DCOP/ MEL Director, Bangladesh

Position Description

EnCompass LLC is implementing a four-year monitoring, evaluation, and learning project for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Bangladesh (called Upoma). Our team provides a range of evaluation, applied research, and learning services to help ensure USAID, and its implementing partners make strategic programming decisions informed by evidence.

We are seeking a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP)/MEL Directorto help lead this 12-person team. The DCOP/MEL Director will have a high level of responsibility for the success of the contract. They will support the Chief of Party (COP) in the day-to-day oversight of the project, including client relations, management, and technical quality. They will directly oversee staff who are providing MEL support in specific sector areas to the Mission’s technical offices. Under the strategic direction of the COP, the DCOP/MEL Director will lead/oversee all technical workstreams under this contract, including evaluations, research, analytical services, performance management support, capacity development, learning, and communities of practice, ensuring quality, timeliness and use of all technical work.

Candidates must have substantial evaluation/research experience at a leadership level. They should have an excellent track record leading applied research efforts including project evaluations and assessments. They should have expertise designing and implementing quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis efforts in complex environments, with excellent report writing, presentation and communication skills and the ability to effectively lead, contribute to, and manage concurrent technical tasks and teams.

The position will be full-time and be based in Dhaka with travel throughout the country. Bangladeshi candidates preferred but international candidates will be considered.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the COP in the day-to-day management of Upoma. Serve as Acting COP when the COP is unavailable.
• Manage, contribute to, and lead tasks assigned by USAID/Bangladesh under Upoma’s Component 1 Analytical Support; Component 2 Performance Management Support; and Component 3 Learning, Capacity Building and Community of Practice. There is an anticipated priority focus on evaluations, assessments, and studies in the first few years of the contract.
• Supervise and provide technical back-stopping and mentoring support to Upoma’s technical team members, contributing to and providing input to deliverables as required to ensure the successful completion of tasks. Provide oversight and quality assurance to ensure that all products and services under this contract are of high quality, timely, useful, aligned to USAID guidance, and within budget. Conduct quality assurance reviews of deliverables and services.
• Engage with and provide ongoing technical support to USAID/Bangladesh’s Technical Offices.
• Assist the COP and EnCompass Home Office to develop and implement the Upoma Annual Work Plans, including maintaining an up-to-date implementation calendar of tasks and keeping track of Upoma’s performance indicator progress.
• Ensure that EnCompass technical systems and processes are used, and adapted as needed to reflect USAID/Bangladesh needs and context.
• Conduct data quality control field visits
• Engage directly with USAID/Bangladesh, implementing partners, and other stakeholders.
• Oversee the selection and management of consultants and Bangladesh organizations contracted to support the implementation of Upoma tasks. Ensure that all who engage in technical work understand the expected rapid-quality delivery balance and adhere to agreed timelines.
• Model strong learning and adaptive management throughout their work.
• Represent the contract, as needed, before a range of audiences and in a variety of platforms.
• Other duties as assigned by the COP.

Position Requirements

Qualifications

Academic Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s degree in a field aligned to USAID/Bangladesh focus sectors including International Development; Economic Growth; Health and Nutrition; Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance; Education; Humanitarian Assistance, etc.

Experience and Skills

Required:

• Must have at least 8 years of work experience leading high-quality evaluations and/or applied research of development programs, working with a broad range of stakeholders
• Experience managing concurrent research and evaluation tasks, including staff and consultant oversight, budget tracking, activity planning, and quality assurance
• Superior communication written, oral, and presentation skills in English
• Strong computer skills using MS Office software applications
• Willingness to take a hands-on approach as required to support the Upoma team to complete high quality technical deliverables in a timely manner
• Strong interpersonal and soft skills with an ability to contribute to and help maintain a positive interpersonal environment within the Upoma team and consulting teams, ensuring that EnCompass’ standards for collegial and productive workspaces are respected

Preferred:

• Previous experience leading research and/or MEL efforts in Bangladesh
• Previous leadership experience on a long-term USAID MEL contract including progressive experience managing complex, multi stakeholder development projects
• Strong track record in research and evaluation for USAID or other development agencies
• Strong computer skills using quantitative and qualitative data management software
• Knowledge of and experience with USAID rules and regulations
• Understanding of USAID MEL and CLA regulations, policies, and guidance
• Demonstrated experience managing learning and adaptive management approaches with USAID or other International Development organizations
• Experience building evaluative and learning capacities of USAID staff, implementing partners, and government counterparts
• Experience identifying and using diverse evidence sources to encourage robust decision making
• Experience communicating evidence effectively for practitioner audiences