Title:  MOMENTUM Round 1 MERL Director

Location: Arlington, VA

Position Category: Direct hire, paid in US

Posting Date: 08/29/2019

Deadline Date: Open until the position is filled.

Description:

JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) is seeking a Director for Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) in anticipation of the MOMENTUM Round 1 award by USAID. Round 1 is focused on MNCH/FP/RH in fragile settings. This position will be responsible for leadership, coordination, and implementation of the MERL strategy to strengthen quality maternal, newborn, and child health, voluntary family planning, and reproductive health service delivery in fragile settings. Also critical to the success of this position will be a sharp focus on advancing the learning agenda and contributing to knowledge at the global level about what it takes to strengthen MNCH/FP/RH service delivery and build resilience in fragile settings.

The MERL Director will have primary responsibility for the design, management, and implementation of systems to ensure quality monitoring and reporting of the project’s Activity MEL Plan for both core and field activities, development and oversight of the project’s learning agenda (including strategic inputs and documentation of CLA activities), review and oversight of all research undertaken by the project, and primary support to country teams for the quality, timeliness, completeness and reporting of all monitoring, evaluation and research data from their activities.

S/he will have a strong capacity for defining a strategic vision for global programs and will demonstrate the ability to coordinate and communicate with MOMENTUM stakeholders, particularly other MOMENTUM awards including MOMENTUM 2C. S/he will showcase experience with designing effective knowledge management and communication strategies to ensure uptake of evidence generated by projects. S/he will demonstrate strong capabilities in translating global learning for country action and informing global policy based on country-level learning.

The ideal candidate will be an astute leader who is both technically and politically adept at promoting strong working relationships between key stakeholders at the country and global levels, USAID technical teams, and partner organizations. S/he will foster team inclusiveness, collaboration, and communication to achieve project goals. The MERL Director will work with MEL and KM staff to ensure Round 1 measurement is rigorous, innovative and nimble, facilitates adaptive management, and emphasizes continuous learning and improvement.

This position will report directly to the Project Director and will be based in the Washington, DC area.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The MERL Director will have the following roles and responsibilities:

• Design and implement the MOMENTUM Round 1 MEL plan and learning agenda;
• Work with USAID to finalize the MOMENTUM 1’s theory of change, conceptual framework, and MEL plan;
• Design and implement the MEL plan at the field and global levels and tailor measurement plans based on country needs and stages of development;
• Provide technical oversight to ensure the systematic collection, analysis, synthesis, use, translation, and dissemination of data and learning to inform programmatic decision-making and the global evidence base for MNCH/FP/RH;
• Foster a culture of collaborative learning and adaptation (CLA) within the project, ensuring that MEL and research activities are timely, relevant, and used iteratively to improve program performance;
• Participate in global knowledge sharing and learning forums and working groups to ensure a feedback loop between country learning and global policy conversations;
• Ensure MEL activities are in line with USAID’s Evaluation Policy, Open Data Policy, the Journey to Self-Reliance, the Transformation Agenda and key technical guidance and frameworks;
• Contribute to the design and implementation of capacity strengthening on a variety of MEL topics, including data for decision making and learning, at the country level;
• Establish and maintain highly collaborative working relationships with USAID Washington, USAID Missions, and relevant in-country stakeholders;
• Coordinate closely with MOMENTUM 2C through collaborating and data sharing to ensure comprehensive synthesis and dissemination of evidence from across the MOMENTUM portfolio;
• Collaborate with digital health technologists to accelerate improvements in MNCH/FP/RH outcomes and streamline and improve data collection, management, and use;
• Work closely with the MOMENTUM Round 1 Technical Leads and Advisors to coordinate the MEL agenda/strategy across both global and country programming;
• Supervise project staff; ensure the technical capacity of team members and provide technical assistance and backstopping when required;
• Supervise capacity building for local M&E staff, or host-country counterparts in M&E (likely through direct technical assistance);
• Supervise a MERL team that may include Communications/KM and RME Officers;
• Promote sustainability of project activities with effective networking, linkages to other programs, capacity building of project staff, and institutional strengthening in support of the journey to self-reliance; and
• Ensure documentation and dissemination of findings, impact, innovations, and lessons learned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The MERL Director:

• Has a master’s degree or higher in social science, public health, or clinical-related field with a concentration on monitoring and evaluation, statistics, research or related field, with
• At least ten (10) years’ experience designing, managing and/or implementing health monitoring systems, data quality assurance, database management, data analysis and use, and reporting, and….
• at least five (5) years designing and managing/implementing evaluations, and analyzing qualitative and/or quantitative data internationally;
• Has demonstrated experience in using research and monitoring information for decision making and program adaptations, especially in health programs;
• Has demonstrated experience using digital technologies to support monitoring, evaluation and analytics;
• Has demonstrated experience in effectively engaging with health care teams to select indicators for monitoring the project’s performance, outputs and health outcomes;
• Has demonstrated experience building the capacity of host country counterparts in improving data quality, data management and analysis, and use of data for understanding program performance and solving problems;
• Has lived and/or worked in low or middle income countries for at least 5 years (can be part of the 10 years’ experience in the first bullet);
• Has experience on large complex global programs that are centrally funded and have a multi-country presence;
• Has experience with critical cross-cutting themes like gender and capacity building;
• Has fluent English oral and written communication skills. Fluency in an additional language is preferred but not required; and
• Is willing to travel internationally up to 30% time.

This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.

How to Apply: Please send application documents to recruit@internationalink.net that clearly show you match all qualifications requirements. Documents requested: 1) CV in chronological format, that clearly show you match requirements and experience of the job; and 2) cover letter and a list of at least three professional referees; list will include name, contact information, and work relationship to the referee and, 3) add “MEL Director -JSI MOMENTUM 1, USA” in the subject line.

Deadline for Application: Open until filled

Salary commensurate with experience.