Inclusive Development and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Lead- USAID, SERVIR, Support Services

Position Description

EnCompass LLC is seeking an Inclusive Development MEL Lead candidates, to be proposed to support the Chief of Party and to lead the gender and inclusive development and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) related technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities associated with SERVIR.

SERVIR is a USAID and NASA partnership that strengthens the talent and capacity of partner countries to integrate Earth observation information into environmental and natural resources management decision-making across key sectors, with a focus on climate-resilient outcomes, including improved climate change adaptation and mitigation. This unique program delivers on development objectives by integrating NASA’s world-class scientists and data with USAID’s development expertise and network of partners and relationships around the world.

The Inclusive Development MEL Lead would support USAID’s Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (USAID/RFS) by helping SERVIR Hubs identify areas of required capacity strengthening and delivering targeted and tailored technical support.

Qualified candidates based in the Washington DC metro area will be given first consideration, but this full-time role could remote within states where EnCompass is registered in the US. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the US for any employer without sponsorship.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Essential functions include:

Project Responsibilities

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Project Management and Supervision

• Provides project management and operational leadership and oversight of technical subject-matter experts and MEL professionals
• Responsible for the day-to-day management of gender integration, inclusive development, and MEL related elements of the project, in compliance with EnCompass and U.S. Government (USG) policies and procedures
• Supports the COP in the development and implementation of an overall vision and leadership for the project and the project team, in coordination with counterparts in USAID/RFS and other stakeholders

• Supports the Chief of Party with technical and management responsibility for all inclusive development and MEL related project personnel, with direct line management of technical specialists/STTA as needed

• Maintain strong, collaborative, and supportive communications with colleagues, and maintains high quality relationships and communications with clients, partners, subcontractors, and consultants

Technical

• Leads development of and monitors the efficient and effective implementation of work plans and budgets related to gender integration and MEL efforts; and ensures appropriate levels of technical assistance in program operations
• Ensures performance monitoring, reporting and evaluation activities meet the standards of ADS 201 and follow required reporting formats
• Support the development of a network-wide approach to measuring, monitoring, and evaluating progress of services and other goals. Working with partners to develop a harmonized performance management plan for monitoring of project activities and then working with hub partners to support indicator reporting and data quality
• Provides MEL technical support and expertise to MEL project activities, including technical designs and data collection strategies, data collection tools, complex/multi country mixed methods data collection efforts, analysis and interpretation, and preparation of high-quality evaluation products
• Conducts needs assessments to determine areas of needed evaluation capacity building
• Designs and facilitate capacity building trainings, and workshops related to monitoring, evaluation and learning, using appreciative, participatory, adult learning methodologies
• Supports integration of collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) principles across all aspects technical MEL work to ensure interventions are coordinated, grounded in evidence, and adjusted as necessary to remain relevant and effective throughout implementation
• Provides technical guidance and quality control on deliverables, as appropriate
• Conducts field work internationally and domestically as needed to collect data, train data collectors and facilitate workshops on results and learning (anticipated to be around 20% of the role)
• Other relevant duties as assigned

Position Requirements

Qualifications

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree and 7 years’ overall experience or Master’s degree and 5 years’ overall experience in International Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Climate or Environmental Sciences, or related field, or Associate’s degree and 9 years’ overall experience, or High School and 11 years’ overall experience

Required Experience and Skills

• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience working on inclusive development, learning and/or evaluation efforts, preferably for USAID
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience leading teams focused on MEL efforts related to gender integration and/or inclusive development, preferably for work related to the climate sector
• Experience in integrating gender and inclusive development into program design
• Experience designing and implementing performance and impact evaluations
• Experience conducting data quality reviews and assessments
• Experience in building MEL capacity through design and delivery of workshops, learning tools, coaching, etc
• Strong communication, writing, presentation, and data visualization skills required
• Familiarity with USAID’s Evaluation Policy and CLA practices
• Familiarity with the USAID F indicators and the Global Climate Change standard indicators
• A commitment to advancing the USAID climate strategy

• Ability to travel, as necessary

• Proficiency in a second language (i.e., French, Thai, Wolof or Hindu-Kush) a plus