Director Monitoring and Evaluation - West and Central Africa

Job Description

Working under the supervision of the Chief of Party (COP), the MEL/KM Director will provide technical leadership, oversight, and strategic direction for all project MEL and KM activities. The MEL/KM Director will be responsible for the development and implementation of all project MEL activities, including regular performance monitoring and reporting, the development of the Project Management Plan (PMP), and any special studies or operational research. The MEL/KM Director will be responsible for monitoring sub-awardees progress towards agreed milestones and (if applicable) providing MEL capacity-building support. The MEL/KM Director will also serve a key role in guiding host country governments, regional bodies, and implementing partners through the process of using evidence to inform policy decisions and practice guidelines and strengthening MEL capacities. On the KM side, the MEL/KM Director will lead both internal (project) KM functions, such as "Pause and Reflect" sessions, as well as external KM functions, such as supporting the advancement of regional knowledge sharing and policy coordination using existing platforms. Further, the MEL/KM Director will be responsible for documenting and disseminating project successes and challenges to USAID and other key stakeholders and (where practical and feasible) facilitating learning events. The MEL/KM Director will report to the Chief of Party.

Essential Functions

• Lead the design and implementation of the project's MEL and KM activities, consistent with project goals and objectives and USAID requirements.
• Serve in a key role in guiding host country governments and regional bodies through the process of using evidence to inform policy decisions and best practices.
• (If applicable) provide monitoring oversight to sub-grantees/sub-awardees
• (If applicable) Provide capacity strengthening assistance in MEL to local sub-grantees/sub-awardees, other health system actors, regional bodies, and/or host country governments.
• Leverage existing platforms, support and advance region-wide knowledge sharing and policy coordination
• Lead the project team to develop and implement the project's PMP in coordination with the COP, DCOP, other technical staff, partners, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Lead the project team in preparing quarterly and annual reports for submission to USAID.
• Lead the development of any special studies or operational research in accordance with international standards and EngenderHealth's Standard Operating Procedures.
• Support routine annual work planning and oversee target-setting.
• Ensure that reporting on all program indicators is carried out accurately and in a timely manner.
• Use data to inform adaptive management and project decision-making.
• In collaboration with other Key Personnel, organize "Pause and Reflect" sessions for the project.
• Where practical and feasible, facilitate learning events with host country governments, regional bodies, and external partners.
• Promote and disseminate program results, lessons learned, and success stories through various fora (e. g. , national and international conferences, technical briefs, peer-reviewed publications).

Requirements

• Masters degree (or higher) in public health, demography, epidemiology, biostatistics, social science, or related field.
• Minimum seven years' experience performing MEL and knowledge management functions for international health projects, ideally cross-country experience and experience in their job (+2 year) managing regional/multi-country projects.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple research projects; and monitoring of multiple projects
• Demonstrated experience of at least 3 years working with complex, large-scale USAID programs, including knowledge of USAID's reporting requirements.
• Proven expertise in quantitative and qualitative methodologies, data analysis, and report writing.
• Strong technical and analytical skills, including the ability to analyze qualitative and quantitative data using one or more statistical software packages (e. g. , SPSS, Stata, SAS).
• Familiarity with regional coordination and knowledge-sharing platforms in West Africa.
• Excellent analytical skills coupled with proven ability to display data as appropriate for different audiences.
• Excellent diplomacy skills and a proven ability to establish and maintain interpersonal and professional relationships with USAID, host country governments, program partners, and representatives from other key stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience with PMP development and implementation.
• Fluency in English is required; additionally, a strong command of French is highly preferred.