Panagora Group is a dynamic woman- and employee-owned small business and social enterprise dedicated to providing high-quality, high-impact international health, development, and learning services. We deliver market-based, integrated, and locally led solutions that strengthen country capacity; and learning, communications, and technology solutions to accelerate and heighten impact. Using novel, innovative, and highly participatory approaches to mobilize community, civil society, and government commitment in defining and owning solutions, we promote inclusive development to benefit all groups.
Panagora seeks an experienced monitoring, evaluation, research, learning and adaptation (MERLA) Director working with USAID managing donor-funded projects. The MERLA Director contributes significantly to new business development, in particular technical conceptualization and writing; conducts technical assignments; and starts up and oversees MERLA activities. The ideal candidate will also have significant experience in third party monitoring (TPM) working with the USAID/Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). This position reports to the Executive Vice President, Programs.
Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership and oversight of Panagora’s work in monitoring, evaluation, research, learning and adaption, ensuring the technical quality of client and internal deliverables
- Oversee monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) related contracts, including development and implementation of annual activity work plans and budgets
- Support new business development in technical area, providing leadership in technical conceptualization and writing, recruitment of high-quality technical personnel, etc.
- Contribute to advancing TPM at Panagora to support new business efforts and successful implementation of projects
- Lead or contribute to Panagora’s MERLA community of practice including capturing and sharing learnings about sectoral measurement approaches, changes, or advancements in USAID approaches, developing tools, resources, and training materials
- Monitor and support activity performance via regular tracking of financial and program reports, performance data, communication with field teams, and periodic supervisory travel
- Ensure compliance with contract requirements
- Serve as liaison with clients and ensure customer satisfaction
- Provide activity updates, lessons learned, and stories for marketing, communications, and learning purposes
- Ensure short-term assignments are staffed and conducted as planned, including through clear scopes of work, high-quality personnel, and facilitative oversight
- Draft regular donor reports and annual activity reports
- Actively support and represent Panagora’s mission and values in conduct and communications
- Represent Panagora periodically at conferences, meetings, and events
- Mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork
Requirements
- Master’s degree in international development or an advanced degree in a relevant field
- 10-15 years of relevant work experience
- Familiarity with USAID health programming
- Monitoring, evaluation, research, learning and adaption programming experience
- Experience designing and implementing third party monitoring activities highly preferred
- Experience using monitoring and evaluation in a learning context highly preferred
- Demonstrated project management skills at a leadership level in a USAID context
- Strong track record to working on and contributing to winning proposals including the ability. to conceptualize and write technical proposals
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
- Experience living and working in a developing country
- Proficiency in one or more foreign languages
- Experience using monitoring and evaluation in a learning context highly preferred
Reports to: Executive Vice President, Programs
Salary range: $100,000 – $124,900 per year
No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted. Only applicants who include the required application components will be considered.
Panagora Group is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Panagora Group is currently working a hybrid work schedule, and employees are encouraged to come into the office at least once a week to foster engagement, collaboration, belonging and professional development. Departments/teams will hold in-person meetings that involve a high degree of collaboration, where ideas are generated quickly and often feed off each other, e.g., brainstorming, storyboarding, proposal development, strategic planning, and performance discussions. Staff who reside in the DC/MD/VA area are strongly encouraged to work from the office on those days.
Benefits
Panagora Group offers competitive salaries including regular performance reviews and merit increases with an excellent insurance program (health, dental and vision) paid leave, holidays, bonuses, employee assistance program, training and development assistance, commuter allowance, phone allowance, as well as employee stock ownership (ESOP) and 401K programs.
*Note: Panagora does not offer visa sponsorship at this time.