Results, Learning & Research Coordinator at Mercy Corps

General Position Summary: The Results, Learning and Research Coordinator is responsible for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and research across the program through its partners.

S/he leads the implementation of the program’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning strategy, which encompasses data management, impact assessment, research and communications.

This role involves close collaboration with the Program Manager and the Program Director, and requires a flexible and self-driven attitude, and commitment to high quality output.
 

Essential Job Functions:
 

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Develop metrics for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the program, including on the:

1. viability of the sustainable business solutions;
2. employment and livelihoods outcomes of youth users of products;
3. employers in terms of the Return on Investment of using the services and;
4. wider ecosystem.

• Design processes of data collection, management, and quality control with partners;
• Lead orientation of MEL systems among partner organizations;
• Analyze quantitative data to calculate impacts, including leading ‘mini evaluations’ of specific program components and partners, including qualitative research for triangulation;
• Produce communication materials about program progress and/or findings from evaluation studies.

Research Projects & Thought Leadership

• Lead the program’s research and learning initiatives, in coordination with the Program Manager and Program Director, in order to generate key learnings about the program;
• Conduct research and prepare practical reports for dissemination based on experiences from program implementation;
• Lead dissemination efforts, including running Thought Leadership events, working with HQ, partners, and others to reach external stakeholders.

Adaptive management

• Provide insights and recommendations through M&E and learning findings, which enable the program to enhance its activities and impact.

Communications

• Communicate findings from M&E and research activities within Mercy Corps teams, project partners, and wider stakeholders;
• Participate in a variety of external forums/workshops/conferences/sector coordination meetings for knowledge sharing and communication of best practices and findings from the program.

Other

• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission;
• Other duties as assigned.

Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
 

Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility: None
Accountability

Reports Directly To: Impact Labs Program Manager
Works Directly With: HR, Logistics, Operations, Impact Labs Product Innovation Partnership Manager, Impact Labs partners.

Knowledge and Experience:

• 3-5 years of experience in design and management of monitoring, evaluation and learning systems for market development programs;
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant area. Masters an added advantage;
• Experience in knowledge management, data collection, and analytics and data management;
• Experience using Management Information Systems (MIS), including tech- or mobile-based monitoring systems and dashboards;
• Experience working with private sector partners. Experience in Management/Development consulting firms or business incubators/accelerators working with start-ups a plus;
• Exceptional writing skills, and strong Excel (or SPSS, STATA, RED) skills;
• Familiarity developing and managing content for any form of media;
• Demonstrated ability to develop relevant research methodologies, and to produce high quality research products;
• Experience in, and passion for, youth (and youth employment) programming a plus.

Success Factors: The successful Results, Learning and Research Coordinator will show flexibility, and a willingness to test, adapt, learn and improve.

• S/he will aim to narrow the traditional gap between M&E, research and program management by striving to produce information and learning that is useful by program teams and other stakeholders.
• S/he will be a high achiever, and will understand the needs and incentives of the private sector partners s/he works with.
• S/he will combine a commitment to high-quality quantitative and qualitative data with an appreciation of the context and of what is possible, and supporting teams with different backgrounds, abilities, and technical knowledge.