Senior Advisor, Measurement Action

To ensure that we are effectively carrying out our mission, we have committed to implement outcome-driven and evidence-based programs, measure what we achieve, act on what we learn, and generate new and relevant evidence. We need to produce high-quality data that can inform decision-making while also meeting donor requirements. The Measurement Unit is responsible for global guidance, resources and coordination to ensure that staff across all our programs are equipped with the skills and tools they need to generate and manage the right data for programmatic decision-making across the IRC.

Job Overview/Summary: 

As a senior member of the Measurement Unit, the Senior Advisor will lead IRC’s global efforts to improve M&E capacity among our staff and to build effective systems at country level to institutionalize durable monitoring, learning and accountability practices. They will be responsible for developing resources and facilitating the rollout of initiatives, tools, resources and other professional development support in support of our organization-wide measurement strategy, often in a highly cross-functional manner. This will include identifying needs of country and regional teams, drafting instructional guidelines and policies, developing training resources and curating a highly focused and effective suite of materials to improve M&E practice in a sustainable manner across the organization. The position will be responsible for rolling out these resources via “Train the Trainer” support for key staff. The Sr Advisor will also provide direct mentoring and professional development support to HQ and regional colleagues in key positions, including some capacity building support to M&E efforts within our Resettlement, Asylum and Integration unit, which offers programs for refugees in the United States and Europe.

The role will report to the Senior Director, Measurement Unit, and will jointly (with the respective Deputy Regional Directors) manage the Regional Measurement Action Coordinators. They will work in close coordination with subject matter experts and leaders across the organization. They will support the current measurement strategy and will have the ability to influence the next iteration of IRC’s strategy.

Major Responsibilities:

Design field focused change management and capacity-building strategies

• Analyze M&E capacity gaps across IRC and identify the areas of greatest need and most significant potential impact. Develop and socialize a strategy to meet these needs.
• Develop and manage work plans to address pressing capacity-building needs.
• Develop change management and communications strategies for the release of new resources, trainings and other policies.
• Lead a review of current roles and responsibilities for M&E across IRC. Make recommendations for improvements, and lead change efforts to roll any recommended changes out.

Support Regional Measurement Staff

• Support and mentor colleagues in the field and elsewhere to deliver effective field-level monitoring, learning and accountability goals and to assure programmatic design and decision-making incorporate the best available data from our programs.

Lead resource development to support strategic measurement initiatives

• Conceptualize and produce guidelines, trainings and other resources that can be used to improve the M&E knowledge and skills of staff across M&E-related functions, with a particular focus on priorities identified by staff in the field, and initiatives related to our Measurement Strategy.
• Provide content which can be used by the Learning and Training Advisor to create an online M&E resource platform.
• Assess and identify key foundational tools necessary to establish effective monitoring systems at field level, and lead the RMAC and other measurement and management stakeholders to fill these gaps with field-focused, user-friendly tools or resources which enable systems (not just skills and knowledge) at the country level in order to have institutional and durable M&E practices taking root across IRC country offices.
• Strengthen measurement content across RescueNet, Box and Microsoft Teams.

• Bachelor’s degree;
• At least seven years of experience with M&E in the humanitarian or development sector, including experience in field settings or supporting field programmes;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; able to synthesize complex information and present information in a compelling manner;
• Experience coaching and developing staff, including experience working in culturally and linguistically diverse settings;
• Experience analyzing capacity building needs, and developing strategies to address them;
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills, with the ability to handle and prioritize multiple streams of work with attention to detail and deliver under pressure;
• Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills; able to build relationships with leaders and staff across different departments;
• Excellent computer skills: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, file sharing;
• Able to work independently and productively in a dynamic environment;
• Experience of managing staff in remote locations.

Preferred Requirements

• Master’s degree in a relevant subject;
• Experience of resource planning including working with HR and other colleagues to develop and clarify job roles;
• Experience providing content for use in internal learning and development tools, including on online learning platforms;
• Familiarity working with mobile data collection and other data management tools such as Ona, CommCare, Kobocat, OpenEMIS, DHIS2 and Power BI;
• Experience of matrix management or Management in Partnership;
• Knowledge of French, Arabic or Spanish; other languages will also be an advantage;

Working Environment: 

• Standard office environment
• Travel approximately 30% of the time, including possible travel to high-risk environments to support IRC’s field teams

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