The position will be based in Washington, D.C., and will work closely with and report to the SPARK Chief of Party. The MEL Officer will manage the MEL system for the program, including but not limited to the administration of the Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP), determining and adhering to data collection timelines, leading of data collection, establishing and maintenance of a data management system, the design of instruments and assessments required to monitor program performance, the compilation, and analysis of data, preparation of key quantitative and qualitative inputs for donor reports, and support of learning and feedback activities. The MEL Officer will provide overall guidance and tracking of program progress through indicators, outputs, and outcomes, oversee the reporting of participant data, and ensure that all MEL activities and data collected meet the donor and Partners’ standards. The MEL Officer will also proactively support all daily program functions related to MEL and support other responsibilities as required for the successful implementation of the program PMP, its operations, and fundraising efforts.
The objective of the project is to conduct research and promote research utilization on issues important to development. USAID seeks to strengthen the capacity of local research teams and their affiliated HEIs or research institutions and connections between partners in local and global research systems. The project aims to focus on the following priority areas:
Priority 1: Fund high-quality, locally led research, to better understand international development challenges and develop and disseminate solutions.
Priority 2: Support U.S.-local research partnerships that can persist beyond USAID funding and produce long-term benefits for all partners.
Priority 3: Strengthen capacity at local higher education institutions for conducting and disseminating research.
Essential/Primary Functions
- Provide day-to-day management and high-quality delivery of program MEL operations.
- Support development and performance of the data management system to house, collect, administer, report and use relevant program data while establishing and adhering to data collection timelines.
- Oversee the MEL systems being implemented by grantees, ensuring that they adhere to program requirement and meet the donor and POA standards.
- Implementation of the program’s PMP, including determining means of verification and approach for collecting, evaluating, and validating data to measure overall progress toward program outcomes and objectives.
- Design and administer instruments and assessments (e.g., surveys, focus groups, assessments) required as baseline and/or to monitor program performance.
- Support the development of stakeholder reports, program summaries/briefings, and other documents as required by the donors through the compilation, analysis, and provision of accurate and reliable data.
- Monitor the progress of program activities about the indicators and meet with the program team regularly to adjust the PMP and activities accordingly.
- Work closely with the COP to develop learning mechanisms in activity implementation and to actively incorporate lessons and modify approaches in implementation as needed.
- Create, organize, and submit MEL deliverables as required by the donor.
- Develop learning and knowledge management materials for internal and external audiences.
- Coordinate closely with the program team and grantees to guarantee MEL and program work are aligned.
- Coordinate closely with Communications team members to ensure that program and grantee project accomplishments are shared widely and reported to the donor and key stakeholders.
- Lead statistical work related to data collection and reporting.
- Use relevant secondary research for MEL purposes, including context setting and better understanding of program performance.
- Support the development of MEL tools and resources for grantees to strengthen their capacity.
External Relations/Business Development
- Provide data inputs for marketing/promotional materials used in outreach to prospective funders.
- Support new business proposals, as needed and appropriate, including technical proposal preparation and budget consultation, among other tasks.
- Occasionally represent the 100K program and Partners at meetings, conferences, and events.
Technology Management
- Support the design and maintenance of program data management systems, and make program data and dashboards accessible.
- Provide training and support to program staff and grantees in the use of 100K MEL data collection tools and/or systems.
Knowledge Management
- Maintain knowledge in a technical discipline and expand versatility in MEL-related topics, including within the areas of international education and workforce development, by attending workshops & conferences and pursuing professional development opportunities.
- Maintain and update MEL-related documentation for the program, including forms, templates, and guides, and ensure that activities are properly documented and files are saved in the shared program drive.
- Train program staff/interns, as appropriate, in MEL activities.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Public Policy, International Development, Economics, or other relevant discipline.
- Minimum 5 years of experience implementing MEL strategies/operations.
- At least 3 years of work experience, preferably in an internationally focused non-profit organization, government agency, or higher education institution.
- Comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, etc.)
- Experience in using MEL platforms and technology for data collection and analysis.
- Skills and experience in MEL, statistics, demographics, or related field.
- Knowledge and experience in the Western Hemisphere, including in higher education, international exchanges, and/or workforce development preferred.
- Experience implementing project MEL systems, ideally from project initiation to closeout stages.
- Demonstrated knowledge and/or experience in performance measurement, including indicator selection/formulation, target setting, reporting.
- Demonstrated knowledge and/or experience developing progress/impact reports and other communication materials.
- Experience in implementing MEL for programs funded by DOS and/or other U.S. government agencies preferred.
- Experience in donor-funded settings and interacting with donor representatives and key stakeholders preferred.
- Ability to facilitate and serve as liaison for the organization and externally managed evaluations.
- Strong oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
- Fluency in English and Spanish (written and oral) required.
- Knowledge of relevant secondary data sources.
- Ability to interpret data and support its use for informed decision-making.
- Strong attention to detail in producing high-quality work and compelling documentation.
- Ability to interact with diverse audiences with cultural sensitivity, fostering a supportive environment in-person and in all forms of correspondence.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, be a team player and proactively address program and team needs, solving problems as they arise and seeking guidance when appropriate.
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to multi-task and problem solve under tight deadlines; be able to manage time, set priorities, and meet deadlines; and be enthusiastic and energetic.
To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter to Kirk Del Rosario at [email protected] with the subject line “MEL SPARK-CANDIDATE LAST NAME”. Please note that only finalists will be contacted.
Partners Is Proud To Be An Equal Employment Opportunity And Affirmative Action Employer. Partners Does Not Discriminate In Employment On The Basis Of Race, Color, Religion, Sex (Including Pregnancy And Gender Identity), National Origin, Political Affiliation, Sexual Orientation, Marital Status, Disability, Genetic Information, Age, Membership In An Employee Organization, Retaliation, Parental Status, Military Service, Or Other Non-Merit Factor.
