Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning Director

Pact seeks a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Director for the USAID Civil Society and Media (CSM) Activity, which will provide technical assistance and capacity building to civil society and media to improve their effectiveness in advancing and protecting fundamental freedoms. This is anticipated to be a five-year activity. This position is contingent upon award.

The MERL Director provides strategic guidance, vision, and management for successful monitoring and evaluation of the program. This individual also supervises MERL staff and ensures the strategic and functional integration of all MERL activities as well as active collaboration with sub-awardees and United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Director oversees all MEL activities, provides technical direction and support, ensures the accurate reporting of results for program activities, and ensures the program aligns with Pact’s quality standards for MERL in close coordination with Pact’s Results and Measurement (R&M) Team.

The specific duties to be carried out by the successful candidate are listed below:

• Oversee the design and implementation of the project’s MERL system in coordination with Pact’s Results and Measurement (R&M) Team to develop key performance indicators, targets, tools, and appropriate MERL responsibilities across the project.
• Manage baseline assessments and support the implementation of research studies with Pact’s HQ R&M Team
• Coordinate any external evaluation processes, including drafting evaluation ToR and selection of firm, in alignment with award
• Develop and disseminate relevant M&E tools, formats and lead the provision of M&E specific technical training
• Oversee data collection, collation, storage, analysis, and reporting, ensuring that data is of high quality and audit worthy
• Supervise other M&E staff and oversee consortium partners’ compliance with MEL system.
• Ensure appropriate training and supportive supervision of all partners in monitoring and evaluation procedures, data collection tools, and data management practices in alignment with the MELP
• Work closely with partners to establish their internal MERL systems, M&E plans, and data quality management, oversee partners’ compliance with MEL system, and design and conduct trainings to support capacity for MEL among partners.
• Strengthen staff and partners’ capacity in qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation techniques through comprehensive staff training, mentoring, and/or coaching.
• Conduct and manage Routine Data Quality Assessments (RDQA); ensuring implementation of corrective actions to improve data quality and accountability of staff and partners
• Oversee the development and maintenance of a comprehensive project database, ensure accurate and timely storage of electronic files
• Responsible for calculation and reporting of Pact’s Global Indicators through imPact, Pact’s instance of DHIS2, and calculation and reporting of project data into imPact
• Responsible for the data analysis, writing, and review of the results and learning sections of program reports in collaboration with program staff, before submission to donor and ensure consortium partners’ compliance with internal data quality requirements and timely submissions for reporting
• Commitment to applied learning and adaptation based on data: Lead the program team on routine reviews and interpretation of data for learning and adaptation; package and disseminate timely findings in a meaningful way, and make suggestions for adaption
• Manage MERL team members (number TBD)
• Create a learning agenda and implement a system designed to identify lessons learned and disseminate timely information
• Produce learning products and thought leadership pieces relevant to the project intervention; present in local conferences or on webinars regarding project’s MERL successes
• Other tasks as assigned

• Master’s degree in any of the following or related fields: social science, international development, public health, evaluation, statistics, or economics
• At least 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in designing, managing, and implementing results-based MERL activities
• At least 5 years of supervisory experience
• Demonstrated relevant technical skills in analyzing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data, and packaging the findings
• Excellent organizational as well as English oral and written communication skills
• Progressively responsible experience in monitoring and evaluation of building capacity for civil society organizations and networks/coalition strengthening, program beneficiaries, and program staff.
• Experience in utilizing gender and social inclusion sensitive indicators and measures
• Extensive knowledge of reporting procedures, including USAID, best practices, guidelines, and tools for monitoring, evaluation and learning, including impact evaluation.
• Ability to work well on team and with various partner organizations
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, i.e., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc., and the ability to use various commercially available statistical software programs.

• Experience with DHIS2 platform and mobile data collection software
• Experience in utilizing gender and social inclusion sensitive indicators and analysis
• Fluency in Nepali