Head of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL), Communications, and Partnership, SHOTORKO Project

POSITION TITLE: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL), Communications, and Partnership Lead, SHOTORKO Project LOCATION: Dhaka, Bangladesh DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Empowerment STATUS: Full-time; contingent upon continuation of donor funding REPORTS TO: Project Director, SHOTORKO Project GENERAL: Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in the United States and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources. Since the 1980s, Winrock has been working, in partnership with the government of Bangladesh, to strengthen agriculture, aquaculture, trade, safe migration, and natural resource management sectors. Its work also protects human rights and expands inclusive access to economic opportunities. The U.S. Department of State-funded Strengthening Anti-Human Trafficking Responses for Online Recruitment into Criminal Operations (SHOTORKO) will address trafficking in persons for forced criminality in Bangladesh by strengthening capacities to investigate and prosecute online scamming crimes; improving survivor protection; increasing victim identification and support services to prevent re-victimization; combatting fraudulent recruitment by raising awareness and improving online safeguards; and facilitating private-sector partnerships. Winrock International is recruiting a Head of MERL, Communication, and Partnership (HoMCP) for the SHOTORKO project. The HoMCP will support the project’s overall objective to combat trafficking of Bangladeshis for forced criminality (FC) in online scam operations (OSOs). The project will do so by:

• Strengthening Bangladeshi stakeholder capacities and institutions to investigate and prosecute trafficking in persons (TIP) for FC in OSOs;
• Improving the identification, support, and referrals of TIP for FC in OSOs survivors to tailored protection care reinforcing repatriation, reintegration, and avoiding revictimization;
• Combatting and preventing fraudulent, deceptive employment recruitment for OSOs, increasing awareness of TIP OSO, improving online safeguards; and
• Building effective, durable partnerships that disrupt TIP and reduce OSO expansion. This is a local/national position and is not eligible for international allowances or relocation allowances. POSITION SUMMARY: The HoMCP leads Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) for the SHOTORKO project, ensuring data quality, collaborative learning, and adaptive management throughout implementation. In consultation with Winrock’s Head Office MERL specialists, the HoMCP develops and implements the project MERL Plan and results framework; establishes a secure management information system (MIS) that meets U.S. data security requirements; leads the project’s OSO Trafficking Trends and Analysis Mechanism (TAM); oversees the baseline and endline assessments; and reports on custom project indicators and U.S. Department of State’s Common Performance Indicators (CPIs). The HoMCP also leads project learning activities, including a mid-project pause-and-reflect workshop, and contributes to developing project baseline, endline, and other research protocols using international best practices. The HoMCP also coordinates with the Head Office communication team project communications and branding and marking, and supports the Project Director in building and tracking the project’s public-private partnerships. Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to: o Technical Monitoring and Evaluation § Develops the project MERL Plan, results framework, and indicator reference sheets in consultation with the U.S. Department of State. § Oversee the baseline (Year 1) and endline (Year 3) assessments, including developing scopes of work, managing consultants, and ensuring ethical research design. § Collaborates on the production of quarterly monitoring and evaluation indicator data and produces reports for the project and the U.S. Department of State. § Builds the capacities of the SHOTORKO project team in monitoring and evaluation and participates in Winrock International’s Monitoring and Evaluation Community of Practice. § Provides technical leadership on monitoring and evaluation for the project team to ensure Winrock and U.S. Department of State monitoring and evaluation requirements are met on a timely basis. o Management and Collaboration § Supports the Project Director and program managers to design appropriate strategies for achieving project objectives and goals. § Monitors and reviews progress achieving targets and objectives under the project results framework and ensures effective implementation of projects monitoring and evaluation activities. § Provides leadership within the SHOTORKO project team and with partners. § Coordinates with project staff, partners, and the U.S. Department of State, and participates in data validation exercises. o Communication and Dissemination § Coordinate with Winrock’s home office communications team to produce success stories, case studies, and other communication products. Ensure all materials comply with U.S. Department of State and Winrock branding and marking requirements and protect survivor confidentiality and consent. § Shares monthly and quarterly monitoring and evaluation data with project leadership to assess progress on program outputs and achievement of program objectives. § Coordinates documentation and dissemination of best practices, lessons learned, research findings, and progress to ensure the use of learning to improve SHOTORKO’s interventions. o Data Collection and Management § Guides data collection, management, and verification of data. This includes data analysis, reporting, dissemination, as well as ensuring compliance. § Designs and manages the project MIS to meet U.S. data security requirements. § Integrates data from training records, case tracking systems, victim service databases, partnership reports, participant assessments, digital campaign analytics, and persons with lived experience (PWLE). § Establishes data protection and confidentiality protocols for survivor and case data, including informed consent, anonymization, secure storage, and access controls, consistent with Do No Harm and trauma-informed principles. § Conducts data quality assessments and periodic reviews of project subgrant recipients and conducts training and feedback to improve implementation. o Learning § Ensures quick learning and adapting processes through the monitoring of program implementation. § Designs and coordinates implementation of learning workshops, trainings, and other activities for staff and implementing partners. § Develops and integrates into the SHOTORKO results framework learning objectives, expected results, indicators and targets, and processes for collecting data on progress. § Works with SHOTORKO staff, the U.S. Department of State, and other stakeholders in identifying research opportunities that will enhance the understanding of human trafficking for FC in OSOs. § Engages survivors as PWLE in participatory monitoring and learning, ensuring safe, ethical, and compensated participation. o Partnership § In collaboration with the Project Director, identifies, engages, and maintains strategic partnerships with businesses, associations, and private sector stakeholders to advance project prevention objectives. § Organizes public-private dialogues, business roundtables, and corporate social responsibility forums on TIP for FC in OSOs prevention. § Supports development and implementation of project codes of conduct, due diligence tools, and corporate accountability frameworks in collaboration with businesses. QUALIFICATIONS: Education:
• Master’s level degree required in social science discipline, such as statistics, public health, public policy, economics, or a related field, and/or specialized training/certification in monitoring and evaluation. Work Experience:
• Minimum of seven years’ experience managing and implementing complex monitoring and evaluation systems for international development projects, preferably with the U.S. Department of State.
• Experience managing large monitoring & evaluation databases, conducting timely data analysis, and developing reports. SQL database experience preferred.
• Experience in both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, managing and developing surveys, designing, and implementing data collection tools.
• Experience with mobile data collection strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with U.S. Department of State monitoring & evaluation requirements strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with emerging trends in monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning.
• Knowledge of human trafficking and online scamming in the context of Bangladesh.
• Experience conducting ethical research and data collection with vulnerable populations, including protecting confidential or survivor data.
• Experience producing communication products such as success stories, case studies, and learning briefs. Skills/Knowledge:
• Excellent interpersonal skills and teamwork.
• Fluency in oral and written English.
• Relevant skills in usage of IT equipment and applications.
• Willingness to travel regularly within Bangladesh.
• Interest in and enthusiasm for the mission of the SHOTORKO project.
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight and manage multiple competing priorities and activities. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible but no later than 01 November 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Winrock is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal treatment for all people. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by law. At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation