MEAL Advisor, Ukraine Response At HIAS

MEAL Advisor, Ukraine Response

**Department:**Strategy & Measurement

**Location:**Ukraine/Poland/Romania/Moldova, Ukraine/Poland/Romania/Moldova

POSITION SUMMARY:

HIAS is working closely with its implementation partner in Ukraine, and with newly identified partners in neighboring countries, to rapidly respond to the immediate needs triggered by the invasion and attacks on Ukraine. The conflict in Ukraine has set off a wave of displacement internally, and into countries along Ukraine’s western borders. HIAS’ response is focused on multi-purpose cash programming, MHPSS, child protection, GBV reduction, prevention, and response, and legal protection. HIAS is working directly with local implementation partners, local NGOs and other civil society actors to support vulnerable refugees and displaced populations. As the situation is dynamic, complex and experiencing rapid changes, HIAS will continue to assess and identify new potential areas of operation and implementation partners, and will continue to develop our response strategy, programmatic interventions and positioning moving forward.

HIAS seeks an experienced MEAL Advisor, Ukraine Response. The MEAL Advisor, Ukraine Response will be responsible for developing, maintaining and improving systems to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness, strategic alignment, cost and overall impact of HIAS’ Ukraine response programming. This includes but is not limited to HIAS operations in Ukraine, Poland, Romania and Moldova, as well as coordination with HIAS Europe colleagues based in Brussels, Belgium.

This position will report to the Director, Results & Impact and will work closely with HIAS’ deployed country leads and emergency technical staff in each location involved in the response. This position will coordinate with key counterparts in the Emergency Department, regional staff, technical staff, HIAS Europe and/or other HIAS departments as necessary.

The MEAL Advisor, Ukraine Response leads the implementation of response-wide monitoring and evaluation policies, systems and information collection tools within relevant countries. They are responsible for data analysis and data collection and management support in the region, ensuring both data quality and general compliance and results reporting on programmatic performance progress against program goals and deliverables.

With support and direction from the Director, Results & Impact, the MEAL Advisor, Ukraine Response is responsible for building the capacity of country team staff within the Ukraine response and providing in-country and remote support. They work closely with the relevant country teams and the regional management team to deliver on essential duties.

This position is based in Ukraine, Poland, Romania or Moldova, with travel throughout the region as HIAS’ travel policy and security guidelines permit. Candidates must be able to work core hours on either Central European Time or Eastern European Time in order to effectively support the response.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

MONITORING, EVALUATION, ACCOUNTABILITY & LEARNING

Leads the rollout and implementation of key MEAL standards, processes and systems/tools that support our organizational planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements, with an initial focus on M&E for emergencies.
In close coordination with country leads and program staff, establishes a fit-for-purpose MEAL framework for the overall response and ensures alignment of project MEAL frameworks.
Supports Programs teams to develop and refine objectives, supporting indicator selection and measurement, as well as creating/contributing to MEAL plans/framework.
Liaises with program staff in the region to ensure quality data collection across country teams, standardizing collection methods, results and analysis, and aligning these to HIAS’ results reporting framework(s) as relevant.
Supports HIAS’ practice of accountability to affected populations and provides guidance to all locations in the region on operationalization of AAP principles; ensures that AAP data is collected routinely throughout the project cycle; actively promotes Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) standards among HIAS staff and people served.
Provides remote and on-site training for relevant office staff (including Country Directors and key staff) on best practices in data collection, program management and MEAL strategies.
Identifies and advocates for the budget/resources needed for the MEAL components of projects.
Serves as technical focal point on MEAL-related topics for representation to donors, including, but not limited to, USAID/BHA and European donors.
Travels to field offices across response countries to monitor program implementation, provide operational assistance and support compliance with program management standards.
In the event that the response becomes a protracted emergency, supports evaluation and learning activities as appropriate within the region.
Supports other M&E/MEAL functions, as delegated.

DATA MANAGEMENT & RESULTS REPORTING

Tracks, analyzes and regularly reports on program indicators, progress against targets, program successes and lessons learned.
Develops strategies for assessing the quality of collected data for the indicators, and manages tools and methods for assessing data quality for all indicators.
Conducts regular site visits, or when required, to monitor service provision and ensure data quality.
Performs basic and intermediate statistical analysis from databases and through statistical programming, including developing baseline assessments and tracking data and progress against baselines.
Develops and produces charts, graphs, infographics and other visual representations of program activities and accomplishments; aggregates reporting at the country office and regional level; supports organizational-level reporting.
At a regional level, provides technical assistance and quality assurance for donor reports and other external results reporting.
Collaborates with IT and other relevant staff to contribute to the development of data management platforms; refines database parameters to ensure platforms accurately measure program activity data.
Participates in relevant working groups and/or communities of practice that are essential to perform duties.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

Undergraduate degree in relevant field is required; graduate degree preferred.
3-5 years of experience focused on or related to M&E/MEAL; field experience and experience in complex, challenging and/or insecure environments strongly preferred.
English fluency required; Ukrainian and Russian fluency strongly preferred.
Dynamic individual with a proven ability to achieve results in a demanding, fast-paced and often insecure environment.
Ability to manage, track and report on program data; proficiency with Excel in tracking and analyzing data.
Demonstrated experience conducting rapid needs assessments and/or using assessment findings to make programmatic recommendations and inform monitoring systems.
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement capacity-building training of staff on MEAL.
Experience in both direct implementation as well as sub-partner management preferred.
Excellent writing and communication skills, including familiarity with writing funder reports, SOPs and other program management documents.
Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment and meet strict deadlines; ability to multi-task and prioritize effectively.
Excellent critical thinking skills and a proactive, creative approach to problem-solving.
Willingness to serve on temporary deployment for up to 3 months and at short notice (within 2-3 weeks).
Ability to work well with others and rapidly adapt to new countries/contexts.
Flexibility to work in challenging environments and with high workloads, potentially with limited mobility.
Ability to travel to all countries in the region as needed, security situation permitting.

HIRING PROCESS:

We are committed to a fair and respectful hiring process, and we do our absolute best to respond to every applicant. We prioritize communication and transparency with all candidates, even those who are not moving forward. Here’s a snapshot of our hiring process:

Step 1: Submit your application!

Step 2: Phone screen with a HIAS recruiter.

Step 3: Video interview with the hiring manager.

Step 4: Video interview with a panel of HIAS employees.

Step 5: Online reference check with SkillSurvey.

Step 6: Offer and background check with Shield Screening.

Step 7: Start your professional journey with HIAS!

Note: Some of our hiring processes may vary, and not all candidates will advance to each step.

ABOUT US:

Over one hundred years ago, the Jewish community founded HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) in New York City, the immigrant gateway to America. Supporting Jews fleeing persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe, our founders were guided by the traditions, texts and history of the Jewish people—a history of oppression, displacement and diaspora. HIAS has since helped generations of Jews facing violence because of who they were, and HIAS remains committed to helping Jewish refugees anywhere in the world. Today, our clients at HIAS come from diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds, as do our staff. We bring our experience, history and values to our work across five continents, ensuring that refugees today receive the vital services and opportunities they need to thrive.

HIAS is a learning community, committed to diversity and inclusion. We do our work with integrity, accountability, transparency and a commitment to the highest ethical standards. We seek employees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to join our teams located in the United States and across the globe. People who identify as BIPOC, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community and people with lived experiences of forced displacement or immigration are all encouraged to apply. We are committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects our vision, mission and values.

VISION:

HIAS stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety and opportunity.

MISSION:

Drawing on our Jewish values and history, HIAS provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives.

VALUES:

Welcome • Acogimiento • Hospitalité • Hachnasat Orchim

We Welcome the Stranger

Justice • Justicia • Justice • Tzedek

We Pursue Justice

Empathy • Empatía • Empathie • Chesed

We Approach our Clients with Empathy

Partnership • Compañerismo • Coopération • Chevruta

We Believe in Changing the World through Partnership

Courage • Coraje • Courage • Ometz

We Act with Courage to Build a Better World

Resilience • Resiliencia • Résilience • Ruach

We Adapt and Thrive, Continuously Demonstrating our Resilience

DIVERSITY:

HIAS is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, citizenship status, religious creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, pregnancy, childbirth, military status, protected veteran status, political orientation or other legally protected status.