MEAL Specialist

*** Unable to provide sponsorship at this time. Only considering persons eligible to work in the United States.

Position Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Specialist

Supervisor’s Title: MEAL Manager

Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Positions Supervised: N/A

Location: U.S.-based remote with travel to Charlotte, NC, and other locations as needed, including visits to areas that require staying on a Humanitarian Vessel throughout the stay.

Duration: 6 months with the possibility of extension based on performance and organizational needs.

BACKGROUND:

Global Support and Development (GSD) is a humanitarian organization whose mission is to rapidly respond to disasters in collaboration with at-risk communities and support them to prepare for future disasters. We value collaboration and seek opportunities to amplify the work of others in-country, both in preparation for and in response to disasters. By integrating our team’s diverse skill sets and resources into local responses, we are able to provide rapid response assistance to affected communities in coordination with regional and country-level partners. We also work to build local capacity through community-led preparedness initiatives. GSD’s priority Area of Engagement is currently Latin America and the Caribbean, with targeted support to the South Pacific (and expected future increase in operations for 2024 and beyond).

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced MEAL Specialist to join our team on a 6-month term basis. The specialist participates and takes an active role in the M&E of the ongoing projects and plays a crucial role in ensuring our projects’ effective and efficient implementation. The MEAL Specialist participates and takes an active role in the Monitoring and Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning work of all current, past, and future engagements and programs of Global Support and Development (GSD), including Reporting, Strategy shaping, and Site Visits. In close collaboration with the MEAL Manager, the Specialist will ensure cross-learning among activities, creating systems for accountability to stakeholders, building MEAL capacities across the organization, and ensuring continued attention to the goals set by the GSD’s organizational strategy.

The Consultant is expected to pay a number of Site Visits to project implementation and disaster-affected areas as part of GSD’s humanitarian response.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Support the development, introduction, and implementation of a MEAL strategy and action plan for the organization and work with departments to ensure the guidelines are understood and followed;
• Support integration of MEAL processes in Response, Partnerships, project implementation, and program development;
• Develop and implement comprehensive M&E logframes and plans for ongoing projects;
• Participate in the development of overarching MEAL tools and processes to include reporting systems, various assessments, and evaluations;
• Ensure data is captured in an accurate and timely manner and stored in a secure and accessible manner;
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor project activities and ensure compliance with M&E standards, including conducting post-distribution monitoring visits;
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing sessions and learning workshops with GSD staff as well as the beneficiaries where there is a request for;
• Provide technical support to projects and programs across proposal development, log frames, theory of change, feasibility, and baseline studies for new projects and evaluations;
• Assist in conducting training as required on qualitative and quantitative research, data collection, and development of log frames, indicators, and MEAL plans;
• Support the integration of data visualization tools and products into the program cycle, particularly the monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes;
• Prepare evidence-based cases and learning to contribute to knowledge development;
• Participate in the development, introduction, and support of key organization accountability mechanisms, reporting systems, and policies;
• Ensure timely follow-up of complaints, referrals, and queries;
• Prompt and action GSD’s core values of accountability, humility, and integrity in all work we conduct;
• Promote good stewardship of financial and other resources to achieve maximum benefit to those impacted by disaster or at risk of impact and
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Experience:

• Three (3) to five (5) years of relevant experience working with NGO/INGOs or comparable organizations and program contexts in the areas of program research, M&E, program management, development, reporting, or knowledge management;
• Proven experience in designing and implementing MEAL systems for development or humanitarian projects;
• Proven analytical and data management experience;
• Proven qualitative data analysis experience; and
• Previous experience in the Caribbean and Central America region is highly desired.

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in International Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Social Sciences, Statistics, Data Science, or related field;
• Or equivalent experience and training.

Professional Licenses/Certifications:

• Certification in the fields of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is preferred;
• Certification in data visualization, such as PowerBI or Tableau, is preferred, and
• Certification in project management is desired.

Knowledge/Skills:

• Should have substantial experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis using statistical tools, analytical and report writing skills, and knowledge-extracting skills;
• Demonstrated experience in mobile-based data collection systems using software such as Lightship or Kobo Toolbox;
• Good understanding of Project Cycle Management, Theory of Change, and other MEAL approaches, requirements, and systems;
• Experience in static and dynamic data visualization, from simple graphics to complex stories, based on data visualization theory and techniques (such as Tableau, R, Adobe Illustrator, Excel, or similar) is desirable;
• Must be a curious, self-motivated individual with excellent communication skills and have the ability to distill highly technical quantitative techniques into relevant snippets for experts and non-experts;
• Ability to work with numerous teams identifying priority actions, as well as provide leadership in the areas of competency;
• Effective communication skills to present and advocate for data, analysis, visualization concepts, and data quality practices to GSD staff and partners;
• Solid understanding of disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response concepts and approaches;
• Ability to adapt to rapidly changing priorities;
• Must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship;
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to rapidly shift tasks;
• Experience working and/or traveling domestically and internationally; and
• Proficiency in Spanish and/or French is highly desired.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• At this time, GSD is not offering sponsorship and is only accepting applications from persons eligible to work in the United States; and
• Routine domestic and international travel up to 50% is required.

BENEFITS:

You may be eligible for:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Premiums 100% covered by GSD for employee, employee +spouse, employee +family
• Basic Life, AD&D, and Long Term Disability Insurance: Fully covered by GSD
• Health Reimbursement Account (HRA): Up to $4,000 in total annually for employee +2 or more family members
• Voluntary Life Insurance: Options available at reasonable group rates
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): All employees are eligible for a minimum of 6 weeks of PTO per year after 90 days of service
• Up to 14 Paid Holidays
• Parental Leave: Up to 12 weeks paid by GSD
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Professional Career Development Opportunities
• 401(k): GSD will match up to 6% of base salary for all employees ages 21+. Employees are eligible to begin contributing after 1 pay cycle, and the company match will go into effect immediately after employee begins contributing
• • Additional Perks!

This job description is a summary rather than a detailed list of the duties performed. The essential functions, knowledge, skills, and working conditions may change along with business needs. This job description does not constitute a contract between employer and employee as employment is at will. Global Support and Development provides reasonable accommodations to assist qualified individuals in order to perform the essential functions their job requires.

GSD is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and embraces all candidates regardless of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), nation of origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military/veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law. GSD promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in all candidate selections

GSD promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in all candidate selections.