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JOB SPECIFICATION - ACTIVE VACANCY


Overview of Role

 

Background and purpose of the role

The KfW ECD Project is a new initiative that aims to prevent violence for children and caregivers by improving access to quality ECD opportunities from the earliest days of life across vulnerable urban communities. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the KfW Development Bank. The DG Murray Trust (DGMT) serves as the Project Executing Agent (PEA) to deliver the project in partnership with the City of Cape Town (CoCT). Running from January 2026 – December 2030, the project will focus on improving ECD infrastructure in vulnerable urban areas, improving ECD practitioner capacity, strengthening family-facing services and aligning municipal ECD systems. The project team is seeking a skilled Data Officer to manage the project’s data management and information system for project monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL)

Based in Cape Town, the Data Officer will work closely with the PEA project team, City of Cape Town and Western Cape Education Department (WCED) counterparts, designated service providers and implementing partners to ensure the project's data pipeline. Core tasks include data collection, cleaning, management and analysis, operating with a high degree of accuracy, support to evidence-based programme delivery and adherence to KfW/BMZ reporting requirements.

Responsibilities

1. Project Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)

  • Support the Programmes Lead to maintain and operationalise the project's MEL system, Results Matrix and data collection tools in line with KfW, City of Cape Town, WCED and DGMT requirements
  • Contribute to periodic review of indicators against the project Theory of Change and MEL framework

2. Data Management & Information Systems

  • Administer and maintain the project's central data management platform (e.g. ActivityInfo), ensuring structured, secure and accessible storage of MEL and programme data
  • Manage integration between field data collection tools and the central database, keeping the platform current with the project's data model
  • Manage user access, permissions and data governance in line with POPIA, and maintain data back-ups, version control and system documentation according to project protocols

3. Data Collection & Field Data Management

  • Oversee timely, accurate collection of project MEL data across implementation sites and partners using approved survey/ data collection tools
  • Ensure data collection adheres to agreed protocols, timelines and quality standards
  • Work with designated service providers to support the design of data collection protocols, training of field teams and monitoring of data quality

4. Data Cleaning, Processing & Quality Assurance

  • Clean, validate and quality-assure project data to ensure a high degree of accuracy before use in analysis or reporting
  • Contribute to continuous improvement of data quality standards and processes

5. Data Analysis & Reporting

  • Analyse MEL data to generate accurate, timely reports, dashboards and summaries for internal and external stakeholders
  • Contribute data and analysis to quarterly and annual reporting to KfW, the City of Cape Town, DGMT leadership and the Project Oversight Committee

6. Communication of Findings

  • Communicate data findings clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders to support programme decision-making, learning and communications
  • Share data findings with relevant teams according to agreed timelines and on request

7. Data Governance, Compliance & Continuous Improvement

  • Ensure the project's data systems and practices comply with POPIA, KfW visibility/reporting standards and DGMT data policies
  • Contribute to continuous improvement of data systems, tools and workflows
  • Support onboarding and training of new team members and partners so they are capacitated to use project data systems and tools


Qualification

  • A relevant tertiary qualification in data science, statistics, monitoring & evaluation, social sciences, information systems, or a related field


Experience

  • A minimum of 3–5 years' experience in a data management, M&E, or data officer role, ideally within an NGO, development programme, or donor-funded project environment
  • Demonstrated experience managing data pipelines from collection through cleaning, management and analysis, with a high degree of accuracy
  • Strong working knowledge of Excel (including formulas, pivot tables and dashboarding)
  • Practical experience with digital survey/data collection tools (e.g. Kobo Toolbox, ODK, SurveyCTO or similar)
  • Experience working with M&E systems and/or data management platforms (e.g. ActivityInfo, or comparable database/information management tools)
  • Understanding of MEL concepts, including indicators, Theory of Change, MEL frameworks and results frameworks
  • Working knowledge of data protection principles and requirements (e.g. POPIA)
  • Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel to project sites within Cape Town (advantageous)


Personal Characteristics

  • High degree of accuracy and strong attention to detail across all stages of the data pipeline
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and resolve data quality issues
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical data findings into clear, accessible insights for varied audiences
  • Well organised, deadline-driven, and able to manage multiple data streams and reporting cycles simultaneously
  • Collaborative team player, comfortable working in a diverse team, including service providers, external partners and funders
  • Proactive and solutions-oriented, with a continuous improvement mindset toward data systems and processes
  • Discreet and trustworthy in handling sensitive programme and beneficiary data


Take Note

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants may click the "Apply" button and submit:

  1. A cover letter (maximum 1 page) outlining:
  • Your interest in the role
  • Your experience working with complex project data environments
  • A high-level description of one unique data system, platform or MEL workflow you managed, including:
    • the purpose/problem being solved;
    • your technical approach;
    • data tools and architecture used;
    • users served; and
    • outcomes achieved.

 

  1. A curriculum vitae (maximum 3 pages) highlighting relevant technical and project experience.

 

Closing date for applications: 16 October 2026

 

Please note:

  • Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a practical technical exercise as part of the interview process.

 

 

POPIA Notice

When you apply for a position at DGMT we collect information directly from you to help us find suitable candidates. We use your personal information to review your application, correspond with you, and arrange travel and accommodation for interviews, if applicable. We use the information about your self-identified race and gender, disability, and nationality to implement our employment equity plan under the Employment Equity Act. We may need to use third parties to help us verify some of the information you shared with us by contacting the references you provided and confirming your qualifications. For certain roles, we may do criminal and credit checks. For more information about how the DGMT uses personal information and your rights, see our Data Privacy Policy at www.dgmt.co.za