Monitoring and Evaluation Manager

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a non-governmental, humanitarian organization with 60 years of experience in helping to create a safer and more dignified life for displaced populations. NRC started operation in the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2012. We deliver humanitarian assistance in 6 provinces in the sectors of Education, Livelihoods and food security, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Shelter construction, as well as Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA).

NRC Iran implements its Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) functions through a dedicated MEAL Unit. Reporting to the Head of Programme, the MEAL Manager leads and manages the MEAL Unit, covering all aspects of monitoring, evaluation, reviews, accountability, learning, needs assessments, and all associated data management, with the ultimate goal of improving program performance towards rights holders and ensuring value for money for donors. He/she holds a key role on the mission, reports to the Head of Programme and participates in the Country Management Group. We are looking for someone independent, strategic, with high analytical skills. This post is for 12 months, with possibility of extension. 

About the position

Reporting to the Head of Programme, the MEAL Manager is responsible for leading and managing the MEAL Unit, and the effective planning and implementation of a MEAL system for the NRC country program in Iran, in line with NRC’s M&E minimum standards and any other relevant NRC organizational standard. In terms of monitoring, he/she will provide technical leadership for output and outcome monitoring, including design and implementation of appropriate monitoring tools and methodologies, maintaining M&E Matrices, and reporting outputs and outcomes with the appropriate disaggregations to donors and to the NRC internal system, the Global Output and Outcome Reporting System (GORS). The role also extends to providing technical support to implementing a robust monitoring regime for a new inter-agency consortium-led grant.

In terms of evaluations, he/she will provide technical leadership for all After-Action Reviews (AARs), evaluations, independent reviews, needs assessments, urban profiling, research, etc., ensuring that all evaluative activities are conducted in line with NRC M&E Global Guidelines, while taking responsibility for developing and implementing appropriately designed tools, methodologies and analytical frameworks.

In terms of accountability, he/she will provide technical leadership on the operation of NRC Iran’s accountability system, including standardized methods of handling beneficiary complaints and feedback and managing cases, and investigating methods for communicating more efficiently with NRC Iran’s growing caseload of Afghan refugees.

In terms of learning, he/she will provide technical leadership on the development and implementation of an organization learning plan that aims to up-skill NRC Iran mission staff in critical areas, as well as conducting regular ‘lessons learned’ activities on thematic and project bases.

The MEAL Manager is also responsible for codifying the operation of the MEAL Unit in Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which must be regularly updated and distributed. Finally, the MEAL Manager has a responsibility for the development of MEAL Unit staff, and ensuring quality and consistency of MEAL-related activities across the country programme and its field offices.

Generic responsibilities

1. Adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures
2. Responsible for design, development and implementation of M&E systems, including M&E SOPs, guidance and tools.
3. Advise  management on MEAL solutions/options in the design of M&E staffing, resourcing and budgeting for M&E, and MEAL priorities for the country office.
4. Participate in programme design and proposal discussions, including theory of change development, log frame design and budgeting for MEAL.
5. Support programme staff in planning for and executing MEAL, including, data collection methodology and tools and data management, analysis and use.
6. Support the implementation, dissemination and use of evaluations, assessments and monitoring data in programme development, adjustment or review.
7. Contribute to organisational learning through supporting specific analysis, lessons learned and reports.
8. Management of the MEAL team (line management of MEAL staff in central office and technical supervision of MEAL staff in Areas in coordination with Area Managers)
9. Capacity building and training of programme and MEAL support staff on MEAL technical and conceptual areas.
10. Supervise and mentor MEAL support staff in executing MEAL plans.
11. Member of the Country Management Group (CMG);
12. Represent NRC in MEAL related forums at country and regional level.

Our ideal candidate

We are looking for an experienced professional in the field of M&E, and more specifically:

• At least 5 years’ experience in M&E systems development;
• University degree in social science, economics, rural development or in other related fields;
• Post-graduate certificate in M&E related field such as surveys, sampling, data analysis;
• Experience in international Non-Governmental Organization or national Civil Society Organization;
• Experience with and knowledge of  principles and current approaches to monitoring and evaluation in relief and development programs, using both quantitative and qualitative methods;
• Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring and other formal and non-formal methods;
• English language proficiency (speaking, reading, writing);
• Computer skills, including MS Office (Word, Excel; SPSS and GIS are a plus).

• Knowledge of the refugee context in Iran;
• Ability to work under pressure, independently and with limited supervision;
• Strong ability to write reports and official correspondence ;
• Experience in working with the government and familiarity with the environment of INGOs and CSOs in Iran ;
• Knowledge of Farsi (speaking, reading and writing) is an asset.

We offer

Contract period: 12 months, with possibility of extension

Family duty station: Yes

Salary/benefits: According to NRC's salary scale and terms and conditions (see attached Grade Structure)

Duty station: Tehran, Iran with up to 25% travel in country

Approved health certificate will be requested before contract start