MEAL Specialist, LAC At HIAS

POSITION SUMMARY:

HIAS seeks a MEAL Specialist, LAC to provide technical guidance and support to develop and improve systems to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness, strategic alignment, cost and overall impact of HIAS’ refugee assistance programs in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This region includes, but is not limited to, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Mexico, Aruba, Guyana, Honduras, and Guatemala.

The MEAL Specialist, LAC contributes to the development and implementation of organization-wide monitoring and evaluation policies, systems and tools for evidence generation in the LAC region. They will support country offices to develop learning agendas, and they are responsible for supporting country teams to improve standards, meet HIAS guidelines and push the limits of what is possible in MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning).

The MEAL Specialist, LAC supports HIAS’ central MEAL function through establishing a consistent MEAL practice across all LAC country offices and in strengthening the integration between country offices and HIAS HQ, in order to maintain program quality and implement M&E and accountability standards. With direct management and technical supervision from the Regional MEAL Advisor, LAC, the MEAL Specialist, LAC is responsible for building the capacity of country office staff and providing in-country and remote support. They work closely with the LAC country program teams, the LAC regional management team and the LAC regional technical advisors to deliver on essential duties.

Note, this position is based at our headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland or our office in New York, New York, and we will consider a remote option for applicants who live outside of commuting distance to either of our offices and are based in other states in which we are registered (Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin). This position can also be based in the LAC region in countries where HIAS has existing operations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Supports continued improvement and institutionalization of MEAL standards, processes and systems/tools that support our organizational planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements in the LAC region.
Supports Programs teams to develop and refine objectives, support indicator selection and measurement, and create/contribute to project MEAL plans/frameworks.
Liaises with program and MEAL staff in the region to ensure robust data collection across country offices, standardizing collection methods, results and analysis, and aligning these to HIAS’ results reporting framework(s).
Supports HIAS’ practice of accountability to affected populations (AAP) and provides guidance to all locations in the region on operationalization of AAP principles.
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.
Helps country office teams to plan for MEAL activities, such as data collection, focus groups, statistical methodology, data analysis, data visualization, etc.; provides technical guidance and support to the regional MEAL Community of Practice.
Conducts in-person travel to country/field offices across LAC region to monitor program implementation, provide operational assistance and support compliance with program management standards.
Supports evaluation activities in assisting with scope definition, contributing to evaluation management and implementation, and supporting follow-up for implementation of recommendations.
In coordination with the Regional MEAL Advisor, LAC, supports the implementation of organizational research and learning priorities in the LAC region.
Supports other M&E/MEAL functions, as delegated.
Performs basic and intermediate quantitative and qualitative analysis, including descriptive statistics and thematic analysis, in order to track progress against indicators and program results at a regional level.
Guides country office counterparts to develop and produce charts, graphs, infographics and other visualizations for program activities and accomplishments; synthesizes and/or produces reporting at a regional level, as appropriate.
Supports country offices, in conjunction with the CMS team, to implement and get the most out of HIAS’s new information management system.
Develops learning agendas with country offices to promote learning activities, including in-house qualitative and quantitative research.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

Undergraduate degree in relevant field is required; graduate degree or equivalent professional experience desired. Applicants without a graduate degree should demonstrate strong work experience with tools, processes and methods related to M&E for humanitarian and development projects.
3-5 years of work experience and experience in M&E/MEAL.
English and Spanish fluency (written and oral) are both required.
Experience working with humanitarian agencies working with displaced people preferred.
Strong background in humanitarian work and/or refugee issues is preferred.
Experience collecting data (quantitative and qualitative) in developing countries; experience managing survey/data collection teams preferred.
Ability to manage, track and report on program data; proficiency with Excel (and/or other relevant software) in tracking and analyzing data.
Experience in use of data management systems and/or statistical software packages (eg, Stata, R, Power BI, Tableau) strongly preferred.
Experience conducting primary research in developing countries 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.
Ability to travel to all countries in the LAC region, as needed, up to 30%.

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 or ESR.

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.

SAFEGUARDING:

HIAS is committed to the protection of children, vulnerable adults and any other person from any harm caused directly or indirectly due to their coming into contact with HIAS. We will not tolerate sexual exploitation, abuse or any form of child abuse or neglect by our staff or associated personnel. Any candidate offered a job with HIAS will be expected to sign and adhere to HIAS’ Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records. HIAS also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. Likewise, HIAS will share this information when other organizations inquire about current and former HIAS staff as part of their recruitment process. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.