Senior MEAL Manager

Requisition ID: req50858

Job Title: Senior MEAL Manager

Sector: Monitoring & Evaluation

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Maiduguri, Nigeria

Work Arrangement: In-person

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict affected populations. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri and Monguno of Borno state, Damaturu of Yobe State, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states. Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security & livelihoods

Job Overview/Summary

The Senior MEAL Manager position reports to the MEAL Coordinator and works closely with the MEAL Managers in the implementation of the regional and country measurement strategy. He/she will support program MEAL teams in overall implementation of quality client responsiveness activities, data management, data quality assurance and facilitation of learning across teams and field sites. The role requires extensive MEAL experience and good understanding of IRC measurement approach and concepts. The post holder will be expected to provide technical support in; data gathering, aggregation, MEAL tool development, support electronic data platforms, databases and select technologies to capture and organize data in a usable format. He/she will work collaboratively with program implementation teams, MEAL coordinator and support teams. The incumbent will be expected to communicate courteously on program performance, develop and maintain positive relationships with program and support teams

Major Responsibilities

System Development, Design and Promotion of MEAL

• Support the MEAL coordinator in the development, establishment, and maintenance of a sound accountable MEAL systems across the field offices.
• Support routine development of digital data collection tools and processes for online data management.
• Support in Design of MEAL plans and ensuring that all aspects of MEAL including activity reach tracking, Indicator tracking table, beneficiary databases conform to the IRC quality programming standards.
• Support and actively participate in programme design and development.
• Ensure that MEAL resources are included in proposal development and work creatively to secure funding from diverse sources, to ensure that MEAL is integrated in emergency and development programmes in a sustainable way.
• Responsible for effectively managing the MEAL budget.
• Engage in the design, method and conduct of surveys such as baseline and end line and the commission of evaluations in coordination with colleagues and partners.
• Support MEAL managers in Design and implementation of assessments including baseline, endline, research, satisfaction surveys and roll out appropriate toolkits.
• Support in design and roll out of program sector quality benchmark.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning execution

• Work with sector MEAL teams to determine MEAL assessment activities, methods which ensure data adequacy and completeness.
• Support data quality audits and resolve systemic problems in data quality.
• Tracking and documenting best practices in monitoring and evaluation
• Produce quality reports and updating dashboards with key findings that foster learning and decision making and share in project life cycle meetings and team meetings.
• Support the expansion of standard mobile data technology and online dashboards to enhance timeless and quality data collection, analysis, and visualization.
• Establish and ensure timely data flow, quality checks and audits and updating of data visualization.
• Undertake regular context analysis of monitoring data and work closely with technical coordinators to facilitate decision making for real time program adaptation.
• Provide information support in program coordination meeting on progress against activities and budget.
• Ensure MEAL managers implement standards client responsiveness activities in all projects.
• Develop sectorial learning plans and adaptive program trackers.
• Ensure that IRC is represented at relevant consortium, inter-NGO and government level meetings at the field level (related to MEAL) to enhance inter-agencies best practices sharing and learning.

Internal and External Reporting

• Support in ensuring that IRC delivers all internal MEAL reporting requirements in a timely manner.
• Track all external reporting requirements ensuring that MEAL data and information sections are updated on time.
• Ensure that high quality analysis reports to illustrate IRCs impact and assessment findings are produced, including evidence of good practice and replicable programmes, and that they are communicated at appropriate events.
• Receive and analyze regular CFM reports ensuring that action plans are included and followed up and that SMT reviews reports regularly.
• Provide response to both internal and external MEAL specific requests ensuring internal policies and communication procedures are adhered to.

Partnership and Internal Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development

• Responsible for providing consistent, supportive supervision as necessary to meet monitoring objectives and ensure data quality.
• Support the partner and internal MEAL Managers and sector Managers teams to track progress on action points related to implementation and MEAL activities.
• Support in recruitment, onboarding, performance management and development of MEAL staffing assigned to the department.
• Manage partner and internal MEAL Managers, ensuring that workplans and deliverables are clearly documented.
• Manage the MEAL team to ensure that the MEAL system operates effectively with the support and resources required and that there are clear links and reporting lines between field and country MEAL teams.
• At the organizational level, devise and manage a partner and internal MEAL training programme with the goal of increasing capacity and awareness on MEAL.
• Support in assessing and bridging of critical training needs of partner and internal MEAL team.

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to:MEAL Coordinator

Indirect/Technical Reporting: Client Responsiveness Specialist, International Programs

Position directly Supervises: MEAL Managers, FCRM Manager

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in statistics, social sciences, development studies, project management or any other relevant discipline. A master’s degree in any field is an added advantage.
• 5 solid years of MEAL management experience including MEAL budget management, Staff Management, supporting accountability, and learning.
• Demonstrated understanding or project management in a similar role/with similar responsibilities in a multi sectoral and multi donor environment.
• Strong team management experience with sound capacities to work in a diversified team
• Willingness to work under pressure and stressful situations without minimal supervision and without compromising deadlines or quality
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Good communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills
• Excellent computer skills and competency in word, Excel, PowerPoint, Kobo toolbox, commcare
• Willingness to travel to field sites under demanding conditions

Computer/Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.Add position-specific (e.g. accounting software, statistical software, etc.).

• Ability to Travel: 20% of the time.

• Standards of Professional Conduct. The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.
• Standard of Professional Conduct: IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.
• Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting.
• Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.
• Employment Gaps: We welcome applicants with varied career paths and recognize that a gap in employment does not define a candidate’s potential. We value transferrable skills and are committed to investing in the growth and development of our team members. We encourage applicants to highlight any relevant skills or experiences they have acquired, even if they were not gained in a traditional work setting.
• Compensation and Benefits: IRC strives to provide externally competitive and internally equitable Compensation and Benefits programs that attracts, motivates, and retains employees that deliver strong performance while demonstrating the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct.
• Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, ethnicity or tribe, gender, age, religion, caste, sexual orientation, differently abled, geographic origin, marital status, veteran status and cultural background (or any other characteristic protected by law). We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.