The MERL Director will lead the development and oversight of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Results, and Learning (MERL) for the Activity and ensure data quality and collaborative learning and adaptation throughout implementation. The MERL Director is responsible for developing and overseeing all aspects of the activity’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning plans, data management, planning, research, and evidence activities. S/he develops data collection tools, evaluations, and research studies; trains staff and NGO Implementing Partners; monitors progress toward program results; provides up-to-date learning and adaptation; reports on performance information into USAID’s development information system; leads collaborative learning activities (CLA), including leveraging data for annual pause-and-reflect sessions and adaptive management; develops baseline, endline, and other research using international best practices; and supervises project MERL staff.

 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Develop and implement the project’s monitoring and evaluation plan; design monitoring and evaluation tools and processes, including baseline assessment framework.

· Ensure timely collection, verification and analysis of data on all project indicators and their timely delivery for quarterly and other required reports to USAID and other agencies, as appropriate.

· Monitor progress toward project results.

· Supervise timely and accurate reporting of quantitative and qualitative data by implementing partners, in cooperation with project staff.

· Validate data from project partners and staff, including through field monitoring visits.

· Cooperate closely with Winrock home office to consolidate accurate and descriptive reporting of project results, including activities, outputs and results of implementing partners.

· Lead data quality controls and verification procedures.

· Ensure collection of data related to gender and social inclusion.

· Foster a results-oriented and learning culture throughout the project to ensure that M&E data and learning are used by the project team to improve performance.

· Prepare interpretation tools (e.g. tables and charts) of data.

· Design/update data collection instruments, schedules, analysis methods and applied technologies.

· Oversee internal research and evaluation efforts of the project, from the design stage to sharing findings as well as preparing for external evaluations.

· Develop capacity of implementing partners to institute appropriate M&E systems within their organizations.

· Lead Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) approaches throughout implementation.

· Co-facilitate Pause and Reflect sessions to capture learning, introduce improvements, and achieve meaningful results.

· Submit data to USAID’s reporting system (DIS) on timely basis, and coordinate with Home Office MEL staff to develop and implement a data management plan to submit selected project datasets to USAID’s Development Data Library (DDL).

· Participate in Winrock’s M&E Community of Practice.

· Other duties as assigned.

 

QUALIFICATIONS AND BACKGROUND:

Education:

· Master’s level degree required in social science discipline, such as statistics, public health, public policy, economics or a related field, and/or specialized training/certification in monitoring & evaluation.

 

Work Experience:

· Minimum of 7 years’ experience managing and implementing complex MEL systems for international development projects, preferably with USAID.

· Experience managing large monitoring and evaluation (M&E) databases, conducting timely data analysis, and developing reports. SQL database experience preferred.

· Experience in both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.

· Experience with capacity building in MEL required.

· Experience with mobile data collection strongly preferred.

· Familiarity with USAID M&E requirements strongly preferred.

· Proven record of designing and implementing data collection tools including surveys.

· Familiarity with emerging trends in MERL for food security and agricultural productivity in the context of Bangladesh, in particular related to climate-smart agriculture, livestock, and aquaculture in the FTF zone of influence (Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet Divisions).

 

Skills/Knowledge:

· Strong skills in training design and facilitation.

· Fluency in written and oral English and Bangla.

· Strong Team Leader.

· Proficiency in word processing, database management, statistical analysis, survey, and presentation software. Familiarity with Microsoft PowerBi preferred.