Sr. Specialist, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)
Global Communities

Job Info

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Overview

Global Communities works at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development and financial inclusion to save lives, advance equity and secure strong futures. We support communities at the forefront of their own development in more than 35 countries, partnering with local leaders, governments, civil society and the private sector to achieve a shared vision of a more just, prosperous and equitable global community.

Global Communities is seeking a Senior Specialist, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) to join the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning & Impact team at the headquarters in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland. The Senior Specialist, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) focuses on strengthening the technical design and implementation of robust MEL systems and approaches across Global Communities' Global Programs portfolio which spans programming in development, humanitarian response and peace building. This position provides technical support to design new programs and drafts relevant submission components in multiple large, complex (>$10M) proposals and programs. S/he significantly contributes to efforts to define and advance priorities to strengthen MEL systems, tools, approaches, and capacity and helps to lead the development and implementation of MEL approaches. S/he also significantly contributes to efforts to ensure the quality and rigor of monitoring, evaluation and learning that provide Global Communities with evidence on the effectiveness and impact of our programs while contributing to the organization's visibility and competitiveness, including presentations and publications in strategically important fora. The position sits within Global Communities' Measurement and Evidence for Learning and Impact (MELI) Unit and works in close coordination and collaboration with domestic and globally based staff.

NOTE :

As an organization working to advance public health, Global Communities has an obligation to model best practices and to do all we can to protect each other, our partners and the communities where we work. To ensure the continuity and effectiveness of our business operations, Global Communities is adopting a policy to safeguard the health of our visitors, employees, families, and the larger global community from COVID-19. Effective January 3, 2022, all U.S.-based Global Communities employees are required to provide proof of having received full dosage of COVID-19 vaccine that is FDA approved, approved for emergency use authorization, or have an approved medical or religious exemption on file with Global Communities, as a condition of employment.

Responsibilities

Technical Support to New and Existing Projects (40%)

• Develop and/or strengthen project-level MEL frameworks and plans of large, complex projects, ensuring that systems and tools produce relevant, timely, quality data that are responsive to the organization and project-level learning priorities, accountable to program participants, and compliant with reporting requirements.
• Ensure quality programmatic data are regularly analyzed and utilized to assess and improve program quality and project performance.
• Strengthen capacity of relevant internal and partner staff, in areas including data management, analysis, reporting and utilization of findings for data driven decision making, knowledge management, Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation (CLA).
• Draft and/or strengthen technical documents, including donor reports, project or study briefs, or other dissemination products to ensure stakeholder accountability, promote learning, and enhance visibility efforts.
• Lead and/or facilitate stocktaking exercises such as pause and reflect sessions, results utilization activities, before action reviews, after action reviews, critical reflection workshops and others to give and receive stakeholder feedback and identify lessons learned.

Technical Support to Resource Mobilization/New Business Development (30%)

• A s part of proposal teams, lead writing, developing, and/or reviewing of components of proposals; this may include MEL Plans, Learning or Research Agendas, Theory of Change/Results Framework, CLA/Knowledge Management Plans, and staffing and resource needs.
• As part of proposal teams, lead in the identification and/or formation of strategic partnerships to support MERLTech, research, CLA, and other relevant areas.

Technical Support and Capacity Strengthening in Robust Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning to Support Program Impact and Organizational Visibility (30%)

• Provide specialized technical support in areas such as Theory of Change; Learning Agendas; Data Quality Assurance; Program Participant Feedback and Accountability; Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation (CLA); Adaptive Management; and/or Knowledge Management.
  • Develop and/or strengthen organizational-wide guidance, tools and capacity for evidence-based design of programs, including ensuring theory of change in program design and management.
  • Strengthen capacity of relevant internal and partner staff, in areas including data management, analysis, reporting and utilization of findings for data driven decision making, knowledge management, and learning; lead the design and implementation of capacity development workshops for global MEL staff.
  • Support the identification and optimization of use of internal program and data and knowledge across programs, with a focus on facilitating utilization of data and knowledge for technical learning, program improvement, and enhancing visibility of programs.
  • Facilitate organizational strategic coordination and learning around MEL, including related knowledge sharing between teams, departments, projects and countries through peer- to-peer networks and knowledge exchange activities.

POSITION SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ability to travel, including to remote or resource-limited areas within GC's country portfolio (up to 25%)
• Supports MEL-related mentoring and professional development other staff members.
• Participate in Global Communities organizational initiatives.
• Promote and advance a culture of learning within the organization through advancing personal learning and subject matter expertise in relevant areas.
• Stay up to date on industry best practices and incorporate them in GC processes, guidance, and tools.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of best practices and international standards in designing quality MEL systems including theory of change, participatory methods,
• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative MEL methods, including planning of evaluations and special studies, determining variables, and selecting appropriate sampling methodologies.
• Strong writing skills to support proposal development, prepare and review reports and to contribute to publications and promotional materials.
• Strong knowledge of tools and approaches for facilitating data utilization and application, including data visualization and presentation, facilitating learning and reflection activities.
• General knowledge of statistical principles and procedures, including methods of collecting statistical data, simple correlation methods and sampling techniques
• Experience in designing and implementing MEL in a relevant content area in Global Communities' portfolio (including food security, economic growth and climate resilience; health, nutrition, and WASH; and governance and accountability); experience in MEL related to programming across development, humanitarian response, and peace building preferred.
• Knowledge and experience of MEL frameworks and priorities of key USG donors, including USAID (including Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs) and USDA McGovern Dole highly preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work with a diverse set of technical and non-technical counterparts and stakeholders, including global headquarter staff, country stakeholders, host government, non-governmental organizations, and community representatives.
• Proven project coordination skills and ability to work independently and as part of a team while coordinating and collaborating with diverse field counterparts across multiple countries.
• Skills to mentor staff with various levels of technical capacity and experience.
• Highly motivated, organized, and able to produce results fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
• Familiarity with and sensitivity to diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as gender issues.
• Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to use statistical analysis software such as STATA, SPSS, a plus.
• Second language abilities in Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic, Ukrainian, etc. a plus.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a related discipline and a minimum of four years of related work experience or a minimum of eight years of related work experience.
• At least two years of professional experience in program planning, monitoring and evaluation, research and/or learning related to international development programs.
• At least two years of experience leading or supporting efforts to strengthen monitoring, evaluation, and learning initiatives.
• Understanding and experience with program and/or MERL requirements of US Government agencies funding international development and humanitarian assistance programs (i.e., USAID, USDA, PEPFAR, etc.) preferred
• A passion for the mission and values of Global Communities.

Global Communities holds strict safeguarding principles and has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. In the process of recruitment, selection, and appointment, Global Communities will conduct robust reference and background screening checks, including international vetting as a signature of the Global Misconduct Disclosure Scheme to ensure children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded, and abuse is prevented. The incumbent is required to carry out their duties in accordance with Global Communities Safeguarding policy and the Standards of Conduct.

Global Communities is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

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