Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist

Background:

Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions and stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 15 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.

Project Summary:

The Jordan Technical Assistance Program (TAP), funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is a five-year education and youth project that seeks to transform the organizational culture and improve the abilities within the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth to ensure officials can implement desired reforms. Creative and its partners will provide technical assistance in the development, roll-out, and tracking of policies and procedures to incorporate international best practices for public education and youth programming. Among the many activities in the Jordan Technical Assistance Program, it will support curriculum development, promote inclusive learning techniques, improve the skills of teachers and school managers, and other tangible activities that ultimately support changing the organizational culture within the two ministries and relevant agencies. The program will further support Jordan’s outreach and behavioral change communications initiatives that are aimed at creating a culture of reading, the inclusion of vulnerable children, and increased youth engagement.

Position Summary:

The Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) senior specialist will support the MEL Director and the Chief of Party in ensuring that performance monitoring, action research, and evaluations are consistent with program outcomes in addition to tracking progress of activities in achieving goals and outcomes. This person will implement monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities set out in the wok plan. This person must demonstrate professional excellence in their technical areas of expertise, excellent writing ability, fluency in English, effective cross-cultural interpersonal skills.

Reporting & Supervision:

The Senior MEL Specialist will report to the MEL Director and supervise the Research Officer.

Responsibilities:

• Support the MEL director and the COP in implementation of the project MEL strategy to deliver high quality monitoring, evaluation, and learning deliverables as required by USAID, and contribute to quality reporting on a programmatic and thematic progress and impact.
• Develop, manage and operationalize M&E systems and plans that are aligned to program strategy. This includes supporting the MEL director in managing the third-party monitoring efforts.
• Update and manage the project’s MEL plan(s), indicator reference sheets, results reporting, data use systems and activities, and the project evaluation strategy.
• Develop procedures for collecting, storing and reporting indicators, establishing baselines, measuring changes in status, attributing results to project activities, and assessing overall impact of project results.
• Ensure the proper and timely collection of data to generate accurate performance management indicator results and ensure timely reporting in line with USAID requirements, and data management platforms.
• Manage the design and planning of evaluation and research functions and ensure the quality of evaluations, assessments and studies from design through final report and inform the process of decision making.
• Manage short- and long-term technical consultants support the MEL and research functions within the program.
• Contribute to designing and implementing lessons learned sessions, and ensure projects’ activities include active, intentional, and adaptive learning, and contribute to the overall Collaborating Learning and Adapting Agenda, Ensure
• Design/develop qualitative and quantitative data collection tools and facilitate collection of data. In addition to training data collection teams/third-party on protocols to ensure maximum data quality standards.
• Drives the development and implementation of data visualization solutions to inform decision making
• Takes a proactive, consultative approach to analytics by asking insightful questions of the data and making recommendations aligned to overall business strategy through visual analytics products
• Leads complex and rigorous research and program evaluation activities for all stages of evaluation planning, implementation, reporting, dissemination, and use for Workforce Development services
• Identify opportunities for success stories and manage the creation, collection and compilation for communicating USAID CIS’ story.
• Support the MEL director in drafting narrative progress reports

Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree required, and MA/MS degree desired.
• Must have at least 8 years of general work experience and 5+ years of specific experience related to the required position. Must have at least 4+ years of direct supervisory experience.
• Working experience with international agencies, NGOs, and/or government experience is highly desirable.
• Experience working on USAID-funded projects
• Experience designing monitoring and evaluation systems
• Experience working on, and preferably leading, evaluation teams
• Experience working in the education and youth sector is preferable.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills blended with expert writing and verbal communication skills in English and Arabic.
• Strong planning, organization, strategic thinking, communications, relationship building, project management, and problem-solving skills