Senior RMEAL Manager - Beirut

Major Responsibilities:

A. Research

• Focal point for the implementation of ECD research assignments, methods and tools.
• In coordination with the IECD Coordinator, the Research, Monitoring, and Learning Regional Technical Lead, MEAL Coordinator, as well as relevant research partners, organize, coordinate and lead all ECD research missions.
• Develop a detailed work plan for ECD research activities.
• Continuously follow up and report on the implementation of ECD research, and share regular progress updates.
• Review research design and tools to ensure contextual & programmatic feasibility and appropriateness.
• Ensure communication and harmonization between research activities and program implementation, including ensuring fidelity of research design implementation.
• Hire and train enumerators for data collections.
• Secure in-country national research approvals and permits, if necessary.
• Ensure that best practices in ethics and data protection & management are implemented throughout the research.
• Ensure the optimal use of resources for ECD research.
• Provide appropriate and timely technical guidance to ECD RMEAL staff members, and other team members when necessary.
• Organize, design, plan and oversee the evaluation, analysis, compilation and dissemination of statistical data for reviews and evaluations of research.
• Collaborate with primary stakeholders to develop feasible and effective ECD research discussion events where data is analyzed and programming action is agreed upon.
• Participate in all calls with IRC Research, Monitoring, and Learning Regional Technical Lead, IRC Technical Unit and NYU to follow up on ECD research.
• Participate in and represent IRC in all relevant meetings, as necessary.

B. Monitoring

• Directly responsible for the planning, management and oversight of the monitoring of the ECD inclusive programs and projects, including current and future activity development.  
• Develop M&E frameworks for all ECD program in consultation with the ECD Coordinator, and revise them periodically based on lessons learned.
• Implement IRC Quality Framework and Monitoring for Action systems to enable innovative ways of conducting inclusive ECD monitoring that meet the rigorous requirements of the context and donor agencies.
• Support on prototyping and rapid cycle testing – Continuous Quality Improvement
• Establish and implement a mechanism for data (quantitative and qualitative) collection tools and reporting to ensure all requirements for inclusive ECD monitoring are met, including field monitoring, quality data verification and analysis.
• Provide support to the ECD Program teams on ways to improve (streamline and strengthen, as well as verify) M&E-related components and activities.
• Lead trainings on M&E functions for capacity development and awareness to relevant IRC ECD staff.
• Liaise with Regional M&E Coordinator, Lebanon MEAL Coordinator, and M&E Managers in other departments and organizations to share best practices and experiences.

C. Evaluation and Learning

• Organize, coordinate and lead evaluation for ECD inclusive projects.
• Follow up on the implementation of evaluation recommendations.
• Provide timely technical guidance in preparation for all ECD mandatory evaluations.
• Develop an evaluation management and communication plan for inclusive ECD.
• Organize, design, plan and oversee the evaluation, analysis, compilation and dissemination of statistical ECD data for internal reviews and evaluations.
• Conduct and coordinate mid-term reviews and internal evaluations and prepare reports.
• Coordinate and provide technical guidance for external ECD partnership evaluation consultancies as necessary.
• Collaborate with primary stakeholders to develop feasible and effective discussion events where M&E data are analyzed and programming action is agreed upon.
• Identify and formulate evaluation findings, studies, research, lessons learned, and recommendations to be integrated into broader ECD knowledge management efforts and draft them for wider dissemination.
• Conduct regular lessons learned workshops with the ECD teams for program learning and improvement.

D. Accountability and Reporting

• Review M&E and research data and reports drafted by direct report staff, to ensure they are of high quality and accurate. Assist the Deputy ECD Coordinator to conceptualize, write, and consolidate progress reports inclusive of M&E and research data and findings.
• In coordination with the MEAL Coordinator, design and implement a beneficiary feedback system for the ECD program to ensure IRC is accountable to the children and beneficiaries it serves, in alignment with the regional FARM guidelines and IRC Lebanon FARM policy.
• In coordination with the MEAL Coordinator, participate in the Monitoring for Action (MfA) annual assessment for the ECD program and ensure implementation of relevant tools and systems to meet the MfA standards.
• Liaise with IRC relevant teams and units in supporting the development of inclusive ECD monitoring and reporting tools at the regional and international levels.

E. Staff Management and Capacity Building:

• Directly manage the Senior M&E Officer and Research Officer under the ECD program, the RMEAL team, by communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Coach, train and mentor direct report staff with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity on RMEAL and providing professional development guidance.
• Organize and conduct results-oriented inclusive ECD monitoring and evaluation trainings (including quantitative and qualitative ECD data collection methods).
• Ensure that capacity building is an integral part of the direct report staff plan along with ongoing mentoring and support.

Other:

•  Ensure all activities are child and gender sensitive and follow IRC Child Safeguarding Policy.
• Apply Do No Harm standards to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to reinforce the acceptance of IRC in the community.
• Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops.
• Flexibility on other duties as assigned for program or professional development.
• All IRC staff is required to adhere to THE IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: Integrated ECD Coordinator
• Position directly supervises: Senior ECD M&E Officer, and Senior ECD Research Officer.
• Indirect Reporting:  MEAL Coordinator, Regional Monitoring, Research and Learning Technical Lead
• Other Internal and/or external contacts: Senior Quality, Training, and Capacity Building Officer, IRC Technical Units, NYU, regional ECD colleagues, Research Partners, M&E and Technology for Programs Teams in other programs within IRC Lebanon, UN Agencies, donors, etc.

Preferred:

• Previous experience in project cycle management in development and humanitarian contexts with an International NGO.

Working Environment:

The position is based in Beirut, and expected to travel to Mount Lebanon, Tripoli, Akkar, and the Bekaa.

WOMEN OF ALL BACKGROUNDS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY