Advisor, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL)–Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health–CONNECT At Remove term: Save the Children

Summary

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Advisor will oversee a learning agenda for a family planning project focused on young first-time parents, driving qualitative and quantitative research components. You will lead two rounds of a qualitative evaluation that uses realist evaluation approaches; work with country teams to implement project monitoring systems; document and apply implementation learning for program improvements; liaise with the external research partner in support of an impact evaluation; and contribute to knowledge documentation and sharing.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

Project Monitoring and Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation (40%)

• Liaise with headquarters and country office teams to develop, implement, and revise monitoring and evaluation plans, including key indicators to be reported to the donor.
• Create and adapt high-quality data collection tools including monitoring tools and databases, facility assessment and supervision tools, and training materials.
• Develop methods, tools, and processes to capture ongoing implementation learning, including how program strategies are being implemented and adapted.
• Support the headquarters and country office teams to apply program results and lessons learned to refine activities and implementation.

Research and Evaluation (40%)

• Lead all aspects of a qualitative evaluation drawing from realist evaluation principles in two countries, including the development of research protocols, data collection instruments, study operation procedures, analytic plans, training materials and IRB submissions.
• Contribute to program evaluation and formative research studies, including contributing to the development of tools and protocols and/or managing external consultants/partners.
• Provide support to quantitative research and evaluation studies led by external partners.
• Provide leadership on interpreting and combining quantitative and qualitative evaluation findings in order to form a cohesive and coherent understanding of program progress, learning, and impact.

Technical Thought Leadership and Program Learning and Documentation (20%)

• Lead and collaborate with project staff to translate project learning and results into accessible technical products, conference presentations, and/or peer-reviewed journal articles for global and country stakeholders.
• Lead data visualization efforts.
• Lead or contribute to regular donor reporting, including preparing presentations or other deliverables to the donor.
• Conceptualize, convene, and present in technical consultations, webinars, and other engagements internally and externally.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience, plus at least 7 years of relevant experience
• Demonstrated experience with design, implementation, and monitoring of adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH), family planning (FP), and/or maternal and newborn health (MNH) programs in low- and middle-income countries
• Proven experience in qualitative research, including study and tool design, overseeing data collection, coding, analysis, and interpretation, including demonstrated experience with leading at least one qualitative evaluation using realist evaluation approaches
• Proven experience designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, including routine data collection, DHIS2, and data quality assurance related to ASRH, FP, and/or MNH
• Demonstrated experience with gathering ongoing implementation learning and applying evidence and learning to rapidly adapt programming, such as through collaborating, learning, and adapting approaches
• Demonstrated experience working with research partners, including universities and local research partners, to implement mixed methods evaluations
• Proven professional proficiency in MS Office Suite and at least one qualitative data analysis software (e.g., Atlas.ti, NVivo)
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English
• Demonstrated experience with developing technical products (briefs, reports and manuscripts)
• Proven successful experience supporting projects funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, and/or other relevant ASRH, FP, and MNH donors
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with individuals at all levels
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally up to 20%

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in planning and implementing quantitative evaluations through surveys
• Experience with data visualization, costing studies and cost analysis

Why you should join the Save the Children Team…

Save the Children US offers outstanding benefits that include health, dental, vision and life insurances, pet insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program, 403(b), generous vacation, personal sick leave, family leave, parental/adoption leave, commuter benefits, dress for your day, and much more.

Click here https://www.savethechildren.org/us/about-us/careers to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in YOU!

About Save the Children

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Our work for children and their families requires that we commit—at every opportunity—to work together to identify and dismantle persistent systemic and structural racism, inequality, and any other forms of discrimination in this country and beyond. As an anti-racist organization, Save the Children will not tolerate discrimination in any form—in our employment practices, amongst our staff, in our leadership or toward the people we serve. We stand in solidarity with all people to fight for equal rights, justice, inclusion, and belonging.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children’s policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at the risk of any kind of child abuse. All our representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.