Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning & Adapting (MERLA)

Winrock International is recruiting applicants for the position of Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning & Adapting (MERLA), Esho Shikhi Activity in Bangladesh. The objective of the activity is to increase learning opportunities, improve the quality of education, build the capacity of communities to support education and respond to disasters, and ultimately improve learning outcomes of marginalized Bangladeshi children in crisis-affected marginalized communities.

The Director of MERLA is responsible for developing and overseeing all aspects of Esho Shikhi’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan, including managing the MERLA team for a high-quality, results-oriented project focused on improving quality of education for children and youth in Bangladesh. The objective of the project is to develop new and innovative approaches that can improve the learning outcomes of marginalized Bangladeshi children in crisis-affected and marginalized communities. The project will accomplish this goal by increasing learning opportunities, improving the quality of education, building the capacity of national officials, district officials, and communities to support education, and building communities’ capacity to respond to disasters. The MERLA Director is graded at a grade 11 and is a member of the Esho Shikhi Senior Management Team. For purposes of eligibility to receive overtime pay, the term “workers” do not include employees whose duties and responsibilities includes mainly administrative, managerial, or supervisory functions.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: The Director of MERLA oversees the implementation of the program’s MEL activities and data reporting requirements. S/he reports directly to the Chief of Party, and will supervise the Senior MERLA Officer, Data Analyst/Database Manager, MIS/GIS Officer, field-based M&E Officers, and the Communications Officer. The Director of MERLA is a member of the Esho Shikhi Senior Management Team.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Manage a rigorous approach to monitoring and evaluation and systems for monitoring performance toward specific goals and objectives
• Design and implement the MEL Plan in coordination with WI’s Home Office AGILE team members and as needed, USAID, including selection and tracking of specific indicators, developing strategies for data collection and regular reporting on approved indicators through quarterly and annual reporting
• Set up project MIS systems using appropriate technologies to support web-based technologies, GIS, and beneficiary tracking
• Design data collection instruments, schedules, analysis methods, and applied technologies
• Establish and implement data quality monitoring system and ensure data quality across the dimensions of validity, reliability, timeliness, precision, and integrity
• Monitor the results of the program’s activities and contribute to the design and implementation of periodic evaluations/assessments
• Provide expertise on the use of evidence for learning and adaptation
• Contribute to the analysis and dissemination of results. Project research will include baseline, midline, and end line studies for each cohort of beneficiary schools and/or communities, potentially including evaluation of piloted learning interventions and assessments of reading, math and/or social and emotional learning skills
• Build capacity of local education officials in M&E and facilitate participation in student assessments
• Lead the MERL team, supervising MERL staff and externally represent the team as required
• Other duties and tasks as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS AND BACKGROUND:

Education:

• PhD or Ed.D. or Master’s degree with requisite monitoring, evaluation, and research experience, in education, social sciences, such as statistics, public policy, economics or a related field, and/or specialized training/certification in monitoring & evaluation.

Work Experience:

• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in the monitoring & evaluation of donor-funded international development projects; at least three of which were at a manager level. Part of this experience should have been obtained working on education programs
• Knowledge of USG reporting requirements, including experience designing and implementing Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plans, evaluation design, and working with external consultants for third party evaluations
• Experience managing large M&E databases and conducting timely data analysis and developing reports. SQL database experience preferred
• Experience in both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis and mobile data collection
• Experience managing and developing surveys required
• Experience in capacity building in MEL
• Understanding of national level MIS approaches and existing government databases/data collection in education statistics preferred

Skills:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills required
• Fluency in English and Bengali required
• Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet (preferably Microsoft Access and Excel), and presentation software (Microsoft PowerPoint)
• Proficiency with database and statistical applications such as DevResults, SPSS, SAS, or STATA
• Strong leadership, coordination, and facilitation skills

About Winrock International

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people and value diversity and inclusiveness. Winrock recruits, employs, trains, promotes, and compensates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, or any other basis protected by law.

At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity, and transformation.

Winrock knows that its success comes from the hard work and steadfast dedication of its diverse workforce. Winrock remains committed to maintaining diversity, inclusion, and equity across the entire organization.

Learn more about our projects: www.winrock.org