Senior Design, Monitoring, Evaluation, & Learning Specialist

Every employee of IRI is responsible for carrying out the Mission of IRI and demonstrating the core values in their day to day operations.

Excellence– We believe in quality results delivered by investing in people. Freedom– We believe in exploration and experimentation to be agile and responsive. Respect- We believe in trust, empathy and empowering people. Teamwork- We believe in diversity, inclusion and the power of global collaboration. Transparency– We believe in open communication and clear decision-making. Accountability- We believe in personal responsibility as the foundation of success.

The Senior Design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (SDMEL) Specialist will serve two main roles at IRI. First, the SDMEL Specialist will provide hands-on technical support to IRI staff and partners in program design and proposal development, especially by helping staff craft evidence-based theories of change, logical and contextually appropriate results frameworks, realistic and ambitious measurement strategies. This includes supporting staff to draft and refine MEL components of proposal packages. In this role, the SDMEL Specialist will also support efforts to identity and apply learning, primarily from IRI’s experience, to proposals and projects. Second, the SDMEL Specialist will help manage the MEL workflow as it relates to business development (BD) and proposal design at IRI. This will necessitate close coordination and communication with the BD team. The SDMEL Specialist will also be responsible for managing, developing, revising and distributing various MEL templates, tools and trainings as they related to BD activities.

Position Requirements

• Undergraduate/graduate degree in political/social science, international relations or related field.
• Minimum five years of professional experience in the international development sector.
• Demonstrated experience in proposal and program design, including leading design sessions and leading or contributing to drafting ME-related sections of proposals such as theories of change, logic models and results measurement strategies.
• Demonstrated understanding of the program theory-based approach to program design, monitoring and evaluation.
• Familiarity with common MEL elements of proposals including but not limited to: logical frameworks, performance monitoring plans and indicator matrices.
• Strong facilitation skills, experience leading group discussions, brainstorming sessions and learning events.
• Strong organizational skills, execution of tasks, and attention to detail required.
• Ability to manage diverse activities and to meet deadlines required.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team, coordinate and effectively meet program goals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Familiarity with quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis is a plus, but not required.
• Experience with evaluation design, especially of projects aimed at social change, is a plus, but not required
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities

Business Development Support (MEL-specific) – 75%

• Serve as a primary point of contact on MEL issues and topics as they relate to business development and proposal design.
• Lead and participate in proposal design sessions to help proposal teams clearly identify problems, design logical project interventions and approaches based on the internal and external DRG evidence base, craft relevant theories of change, and leverage and apply lessons from past IRI projects into proposal designs.
• Identify monitoring and evaluation needs of proposed project and co-develop the monitoring and evaluation approaches and strategies needed
• Review design and MEL components of proposal packages to ensure their logic, rigor, quality, and applicability to the proposed approach.
• Incorporate programmatic and organizational learning into programming approaches and proposal processes. This includes learning and evidence and from IRI’s own programmatic experience as well as learning and evidence from the broader MEL and DRG communities.
• For selected competitive proposals, serve as technical lead/writer for MEL-specific components (i.e., annexes such as the MEL Narrative, Logic Model, Performance Monitoring Plan, etc.) of proposal packages according to requirements outlined in funding notifications as well as based the latest guidance from IRI’s Evaluation and Learning Practice (ELP) and best practices in the broader MEL and DRG communities
• In coordination with BD team and ELP, design and provide training to program staff on how to write proposals, including the MEL components of proposals

Management of MEL Processes and Products for Proposal Design (25%)

• Lead development of new and periodically update existing MEL proposal templates and guidance, including MEL narratives, performance indicator tables, indicator reference sheets, logic models and supporting tools such as worksheets, etc.
• In collaboration with other ELP members, collate information about new or changing MEL funder requirements for proposals, including standard indicators, preferred metrics, methods, and approaches.
• Periodically review and collate funder feedback and comments on MEL elements and components of proposals and share the trends and takeaways with ELP and program staff to further improve these elements of the proposal package.
• Track and analyze information about use of MEL methods and tools in IRI proposals and support MEL, BD and program staff to act on that analysis.
• Engage closely with BD team to facilitate assignment, coordination and tracking of MEL support for proposals.
• Backstop other members of the Business Development team and Evidence and Learning Practice, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.