Senior MEL Specialist, YCLE
Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.
Project Summary:
The Yemen Continuous Learning and Evaluation (YCLE) program provides rapidly deployed, robust, on-the-ground, in-country oversight of USAID-funded development activities implemented in Yemen. The YCLE Contractor supports the prudent use of U.S. taxpayer funds efficiently and cost-effectively, with a focus on 1) Performance and Contextual Monitoring and Verification Services, 2) Evaluation Services; 3) Analysis and Reporting Services; 4) Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptive Management Services; and 5) Program Support Services. The overall goal of YCLE is to enable USAID/Yemen to become a more effective and adaptive development organization.
**Please note: Only Yemeni citizens are eligible for this position**
Position Summary:
The Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist will report to the Aden-based MEL Director/Country Representative and will be primarily responsible for managing a portfolio of Third-Party Monitoring (TPM) activities, and leading information management efforts. The Senior MEL Specialist will also play a key role in YCLE’s other work including MEL technical assistance, program evaluations and training and capacity building. This role will be based in Aden with travel to Jordan.
Responsibilities:
- Manage a TPM portfolio of USAID/Yemen Implementing Partners (IPs).
- Guide the coordination and consultation process with IPs to receive up to date implementation plans and workplans.
- Select IP sub-activity sites for monitoring based on USAID learning priorities.
- Design TPM tools.
- Work with other MEL Specialists and officers to design trainings for TPM data collectors.
- Facilitate IP TPM kick off meetings, orientation meetings and debrief meetings.
- Ensure that IPs provide all needed TPM data or information in a timely basis.
- Set and update the TPM workplan.
- Develop TPM site visit reports.
- Present TPM findings to USAID and ensure feedback and expectations are gauged periodically and fed into TPM design.
- Manage productive and collaborative relationships with IP MEL and programmatic staff.
- Coordinate technical reviews of Activity MEL Plans (AMELPs) of USAID’s IPs including the review of Theory of Change, Results Frameworks, Performance Indicator Reference Sheets (PIRS) etc.
- Design, support, and lead Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) to ensure the reliability and validity of performance data.
- Collect, analyze, and report data against YCLE MEL indicators.
- Supervise and participate in CLA activities to ensure TPM, evaluation, and assessment data and information contributes to learning and adapting.
- Manage information management efforts.
- Work closely with the COP and MSI Headquarters to finalize the YCLE internal information/data management system.
- Develop and/or maintain the geodatabases for YCLE and USAID/Yemen activities.
- Create GIS products such as static maps and dashboards for standard periodic reports and for ad hoc assignments.
- Manage the YCLE Knowledge Management portal and provide technical guidance and support to USAID/Yemen staff to ensure continued use of the YCLE KM portal.
- Oversee the internal process of updating the KM portal with TPM products and provide training and oversight to YCLE staff on the portal use.
- Work closely with the COP and the Headquarters to produce TPM learning products.
- Train Enumerators on conducting virtual tours and oversee the process of final product development and submission to USAID/Yemen and IPs.
- Collate relevant YCLE data, analyze identify and address IM gaps, and facilitate information sharing between YCLE and YCLE stakeholders.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in a field related to monitoring and evaluation (M&E) or social sciences is required.
- Minimum seven years of experience in M&E of international development projects required, preferably in TPM.
- Experience in international development and/or humanitarian assistance projects is required.
- Experience in designing and implementing performance of development interventions including evaluation design and developing evaluation questions is required.
- Experience in designing qualitative and quantitative data collection efforts, analyzing, and reporting data is required.
- Experience in supporting program evaluations required, preferably as a team member.
- Experience with USAID is preferred.
- Experience of working in Yemen, or conflict region or environment is desirable.
- Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
- Ability to write in English is required.
- Fluency in English and Arabic is required.
MSI is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We strive to develop and maintain a culture that honors the perspectives and identities of our employees, our communities and those impacted by our work.
We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants’ and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.
MSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities/Veterans Employer.
Reasonable Accommodations:
MSI is dedicated to hiring an inclusive workforce. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations during the application process, please visit Tetra Tech’s Disability Assistance Page. Our recruitment team looks forward to engaging in an interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations for candidates.
Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.