Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability And Learning (Meal) Director, Pakistan At CARE USA

CARE seeks a MEAL Director for the anticipated USAID-funded Foundational Learning Activity in Pakistan. The purpose of the Foundational Learning Activity is to enhance student learning outcomes in reading and math and to prevent school dropout by enabling teachers, head teachers, and local education administrators to improve the quality of education.

The MEAL Director will be responsible for setting up, maintaining, implementing, and overseeing all project MEAL staff and systems. The Director will report to the Chief of Party (COP) and will design the MEAL framework, manage the MEAL team, and oversee required reporting. The MEAL function will systematically generate, analyze, disseminate, and apply project data for learning and adaptive management.

This activity is expected to be a five-year program in the $10-$24.99 million range.

This is a Key Personnel position, subject to USAID approval. It is also subject to project award and funding. National candidates are encouraged to apply. This position will be based in Islamabad.

Responsibilities:

• Develop the overall framework for project MEAL systems, including requirements, reporting, baseline, and evaluation surveys. Develop and monitor the project Performance Management Plan (PMP) to systematically document outcomes for project technical leads and leadership team.
• Ensure alignment of MEAL activities with program goals and contribute to the development of annual work plans to identify project targets and ensure inclusion of M&E and Learning activities.
• Monitor project activities and track these activities against the results framework.
• Conduct field visits for data collection, validation, and to monitor data quality. Ensure timely compilation and reporting of data. Capture and document lessons learned, and champion scaling up of best practices.
• Generate monthly indicator reports and track progress against key indicators.
• Ensure timely and accurate submission of project plans and reports to donors, including progress against targets set in the award, annual work plans, and quarterly, and annual reports.
• Provide technical leadership, capacity building and support to project and partner staff in planning and implementing MEAL systems and activities, data-based program decision-making, and results reporting.
• Recruit, supervise and train MEAL staff.
• Support the Chief of Party to coordinate mid-term and final project evaluations.
• Ensure utilization of global best practices of USAID guidelines regarding Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA).
• Design and implement internal and external knowledge exchange and learning events to improve peer-to-peer learning, knowledge sharing and application.
• Develop strategic relationships with relevant stakeholders to promote effective coordination, collaboration, and dissemination of program learning.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in statistics, data management, public health, international development, economic development or other relevant is required.
• 8-10 years of relevant senior experience in international development as MEAL director, program director or in a senior management role on large humanitarian or development projects.
• Proven experience in quantitative and qualitative research methods, survey design and implementation, and statistical data analysis.
• Demonstrated MEAL experience in the project technical area: maternal child health/nutrition; market systems.
• Strong experience and knowledge of USAID M&E guidelines, systems, and reporting requirements including Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) principles, approaches, and their application to project learning and adaptation.
• Strong data visualization and report writing skills, and ability to translate technical information for non-technical audiences.
• Experience of working in Pakistan preferred.
• Experience recruiting, developing, and managing staff and teams.
• Demonstrated skills building and maintaining relationships with project stakeholders, local partners, and local organizations.
• Fluency in English required (spoken and written).
• Strong oral and written communication skills; excellent demonstrated inter-cultural, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to PSHEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Harassment, and Abuse).
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of Diversity, Equity, Belonging and Inclusion (DEBI).
• Ability to travel within Pakistan as required and as security conditions allow.