Team Leader MERL at Altai Consulting

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Altai Consulting is currently seeking to recruit a full-time Team Leader as part of their role as a MERL partner to a multi-donor funded security and justice programme in Somalia. The role will play a key role in interfacing between the fund manager, implementing partners and MERL team, leading on project direction and research to ensure that support is delivered to a high-quality standard.
• The Team Leader will play a central role in the organisation and delivery of the MERL support; from leading regular catch-up meetings, MERL planning and face-to-face learning workshops, to directing contextually appropriate research, monitoring and evaluation approaches to enhance understanding and measure the influence of/changes in and effectiveness of programme approaches in shifting social norms.
• The role will require the individual to hold overall responsibility for technical strategy and effective management of the MERL component of the programme, including:
• Design, management and delivery of MERL strategy and frameworks long-term.
• Management and organisation of full-time and part-time consultants and staff.
• Ensure a strong working relationship between the fund manager, implementers and any subcontractors.
• Support IPs to monitor change in real time through the development of monitoring frameworks and tools.
• Design and deliver deep-dive, iterative research and analysis on key cross-cutting issues/themes identified as priorities by fund manager or IPs.
• Synthesise learning and evidence from programme monitoring, evaluation and research and ensure this is communicated effectively to both internal and external audiences, and fed into ongoing and periodic programme planning and design discussions.
• Lead summative and impact evaluations to test the efficacy of programme approaches and progress towards results.
• Providing ongoing performance and quality management to ensure delivery against the programme’s MERL strategy.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Advanced university degree in development studies or a related field.
• Over 10 years’ progressive experience delivering technical aspects of MERL in a programme environment.
• Demonstrated skills and depth of knowledge in applying adaptive MERL approaches and supporting the development of tools, systems and processes.
• Experience of designing and testing theories of change.
• Experience mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion in MERL desirable.
• Prior experience working on social norms or behaviour change programmes an asset.
• Demonstrated experience working in the development sector in Somalia, preferably in the security, peace and justice sectors.
• Demonstrated experience of leading MERL teams and delivering MERL systems in complex operating environments with multiple IPs and downstream partners.
• Post will be based in either Nairobi, Kenya or Mogadishu, Somalia. If based in Nairobi, the TL must be willing to travel frequently to Somalia, including Mogadishu, Baidoa and Kismayo.
• Fluency in English essential; knowledge of Somali also preferable.Design, management and delivery of MERL strategy and frameworks long-term.
• Management and organisation of full-time and part-time consultants and staff.
• Ensure a strong working relationship between the fund manager, implementers and any subcontractors.
• Support IPs to monitor change in real time through the development of monitoring frameworks and tools.
• Design and deliver deep-dive, iterative research and analysis on key cross-cutting issues/themes identified as priorities by fund manager or IPs.
• Synthesise learning and evidence from programme monitoring, evaluation and research and ensure this is communicated effectively to both internal and external audiences, and fed into ongoing and periodic programme planning and design discussions.
• Lead summative and impact evaluations to test the efficacy of programme approaches and progress towards results.
• Providing ongoing performance and quality management to ensure delivery against the programme’s MERL strategy.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Advanced university degree in development studies or a related field.
• Over 10 years’ progressive experience delivering technical aspects of MERL in a programme environment.
• Demonstrated skills and depth of knowledge in applying adaptive MERL approaches and supporting the development of tools, systems and processes.
• Experience of designing and testing theories of change.
• Experience mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion in MERL desirable.
• Prior experience working on social norms or behaviour change programmes an asset.
• Demonstrated experience working in the development sector in Somalia, preferably in the security, peace and justice sectors.
• Demonstrated experience of leading MERL teams and delivering MERL systems in complex operating environments with multiple IPs and downstream partners.
• Post will be based in either Nairobi, Kenya or Mogadishu, Somalia. If based in Nairobi, the TL must be willing to travel frequently to Somalia, including Mogadishu, Baidoa and Kismayo.
• Fluency in English essential; knowledge of Somali also preferable.