The American Institutes for Research (AIR) is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist for a USAID-funded education and resilience project in Haiti. This activity will address the education needs of learners aged 5 to 18 years, focusing on the resilience focus zones. The project seeks to incorporate new, innovative solutions on how to improve equitable access to quality education, including ensuring the continuity of learning for all children in Haiti, by reinforcing the resilience of the education at the learner, school, institution, and institution levels.
Responsibilities
The MEL Specialist will play a key technical role in the monitoring, evaluation, analytical, collaboration, learning and adaptation (CLA), as well as knowledge management needs of program implementation. The candidate is expected to collaborate with the project staff, HQ and other stakeholders in the design and implementation of a MEL plan, develop resources and provide technical guidance and training on methodologies and data collection tools, build HQ and field staff capacity, and strengthen monitoring systems. Responsibilities include:
- Responsible for the design, quality, development and completion of all assessments, analytical reports and evaluations
- Lead and oversee the review of Performance Management Plans (PMPs), support such technical work as reviewing reporting methods, carrying out training needs, designing tools and advising on USAID and implementing partners on their M&E work, including field monitoring and data quality assurance (DQA)
- Provide raw data to USAID for tracking purposes
- Monitor indicator data to identify any gaps
- Analyze performance and context monitoring data to extrapolate relevant information and provide written and oral briefings to USAID to inform management and adapt interventions
- Examine technical reports and deliverables to review performance data
- Meet with implementing partner staff and other stakeholders to discuss data collection methods
- Prepare written and oral reports on DQA findings and provide recommendations on how to address deficiencies identified
- Work with implementing partners to develop actions plans that address the report recommendations
- Contribute substantively to the design and field testing of the evaluation methodology, participatory data collection methods and protocols, data verification techniques, and other technical evaluation and analytical tasks as needed
- Lead workshops with stakeholders and USAID staff during refinement period
- Ability and willingness to work for extended periods in insecure and diverse environments
Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree in education, social sciences or related field
- Master’s degree in international development/affairs, economics, or similar field preferred
- A minimum 5 years’ professional experience in evaluation, strategic planning and performance measurement, including indicator selection, target setting, reporting, database management, DQA, M&E capacity building, report writing, CLA, and developing M&E and performance monitoring plans for international development clients with specific experience with USAID
- Proven experience establishing and maintaining systems for performance management
- Past success in designing, implementing, and efficiently operating project M&E systems from project initiation to closeout stages at the field-level
- Experience building and maintaining working relations with stakeholders, and demonstrated ability to efficiently and effectively interface (and represent AIR) with donor agency counterparts, government officials, partner organizations, and other stakeholders
- Ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced, small-team environment
- Flexible, team-oriented attitude and strong organizational skills with exceptional “customer service” skills and mindset
- Experience leading the development of comprehensive M&E, learning and adaptive management approaches and programs preferred
- Experience developing data dashboards
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in cross-cultural settings
- Ability to work well independently with limited supervision
- Strong track record of progressively more responsible duties and responsibilities, including project management on USAID-funded programs/activities
- Strong interest in evaluations, performance monitoring, data collection, donor assistance impact, and related issues
- Deep familiarity with Haitian culture
- Excellent oral, written, teamwork, and interpersonal skills with evidence of ability to productively interact with a wide range and levels of organizations (government, private sector, NGOs, implementing partners and other donors)
- Fluency in written and spoken English and French (required), Creole (preferred)
Haitian locals are encouraged to apply.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.
AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks.