—understanding of SHG structures, VO/CLF functioning, community institutions Experience working with women's SHGs, producer groups, or community-based organizations Knowledge of participatory rural appraisal (PRA) techniques and community needs assessment Experience in integrated rural development projects covering multiple sectors Familiarity with livelihoods programs, agriculture extension, watershed management, or skill development initiatives Understanding of government schemes like MGNREGA, PMAY, PMKSY and how they work at village level Proficiency in Hindi and local Himachali dialects Photography skills for field documentation Previous experience training village-level volunteers, SHG members, or community resource persons