Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Manager at World University Service of Canada

Job Role

• Under the supervision of the Country Director, Kenya, the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Manager will lead the MERL strategic response by offering leadership, and technical oversight across country level programming. The MERL manager will be responsible for designing the MERL system in alignment with the country level frameworks.

Management and Leadership

• Strategic leadership on MERL across WUSC projects in Kenya
• Support MERL activities across East Africa portfolio when needed
• Establish and manage working relationships and strategic engagement with external evaluation and research consultants and other partners, including relevant government bodies, researchers, regulators and other MERL stakeholders.
• Develop annual operating forecasts of MERL budgets, research, evaluation and learning agenda
• Oversee the process of assessments and thematic papers, research, analysis, interpretation and reporting of various data across all projects in the region to ensure the highest standards of intellectual honesty, research ethics, and academic convention;
• Lead in the development of the MERL frameworks and plans for programs, in line with the donor and WUSC’s requirements.
• Take the lead in providing capacity building and overall support to partners and stakeholders to monitor and evaluate the programs.
• Supervisory role over the MERL team

Evaluation, Research, Design and Publications

• Lead the process of obtaining approvals for research and evaluations to ensure compliance with local requirement
• Provide technical support to Evaluation teams/consultants in the process of conducting baseline/midline/endline surveys
• Lead in periodic project or program internal evaluations as needed.
• Take an active role in managing the communication research strategy of the projects
• Lead in the dissemination of project research findings to external audiences
• Provide advisory roles in preparing annual and impact reports for the programs.

Learning

• Lead in translation of data into actionable policy and communicating to stakeholders (internal and external)
• Provide leadership to projects in the utilization of the research conducted in the design of new projects to influence policy in the region.
• Take leadership in implementation of WUSC’s Knowledge Management and help develop strategies for reflection and dissemination of lessons learned.

Line Manager

• Country Director, Kenya

Position Requires Close Collaboration with:

• DREEM Senior Project Manager
• GESI, Education and LEO Advisors
• Country leads – Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan (where relevant)

HQ

• Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Advisor
• Program Managers
• Technical Advisors

Provides supports:

• Uganda and South Sudan country offices/MERL teams (where relevant)

Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in applied social science, statistics, international development, or another related field. Specific academic training in Monitoring, Evaluation and research is desirable.
• Experience in leading evaluations and research projects

Experience & Competencies

• The ideal applicant will need to have a familiarity with the East African context, a strategic and analytical mindset, excellent listening and interpersonal skills, and ability to get things done.

Specific competencies:

• At least 7 years of experience working in the design, implementation and evaluation of international development and other key donors.
• Strong understanding of humanitarian interventions
• Experience in managing medium size teams
• A strong focus on qualitative and participatory data collection and analysis methods and tools
• Quantitative background and experience with cutting-edge data collection and analysis methods would be an asset
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing qualitative analyses that reflect best practice.
• Effective oral and written communication skills, including the demonstrated ability to distill data and effectively topline messages for busy senior leaders.
• Ability to create a MERL agenda that is closely linked with business development priorities.
• Demonstrated experience in and commitment to working in teams across lines of business.
• Experience infusing a gender responsive lens across MERL

Other requirements

• The role will require regular travel (up to 30%) to field sites in the regions, as well as participate in international travel for conferences, workshops and meetings.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule