Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Director, Global Civil Society and Media Strengthening (CSMS)

At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better tomorrow. A nonprofit international development organization founded in 1971, Pact works on the ground in nearly 40 countries to improve the lives of those who are challenged by poverty and marginalization. We serve these communities because we envision a world where everyone owns their future. To do this, we build systemic solutions in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and governments that create sustainable and resilient communities where those we serve are heard, capable, and vibrant. Pact is a recognized global leader in international development. Our staff have a range of expertise in areas including public health, capacity development, governance and civil society, natural resource management, poverty, fragile states, monitoring and evaluation, small-scale and artisanal mining, microfinance and more. This expertise is combined in Pact’s unique integrated approach, which focuses on systemic changes needed to improve people’s lives.

Department

Programs - Pact strives for a world where all people are heard, capable, and vibrant. The Programs Team helps realize this objective by bridging program management, technical support, and business development, enabling Pact to achieve its global strategy. We ensure program excellence through continuous learning, monitoring and evaluation and provide organizational and industry-wide thought leadership by leveraging a complementary set of cross-functional, multi-disciplinary skills, expertise, and experiences. The Programs team: influences progressive change through the development and implementation of global and regional strategies and business plans; supports advancement of innovative solutions; pursues new business opportunities; and drives effective internal and external engagement to maximize Pact’s impact across the globe. Across all aspects of its role, the Programs Department adheres to and promotes a culture of inclusion, accountability, and respect.

Position Overview

Pact seeks a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Director for the Global Civil Society and Media Strengthening (CSMS) Project. This anticipated global Leader with Associates (LWA) Award will identify and develop evidence-based and effective approaches to strengthen civil society and media in open and closing environments. The project will focus on designing and learning as well as fostering technical leadership and brokering connections between specific Associate Awards to enhance outcomes and achieve economies of scale.

Key Responsibilities

The MERL Director will oversee a team of M&E and learning professionals and will be responsible for developing and executing a M&E, learning, research, and knowledge management strategy under the program. This unique opportunity will provide the right candidate with the opportunity to shape and implement the Learning Strategy for this large global program. The MERL Director will provide strategic guidance, vision, management, and criteria for successful learning and evaluation of the program while overseeing MERL staff in projects globally and ensuring the strategic and functional integration of all MERL activities. This position is contingent upon award.

Specific Duties:

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

• Oversee the combined learning aspects of the project, including but not limited to evaluations, papers, and findings at the Leader Award level and among Associate Awards.
• Work closely with the Project Director to ensure the outcomes of the project’s global learning are integrated across Associate Awards.
• Develop and synthesize lessons learned from global project implementation and results into publications, evaluations, seminars/webinars and other modes of communication, tailored to learning stakeholders at all levels. Develop innovative or create dissemination approaches and products to reach a diverse audience, to ensure learnings are utilized in real-time by the funder, Associate Award project staff and partners, and the broader democracy, rights and governance (DRG)
• Oversee the participatory design, implementation and regular interrogation of the project’s learning agenda, prioritizing principles of sustainability, empowerment, inclusion, and critical reflection.
• Implement a system designed to collect feedback from project stakeholders, identify lessons learned, disseminate timely information, and adapt project implementation as required.
• Maintain open communication with USAID to ensure feedback and improvements to the project are incorporated in a timely and practical manner.
• Lead a Community of Practice of MERL professionals as part of capacity development and quality assurance across the project.
• 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 all levels of the project. The Director will have responsibility for all such aspects at the global Leader Award level and will be responsible for developing clear criteria and ensuring alignment with the global strategy of all Associate Award MERL systems.
• Oversee staff to ensure compliance of quality standards of MERL systems across all Associate Awards, including but not limited to: baseline assessments, research studies, external evaluations, M&E tools, data quality assurances, and data management systems, among other.
• Manage baseline assessments and support the implementation of research studies with Pact’s US-based R&M Team.

Basic Requirements

• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in a relevant field: social science, international development, public health, evaluation, statistics, or economics
• At least seven to ten (7-10) years of progressively responsible experience in designing, managing, and implementing results-based MERL activities
• At least five (5) years of supervisory experience
• Commitment to applied learning and adaptation based on data
• Demonstrated relevant technical skills in analyzing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data, and packaging the findings
• Demonstrated excellence in creating and disseminating learning products
• Excellent organizational as well as English oral and written communication skills
• Progressively responsible experience in monitoring and evaluation of DRG programs, 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.
• Ability to travel internationally periodically.

Preferred Qualifications

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

Pact is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, citizenship status, genetic information, matriculation, family responsibilities, personal appearance, credit information, tobacco use (except in the workplace), membership in an employee organization, or other protected classifications or non-merit factors.

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