Senior Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Officer – Poland (Candidates must have the rights to live and work in Poland)

Position Description

Location: Changing: preferable Krakow, Poland

Position Status Full time

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is responding to the Ukraine emergency since military operations were launched across the country in February 2022. The attacks set off a wave of displacement internally and into the countries along Ukraine’s borders, including Poland. In recognition of the strong non-governmental sector in Poland, Mercy Corps in partnership with Polish Civil Society Organizations – will be focusing on multi-purpose cash intervention and other key areas, like addressing other basic needs, strengthening access to reliable information and supporting psychosocial and protection intervention.

General Position Summary

The Senior Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Officer is a key position in the Mercy Corps Ukraine Program Performance and Quality (PAQ) Unit. The position holder will support planning and execution of monitoring and evaluation, ensuring quality in accordance with accepted standards, providing essential feedback for learning, accountability and decision making on the Mercy Corps Ukraine response program strategy. The Senior MEL Officer will be responsible for providing internal capacity building for program staff on monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities as well as review and develop the tools and reports necessary to meet Mercy Corps and donor reporting requirements.

The Senior MEL Officer will work with the Mercy Corps program team as well as partner organizations to oversee and ensure the collection of quality MEL data for the program. The Senior MEL Officer will be responsible for supporting the Response MEL Lead to oversee the implementation of Mercy Corps MEL strategy and standards. The Senior MEL Officer will ensure that performance monitoring and results reporting tools and processes across the entire program are in place, effectively implemented and well synchronized between program sites.

The Senior MEL officer will be an integral member of the program team learning and reflection processes, leading discussions and initiatives on program learning.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy, Vision, & Design

• • Ensure that the MEL systems for programs are in compliance with Mercy Corps’ global, regional and country policies, procedures, standards and strategic initiatives.
    – Assist in program strategy design, planning and implementation to ensure adherence to Mercy Corps’ Minimum Standards, including the use of standardized tools, indicators, and documentation methodologies.
    – Lead and support the design and implementation of assessments and other pre and post data collection and analysis.
    – Support learning-to-action events, reflection session to analyze data for programmatic use and to document and incorporate lessons learned into program design, planning and implementation.
    – Develop Data Quality Assessment Plans and lead in implementing plans.
    – Work closely with the program teams and local partners, to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting of program activities and results.
    – Play a key role in the development and review of program, sector intervention strategies and MEL frameworks and document changes to generate learnings and ideas for programs.
    – Lead the assessment of partner MEL capacities and support them in identifying priority areas to be included in a partner capacity strengthening plan.

Data Collection, Management and Quality Control Systems

• • Provide support in the development of MEL Plans, tools, survey design, methodology, data analysis, and other services as may be required for program monitoring and evaluation.
    – Assist program teams to develop and maintain knowledge and Information management system to support data collection, reflection, analysis and reporting needs.
    – Actively participate in any additional evaluation MEL activities including but not limited to baseline surveys, mid-term, PDMs, end-line surveys, evaluations, households surveys
• • Develop and use qualitative data collection tools, such as interviews and focus group discussions, to support answering “how?” and “Why?” questions related to the program, partners, and program results
• • Ensure quality control procedures and accuracy of entered data and compare it with the existing filing system to make sure all records are consistent and aligned.
    – Ensure program teams and partners are compliant with donor monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements (adhere to donor MEL guidelines).

Documentation and Reporting

• • Regularly document lessons learned, best practices, program data analysis summaries, and evaluations and provide evidence based information, success stories, case studies and other high quality, results-based documentation.
    – Produce quality program reports and support program teams to review and improve on quality of reporting.
    – Visit sites and partners to collect supplementary data, stories and conduct qualitative research both independently and in teams and support partner-organizations with proper documentation and report generation.

Capacity Building and Mentoring

• • As needed, support in the training and oversight of enumerators for data-collection.
    – Build the capacity of all relevant team members (including partner staffs) to develop and maintain a high quality MEL system, and facilitate periodic reflection and analysis of program monitoring information that feeds into programming and learning.
• • Lead the implementation of the MEL components of the partner capacity strengthening plan

Internal and External Coordination

• • Maintain professional relationships with local government officials, private sector partners, NGOs, other development organizations, and civil society organizations.
    – Maintain an active advisory role with the program and MEL team to help guide them towards robust and relevant data collection.
    – Work with MEL and IT staff to maximize the value and utility of technology initiatives for effective MEL.
    – Perform any other duties as assigned by his/her supervisor or representatives.

Security

• • Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
    – Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning

• • As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• • Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility

MEL Officers

Accountability

Reports Directly To: MEL and Data Analysis Manager

Works Directly With: The Ukraine MEL and Technical teams, coordinates work with the regional and HQ-level counterparts on data, MEL and automation

Knowledge and Experience

Required

• • Academic background or equivalent experience in social science, economic growth, or other related fields.
    – Three years of experience working in a MEL (or similar) position
• • Relevant experience in field survey/data collection techniques, data entry, data verification, analysis, and reporting.
• • Good understanding and skills around data management.
    – Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of MS Office applications, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
    – Understand concepts and demonstrate skills in monitoring and evaluation, results frameworks/program logics, and participatory monitoring.
    – Experience with both quantitative and qualitative data collection and reporting techniques.
    – Should be able to design and implement surveys, have knowledge of commonly used sampling techniques.
    – Experience with facilitation, capacity building, formal and informal knowledge transfer, partnership strengthening, and empowering staff through opportunities for growth and development.
    – Experience leading learning events, development and sharing as part of the monitoring and evaluation feedback process.
    – Familiarity with data visualization and data analytics.
    – Experience with market price monitoring and analysis, and cash distribution programming
    – Experience with digital or technology platforms for program and MEL related activities.
    – Excellent oral and written English and Polish skills required; proficiency in Russian, Ukrainian or Romanian is a plus.

Preferred

• • • Academic or formal training on technologies and M&E will strongly enhance the candidate’s ability to succeed in this job.
      – Knowledge of data science and programming is plus but not required.
      – Knowledge of statistical analysis software such as Power BI, SPSS, and mobile data collection platforms preferable.
      – Experience in undertaking both quantitative and qualitative interviews strongly preferred.
      – Previous work experience on cash or partner programming is not required, but is preferred.

Success Factors and Transferable Skills

Any skills you have gained through education, volunteer, work, or life experience that are relevant for the position will be considered. Be sure to fully explain transferable skills and success factors and how they apply to this position in your cover letter.

The successful candidate will be capable of multi-tasking, rapid decision-making, have initiative, drive and a lot of energy, as well as have high emotional intelligence, constructive communication skills and proven experience with capacity building. They will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.

A strong team member will be conscientious, with excellent judgement, capable of multi-tasking, prioritising, problem-solving and attention to detail with strategic vision. They must have the confidence, and humility, to work effectively with a large variety of people who will be diverse culturally, economically and in social status. The Senior MEL Officer must be sensitive to political and cultural nuance and able to consistently apply excellent judgment to a variety of demanding and fast-changing situations, as well as the ability to foster solid working relationships with Mercy Corps staff. Working as part of a team and coordinating with project personnel, as well as strong organizational skills, are essential to this position.

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to theInteragency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere toMercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and

values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.