Palladium
JOB OPPORTUNITY
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director – USAID/Nepal Localization Support Activity
About Palladium:
Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.
This Opportunity:
Palladium seeks an experienced Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director for the anticipated USAID/Nepal Localization Support activity focused on strengthening the Mission’s ability to ensure that local actors are in the lead role for Nepal’s development. The activity aims to provide services to USAID, partner Nepali organizations, and Government of Nepal entities to provide surge support, build capacity, and establish systems and processes to effectively design, implement, and monitor activities that advance our shared development objectives. In addition, the activity will build the capacity of local organizations, supporting G2G programming, and assisting the Mission in improving localization programming.
The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director provides strategic guidance, vision, and management for successful monitoring and evaluation of the program. S/he will supervise MEL staff and ensure the strategic and functional integration of all MEL activities as well as active collaboration with sub-awardees and USAID. The Director will oversee all MEL activities, provide technical direction and support, and ensure the accurate reporting of results for program activities. The MEL Director is a senior leadership and key personnel position. This position is contingent upon award.
Duration: 5 years (anticipated start in September 2023)
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
- Oversee project knowledge management, including development and dissemination of tools, materials, reports, papers, and intervention linked research
- Ensure project scope and activities are compliant with USAID policies
- Lead the development and monitoring of MEL activities and work plans
- Review the project implementation activities to assess results and the impact
- Work closely with the COP and other directors and staff to ensure compatibility and coordination within the MEL framework, and consistency with national and donor requirements
- Focus on strengthening the MEL system, building capacity of partners and staff, and improving alignment and support to host-country MEL systems
- Responsible for providing technical assistance and coordinating with partners to improve and utilize existing systems for the timely collection, management, analysis, and reporting of valid and reliable data that meet donor reporting requirements;
- Contribute to project deliverables, including annual workplans, and quarterly and annual reporting
- Institute routine data reviews as part of an adaptive management process including analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data to project management and technical leads
- Develop and lead the implementation of a robust learning agenda for continuous learning, collaboration, and adaptation;
- Undertake periodic reviews of program and/or country MEL systems and participate in planning MEL system strengthening actions
- Oversee the publication and dissemination of information on successful and promising approaches, lessons learned and other program results to program partners, donors, Nepali counterparts, and other key stakeholders
- Gather and evaluate information and ensures that these findings are accurately presented in all USAID reporting and tracking tools
- Responsible for developing and designing project systems to track program progress against indicators; collecting and verifying information and maintaining performance monitoring plans, reports, work plans and monthly reports;
- Other tasks as assigned
Key Competencies Required:
- 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 experience in designing, managing, and implementing MEL activities
- At least 5 years of supervisory experience
- Demonstrated expertise in designing rigorous quantitative and qualitative data collection systems and methods for data analysis and moving routine analytics evaluation, and research findings to program actions
- In depth knowledge of management information systems and data use in a complex program environment with multiple implementing organizations
- Extensive experience in CLA, knowledge management, and dissemination of findings
- Proven ability to communicate and translate in English complex technical and policy data and issues clearly and effectively to different stakeholders to build consensus
- Demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relations with host country government personnel stakeholders, NGO partners, and international donor agencies
- Strong analytical and computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, web-based research)
- Ability to multi-task and keep track of concurrent activities and deadlines
- Fluency in English required
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion – Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.
Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at [email protected] and we will be in touch to discuss.
Safeguarding – We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.
