MEAL Manager

Job Purpose:

The role of the MEAL Manager is to provide strategic direction to monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) department at IYD, and to promote a culture of MEAL, Ensuring the project deliverables are met according to the plan and M&E methodology, and to lead the improvement of program and project efficiency and effectiveness, decision making and learning through Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning.
The MEAL Manager will be solutions oriented and will focus on developing and improving strategies, coaching and training the team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic insights for IYD strategy and direct MEAL team on it.

• Ensure that policies and standards are understood and adhered to at all stages of program design, implementation and evaluation.

• Develop, implement and advocate for strategies, tools and mechanisms that measure program and projects impact, identify areas of strength and opportunities for growth, and promote best practices in MEAL.

• Collaborate with other departments to ensure that MEAL is properly integrated into program and project design, implementation, reporting and learning.

• Lead initiatives and activities that build capacity through the effective use of MEAL, to promote a culture where data and evidence drive to continuous improvement.

  Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning:

• Provide research, and evaluation guidance and tools for the implementation of the programs and assist with need assessment for the development of new programs and projects.

• Conduct baseline studies and research for new program development.

• Lead or participate in program and project evaluations and impact studies, and assist in the development of tools and methods.

• Create documentation requirements for project MEAL, and track reporting for assigned portfolio of projects. Support the team in timely preparation and submission of reports to donors.

• Provide support and/or undertake field visits to monitor the implementation of activities.

• Compile data sources, employing collection and analysis of monitoring data. Review project data collection and reporting for data quality and make recommendations for improvement.

  Learning and Accountability Management:

• Establish methodology for sharing lessons learned and successful experiences, ensuring their application in future program improvements.

• Ensure having effective AAP system and implement effective mechanisms for collecting feedback and complaints from beneficiaries, ensuring swift and fair handling.

• Ensure that information related to project performance and results is available transparently to partners and beneficiaries.

  Team Management and Leadership:

• Define individual and team objectives, ensuring alignment with overall MEAL and program goals, and regularly review progress to provide constructive feedback.

• Identify and support opportunities for the professional growth of team members, including training, workshops, and participation in relevant conferences.

• Promote clear communication within the team, ensuring that roles, responsibilities, and deadlines are well-understood, and that issues are addressed promptly.

Note: The above-mentioned key responsibilities/accountabilities are illustrative ones. Other future responsibilities/accountabilities may be assigned to the job depending on the department’s organizational chart.

Job Context:

Clerical; based in IYD’s executive office in Gaziantep, Turkey with Field Visits to Syria.

Qualification (Education – Work Experience):

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, statistics, or related fields.
• Seven years of MEAL professional experience, including Five years at supervisory or managerial level.
• Advanced in English and Arabic.

Desirable:

• Master’s degree in development, statistics, or related fields.
• More than Seven years of MEAL professional experience, including three years at supervisory or managerial level.
• Advanced level of English and Arabic.

Core & Managerial Competencies:

Core Competencies:

• Communication.
• Teamwork.
• Planning and organizing.
• Accountability.
• Creativity.
• Stakeholder Orientation.
• Commitment to Continuous Learning.
• Technological Awareness.

Supervisor – Managerial Competencies:

• Leadership.
• Building Trust.
• Vision.
• Managing Performance.
• Empowering Others.
• Judgment/Decision-making.

Technical Competencies:

• Be able to design and develop efficient tools for collecting monitoring data based on program results framework.
• Be able to design and develop tools for storing and processing data from routine and survey data: create and manage databases using Excel, Access or other similar data management platforms, and create and effectively structure survey data files.
• Possess knowledge of advanced techniques for random sampling, including the estimation of sample size, the calculation of weights, the calculation of the estimation errors, and confidence intervals.
• Master at least one statistical software such as SPSS, SAS, STATA, or equivalent, preferred.
• Have advanced descriptive statistics and statistical inference knowledge (select and perform appropriate statistical tests to remove the evidence of differences between results or between groups (experimental and control).
• Be able to design and develop effective questionnaires for quantitative surveys and interview guides for qualitative studies.
• Experience leading MEAL systems.