This position will lead the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) component of the C4D Project. This area is responsible for monitoring activities and measuring progress during project implementation, according to the Work Plan, indicators and their corresponding goals, objectives, changes, effects, and expected impact. M&E guides and ensures compliance with quality standards during the processes of capture, processing, analysis, and reporting, contributing useful and timely information for strategic decision-making of the project.

The M&E Director will lead the collection, processing, verification, and reporting of information on the implementation of project activities, integrating Partners’ best M&E practices. This professional will lead the processes of data collection and processing, internal and external reporting, monitoring of activities and indicators, and evaluation of activities and impact during the life of the project. This position reports directly to the Chief of Party and will work closely with the Technical Directors of the project. The M&E Director will be based in Bogotá, Colombia.

The M&E Director will have the following main objectives:

1. Ensure compliance with quality standards in accordance with USDA’s M&E guidelines during the processes of capture, processing, analysis, and reporting.
2. Ensure the timely delivery of the information requested by key partners and stakeholders, in accordance with Partners’ Data Processing Policy.
3. Facilitate strategic support for the appropriate results-based management through Smartsheet, KoboToolbox, and Power BI platforms.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Direct and provide the day-to-day management of the M&E activities for the project and its partners.
• Proactively participate in project evaluations, including the mid-term and final evaluation, collaborating, and coordinating closely with USDA and the external consultant.
• Contribute to the elaboration of Requests for Proposals for relevant consultancies assessing project progress, such as annual, intermediate, final, and others as required.
• Monitor and update project indicators and their progress toward established goals in coordination with the C4D technical team.
• Develop and ensure adequate performance of M&E platforms, data integrity, and accuracy in project-relevant reporting.
• Manage the renewal of the licenses of the required software tools.
• Supervise, with the support of the M&E team, the activities implemented by partners and contractors ensuring compliance with the established monitoring requirements.
• Lead the development, update, and implementation of the project’s M&E Plan, including the approach to collecting, evaluating, and validating data to measure overall progress toward project outcomes and objectives.
• Support the development of project progress reports, annual work plans, and other documents as required by USDA, by providing accurate and reliable data.
• Collaborate and regularly meet with the project’s technical team to update the Work Plan and activities accordingly.
• Stay up to date on USDA Colombia and USDA Washington M&E guidance and opportunities, including but not limited to revised standard indicators and opportunities to give feedback or highlight project achievements.
• Build the capacity of the C4D team and partners to reinforce the rules and guidelines of M&E according to the parameters established for the project and required by USDA.
• Regularly improve project M&E systems and empower local staff, stakeholders, and partners to use quality data to drive meaningful changes related to project interventions.
• Work closely with project staff and partners to develop mechanisms for the C4D Work Plan to actively incorporate lessons and modify approaches in implementation as needed.
• Create, organize, and submit M&E deliverables as required by USDA.
• Develop learning, knowledge, and results management materials for internal and external audiences.
• Design and monitor the proper and responsive management of data collection instruments (e.g. surveys, focus groups, evaluations) with project beneficiaries and target populations.
• Coordinate closely with POA communications team members and partners in the preparation and delivery of inputs for the development of C4D project success stories to ensure project achievements are widely shared and reported to USDA and key stakeholders.
• Work closely with all project units, technical teams at POA, and partners to ensure that M&E is aligned with the project.
• Lead and supervise the M&E team, providing necessary support to achieve on-time deliveries of reports to the C4D project management team, to partners, and to the donor.
• Oversee statistical work related to data collection and reporting.
• Design and maintain project dashboards updated for timely and relevant decision-making.
• Use relevant secondary research for M&E purposes, including context and a better understanding of project performance.
• Support the development and implementation of partners’ organizational development and monitor the progress of project activities to strengthen their capacity.
• Other relevant tasks that are assigned by the Chief of Party.

Team Management

• Develop team capacity, deepen understanding of their roles and responsibilities, and assist in career development.
• Assist team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance and achieve goals.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback formally and informally with regular one-on-one meetings and performance reviews.
• Create and maintain a mutually respectful work environment where team members strive for excellence. Hire, mentor, and direct team members as needed.
• Proactively ensure that team members participate in the activities and attend to the responsibilities of the OHS-OHS (Occupational Health and Safety Management System).

Qualifications and Minimum Requirements

• Minimum of eight (8) years of professional experience in management and leadership positions, or equivalent, executing monitoring and evaluation activities for international development projects, specifically projects focused on the agricultural sector in Colombia.
• Professional with an advanced degree (preferably a master’s degree) in statistics, demography, public policy, international development, economics, or related field.
• Experience in the design, implementation, and operation of monitoring and evaluation systems from project inception to the closeout stages.
• Desirable familiarity with indicators from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food For Progress Program or other U.S. Government-funded programs.
• Experience working with Colombian producer associations, trade unions, or other civil society organizations.
• Experience in strategic planning and performance measurement, including indicator selection, goal setting, reporting, database management, and development of monitoring and evaluation plans and implementation of monitoring plans.
• Knowledge of main evaluation methodologies (qualitative, quantitative, mixed method, and impact) and data collection and analysis of the methodologies.
• Experience in planning and managing surveys and developing and refining data collection tools.
• Desirable understanding of the main problems of agricultural value chains, including market access, collection and processing of products, and provision of inputs and services to producers.
• Advanced proficiency in English, native in Spanish; written and oral communication.
• Desirable knowledge of project management tools such as Smartsheet and other applications for data management such as KoboToolbox and Power BI.