Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager at IREX

Who We Are

 At IREX we strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world—where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people and communities thrive.

But around the globe, persistent poverty, repression, and injustice prevent too many people form achieving their full potential.  To address these problems, we focus on people, not on vaccines, roads, or wells. We support individuals and institutions to create change in their own communities—and to create person to person bridges between nations.

IREX works with partners in more than 100 countries in four areas essential to progress: cultivating leaders, empowering youth, strengthening institutions, and increasing access to quality education and information.

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager is responsible for day-to-day monitoring and evaluation activities and impact research for the U.S. Department of State Conflict & Stabilization Operations (CSO) programs being implemented in Ukraine. The incumbent will oversee the programs’ complex Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning plans and approaches, which includes ensuring the programs are collecting, analyzing, and sharing quality data accurately and effectively, tracking progress and reporting on indicators, and managing the programs’ learning strategies. This position is also responsible for supporting staff in the use, development and/or enhancement of MEL systems and tools. The MEL Manager will, as required, represent IREX inside the country and perform additional duties and tasks to meet the needs of the organization, team, or assigned supervisor.

Programs are: Veteran Reintegration & Rehabilitation Program, Voices In Action, and Ukraine Rapid Response Fund programs. Other programs may be added to this portfolio based on the needs of the IREX Ukraine office and in consultations with the MEL Manager.

The Ukraine Veterans Rehabilitation and Reintegration (UVRR) program is aimed at enhancing the institutional capacity of Ukraine’s veteran services system to assist millions of veterans in the future. This involves strengthening regional and community-level support systems and expanding support to organizations offering physical and mental health services to veterans. An important aspect of program implementation is focus on the differentiated needs of men and women, and mainstreaming Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) approaches throughout all program activities.

The goal of the United Voices in Action (VIA 2.0) program is empowering IDPs to lead community cohesion, increasing their resilience, and drive Ukraine’s national recovery. This inclusive development approach seeks to foster increased stabilization and mutual understanding by developing a shared vision of a future, where multiple perspectives are heard, and marginalized voices are elevated

The Ukraine Rapid Response Fund (URRF) program was created to address immediate needs and bolster the resilience of Ukraine’s government, civil society, and civilian population amidst Russia’s full-scale invasion. The program’s main activities focus on providing financial and implementation support to address the conflict-related consequences of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, it aims to strengthen the capacity of national CSOs by offering sub-grants and facilitating coordination between government of Ukraine and Ukrainian CSOs.

Are you the next member of our team?

Your Background & Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in monitoring and evaluation, social science, public administration, international development, or another relevant field.
• A minimum of 7+ years of progressive job experience in monitoring, evaluation, and learning or data analysis or a master’s degree and 6 years of experience in a relevant field.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation for an international NGO is preferred.
• Strong experience of data-collection, management, and analysis skills (both qualitative and quantitative), with demonstrated experience managing donor data requirements.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative data collection as well as impact research methodologies.
• Experience in planning and managing surveys, including the development of data collection tools from scratch.
• Experience with data quality assessments and oversight; knowledge of data cleaning processes.
• Proficiency in data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to create clear and compelling visualizations for communicating complex MEL findings effectively.
• Experience in managing and mentoring a team of MEL professionals, providing technical guidance and support to achieve project objectives.
• Demonstrated training and facilitation skills with experience providing relevant and appropriate capacity development for staff and partners.
• Experience conducting research and ability to proficiently articulate findings in the English language.

Skills 

• Demonstrated technical knowledge and experience related to effective data management, strategic planning, and performance measurement, including indicator selection, target setting, reporting, database management, and developing MEL and performance monitoring plans.
• Demonstrated technical knowledge of methods and ethics in educational and/or social science research.
• Proven experience managing multiple complex programming in a demanding, time-sensitive work environment.
• Knowledge and practical experience in research, monitoring, and evaluation methodologies (e.g. qualitative, quantitative, mixed method, and impact identification).
• Strong problem-solving skills and demonstrated flexibility to meet program outcomes.
• Strong representational and organizational skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft office products, including Excel; and
• Speaking, reading, and writing proficiency in English and Ukrainian required. Excellent written and spoken English.
• Excellent cross-cultural and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated computer skills, including Microsoft Office.
• Self-motivated and result oriented.
• Knowledge of gender equality, diversity, equity, and inclusion principles and their integration into MEL processes.

 Must demonstrate valid proof of unrestricted authorization to work in the Ukraine.

Your Daily Tasks

• Lead the design and implementation of complex evaluations, special studies, and assessments.
• Support effective relations and coordination with program donors on MEL related issues, including presenting data and outcomes to donor representatives when relevant.
• Design methodology and tools for the variety of evaluation studies and impact research.
• Design Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Plans, manage the approved MEL Plans, and facilitate updates to the current MEL Plans as appropriate in cooperation with Senior Management and program staff.
• Establish and maintain a knowledge management system for MEL-related resources, reports, and data and ensure that lessons learned, best practices, and research findings are documented and easily accessible to inform future programming and decision-making. Responsible for managing MEL databases for the programs.
• Regularly review programs’ data collection processes, while performing data quality assessments and adjusting as needed.
• Oversee and lead the development of program indicators.
• Ensure and coordinate regular monitoring of program activities and oversee data quality. Develop and/or coordinate the design and utilization of M&E management systems, data collection tools, and baseline assessment.
• Analyze M&E data and results to determine impact of program activities and progress towards achieving goals and objectives. Use the analyzed data to produce internal reports and research.
• Prepare data summaries, data analyses, and reports in support of team learning, donor reporting, and IREX requirements.
• Identify ways to streamline processes and increase efficiency in gathering and using performance information to maximize program impact and development.
• Develop data collection flows to ensure data integrity and validity at the output and outcome levels.
• Coordinate and manage external evaluations conducted by third-party firms or consultants, ensuring they align with program objectives and adhere to quality standards.
• Support the design of new programs by providing evidence of program impact and outcomes through MEL data and research and contributing to the development of logical frameworks, theories of change, and MEL plans in project proposals.
• Lead development and implementation of the program’s learning agenda and activities to ensure continued programmatic improvements and iteration, including after-action reviews, data reviews, and learning retrospectives using IREX templates.
• Support Senior Management to plan junctures at which after action reviews, data reviews, and other learning activities need to take place to support projects.
• Develop compelling and visually engaging data visualizations to effectively communicate complex MEL findings, ensuring accessibility and comprehension for diverse stakeholders.
• Participate and collaborate with IREX MERL Community of Practice, GP MEL, CALI/SREAL and IREX MERL activities and events.
• Collaborate with external partners, including donors, government agencies, and implementing partners, to harmonize MEL approaches and promote mutual learning.
• As required, upload program data into IREX relational database (ActivityInfo) to ensure IREX can report on Strategic Plan Outcome indicators/goals as per relevant for work and data for all programs.
• Provide MEL technical training, mentoring, and coaching to technical staff, partners, grantees, and counterparts.
• Ensure effective communication and dissemination of evidence-based findings and learnings derived from Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) processes within the organization and to external stakeholders.
• Ensure the integration of gender equality and inclusion principles into MEL processes, fostering organizational awareness and alignment with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion principles.
• Finalizes drafts of MEL documents, analysis plans, and deliverables, providing technical guidance and quality control, with a focus on standardization, timeliness, technical rigor, effective communication of technical work, and use
• Travel to field site to follow up independently with program activities (if the organization and security policies and procedures allow).
• Other duties as assigned.

 We conduct background checks on all successful candidates.

This position is based in Kyiv, Ukraine and is eligible for telework.

This position is not eligible for Immigration Sponsorship.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

EOE – Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans.

Interested candidates are asked to send CVs and Cover letters as soon as possible, indicating position title in the subject line.
Position is open until filled.

2024-12-26T12:16:48.000 2025-01-26T23:59:59.000 Full time TELECOMMUTE Україна IREX