Job Summary:

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Sr. Advisor will provide technical guidance on all MEL aspects of a large USAID-funded Global Health Security (GHS) project. The MEL Sr. Advisor oversees the day-to-day MEL activities, developing and implementing policies and processes, and ensuring quality delivery of service on MEL. Supervises technical staff members ensuring that the MEL plan and activities are in alignment with work plans, and technical expertise informing project implementation. Prepares project and donor reports and drafts publications and external communications. Leads the development / revision of best practice documents. May be required to coordinate and work with a diverse group of organizations, such as the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW), district health staff, several international and national development partner organizations, and the USAID (US Agency for International Development) mission to complete work.

This position is contingent upon successful award.

Accountabilities:

Technical Requirements:

• Works on problems of complex scope that require evaluation of variable factors.
• Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining solutions, with little supervision.
• Networks with key internal and external personnel.
• Decisions may cause delays or failure to achieve results that impact departmental goals.
• Provides input to senior technical leadership on national guidelines and normative policies for MEL.
• May interpret findings and make recommendations for improvements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Project Design Implementation:

• Lead design, development, planning and implementation of the project MEL strategy, including MEL framework and MEL plan.
• Develop, operationalize, implement and manage MEL and SI systems, tools, and procedures to collect, collate, analyze, interpret, and use data that demonstrate impact and program accountability and progress.
• Track progress made against indicators and targets and towards results, outcomes, and impacts ensuring that they are being consistently and systematically tracked and reported, Support quarterly performance and semi-annual or annual reports.
• Develop high quality quantitative and qualitative methods and participatory methodologies to monitor project quality for performance and results.
• Build project and staff MEL and SI capacity, including strengthening, managing and operationalizing MEL systems, data quality assurance, data demand and use, facilitating learning and knowledge exchange, documenting best practices, and reporting.
• Lead project learning activities and data use initiatives; foster culture of learning and knowledge sharing
• Collaborate with teams to design and support learning activities, share MEL data, analysis and data use products, promote evidence-based feedback, adaptation and decision making.
• Collaborate and support knowledge management and communication efforts, including development, dissemination and use of data and knowledge products, abstracts, articles, blogs, reports, tools and materials.
• Oversees the publication and dissemination of information on successful and promising.
  approaches, lessons learned, and other project results to ministry counterparts, program partners, and other key stakeholders.

• Leads the creation of the technical portion of the project work plan and MEL plan, including data collection tools, within the given resource and financial constraints.
• Coordinates with technical and programmatic staff members to ensure that activities are performed as per award requirements and consistent with FHI 360 policy.
• Oversees staff members’ assignments.

• Contributes to planning and making recommendations for project concept, operations, and / or implementation.
• Influences design and scope of MEL initiatives and programs.
• Develops strategies and tools for the design and implementation of specific technical components.
• Ensures technical implementation is consistent with best practices in the industry / subject and meet client / funder contractual obligations for moderately complex technical units of a functional domain, directing other professional staff members.
• Coordinates with technical and programmatic staff members to ensure that activities are performed as per award requirements and consistent with policy.
• Oversees staff members’ assignments.
• Coordinates with employees and consultants, on-site and in the field for situations that are less routine and more unusual.

Staff Leadership and Training:

• Build project and staff capacity to develop, manage, operationalize, and strengthen M&E systems, including data quality assurance, best practices documentation and reporting, learning facilitation, and data demand and use

• May supervise team members, monitor performance, and lead professional development efforts.
• Develops and implements training and competency systems.
• Identifies strategies to address training gaps.

Project/Program Reporting:

• Reviews and prepares inputs for technical reports.
• Prepares and delivers presentations to sponsors on progress.
• Develops project work plans and coordinates with sponsors and partners on activities.

Quality Assurance:

• Ensures technical deliverables and implementation are consistent with best practices in the industry / subject and meet client / funder contractual obligations for moderately complex technical units of a functional domain, directing other professional staff members.
• Proactively identifies risks or challenges to technical deliverables and creates mitigation plan.
• Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates the effectiveness of projects and makes recommendations for enhancements.
• Ensures the quality of implemented technical activities and systems at all levels.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• Ability to manage projects, set realistic priorities, and plan for the successful implementation of activities.
• In-depth functional knowledge around specialization and detailed knowledge of related areas in the organization.
• General understanding of the external environment and how it affects the industry in general and the organization, including political, legal, environmental, financial, and social influences.
• General understanding of the organization’s structure, policies and practices, and the impact on one’s own area.
• Strong diagnostic, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to exchange information, present recommendations and collaborate with colleagues and peers within the organization and possibly externally.
• Ability to influence others of the benefits/importance of an idea or plan of action and to gain their support or commitment.
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to reach mutual points of agreement and benefit among peers and colleagues.

Competencies:

There are 31 FHI 360 development competencies, of greatest focus for this particular job will be:

• Project Management (Planning and Time Management) – Accurately scopes out length and difficulty of tasks (sets objectives/goals/measures). Breaks down work into steps, schedules, task/people assignments. Marshals people, time, and resources efficiently. Arranges information in a useful manner and orchestrates multiple activities at once.
• People Management (Making Others Great) – Facilitate professional development of staff by providing challenging, learning assignments and opportunities. Shares and solicits feedback monthly at the very least. Helps establish compelling development plans. Assigns responsibility and accountability for tasks/decisions. Monitors process, progress, and results.

Creates a climate in which people want to do their best.

• Creating and Managing Systems and Processes – Recognizes the need for standardization and balances client and organization need in systems design. Anticipates the effects of process change on people while optimizing task efficiency and simplicity.
• Employees are expected to possess or have high potential for the development of these three fundamental competencies.

Problem Solving & Impact:

• Is sought out to provide advice or solutions around technical area.
• Is informed about current developments around technical area.
• Works under broad direction with considerable latitude for independent action.
• Specific actions are guided primarily by professional standards and expected outcomes of the project.
• Decisions and actions have an impact on the smooth operation and timeframes of the unit programs/projects; impact on the broader organization is generally indirect.
• Problems encountered are complex and may involve unprecedented circumstances; resolution requires investigation, analysis, and review of professional/organizational standards.
• Faulty decisions or recommendations will normally result in critical delays and modifications to projects or operations, cause substantial expenditure of additional time, resources, and funds; and jeopardize future business activity.

Supervision Given/Received:

• May supervise junior level staff members.
• Work is reviewed in terms of meeting the organization’s objectives and schedules.
• Accomplishes results through managers or senior members of a team.
• Manages a technical area staff and function area within the organization.
• Plays a coaching and mentoring role for others; may assist in team management as necessary, although has no formal people management responsibility.
• Typically reports to a Director.

Education: **

• Master’s Degree or its International Equivalent in Knowledge/Information Services, Communications, Education, Environment, Health, Behavioral, Life/Social Sciences International Development, Human Development or Related Field.
• Project Management (PM) Certification preferred.

Experience: