The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Advisor (Advisor) provides direction and oversight over MEL processes and systems implemented in IFES programming. As a senior member of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning & Survey Research (MEASURE) team, the Advisor reports to the IFES Senior Global Advisor for Strategy and Learning. The Advisor manages MEASURE staff in implementing MEL practices, and engages with internal program teams and senior leadership, as well as external partners to ensure that IFES MEL practices and systems emulate best practices in the DRG sector, and provides IFES with data and information to guide the development and implementation of its global programming portfolio. The Advisor has overall responsibility for working closely with IFES program leadership to determine strategies and approaches for MEL and opinion research implementation in IFES programs, and for directing MEASURE staff in the operationalization of these strategies.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee the MEASURE team in design and implementation of overall policy and strategic initiatives to deepen MEL practices to further IFES standing as a learning organization, including:
  • Ensure implementation of comprehensive program monitoring approaches that establish robust systems and tools to monitor program outcomes, and support IFES program managers in practicing adaptive management of programs; provide direct support to select IFES programs as necessary for MEL implementations and testing of approaches
  • Liaise with donors to understand and respond to donor requirements for effective MEL during program implementation, and guide MEASURE and program staff on these requirements
  • Development and implementation of tools and systems for aggregate MEL data reporting at the regional and organizational levels to inform executive and senior staff discussions on IFES programmatic progress
  • Oversee provision of MEL data, as necessary, to inform development and implementation of the IFES Strategic Plan
  • Provide input into IFES implementation of the organization's Learning Agenda including use of MEL and learning data to address key learning questions in the agenda
  • Lead and oversee capacity-building for IFES and partner staff on MEL approaches and practices
  • Design and implement collaborating, learning and adapting (CLA) tools and approaches at programmatic, service line, and organizational levels that provide actionable data for senior and mid-level managers
  • Lead lessons learned initiatives that inform effective program design and implementation at program and service line level based on learnings developed through MEL and CLA implementation in IFES programs
  • Support IFES initiatives related to IFES Learning Agenda and work with Learning Agenda leads, as needed, to distill and disseminate key learnings internally
  • Support or lead program evaluations, as needed, to assist program teams in identifying and addressing specific challenges and opportunities that impact delivery of program objectives and outcomes
  • Present IFES MEL approaches and practices in industry settings, as well as liaising with others in industry to position IFES as a MEL practice leader

• Serve as primary liaison between IFES and the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) to ensure effective IFES engagement in CEPPS-level MEL initiatives, as well as IFES implementation of accepted CEPPS MEL practices in its programs
  • Engage systematically with CEPPS Research, Evaluation, and Learning (REL) leadership to provide IFES viewpoints on development and implementation of CEPPS policies and practice issues related to MEL
  • Engage with IFES CEPPS representatives to ensure that agreed-upon CEPPS policies are sensitized to IFES program staff; liaise with IFES regional teams as necessary for sensitization and outreach on CEPPS MEL issues
  • Task MEASURE staff to take part in CEPPS working groups focused on MEL issues including CLA, inclusion in MEL processes, the Democratic Elections and Political Processes (DEPP) mechanism's Learning Agenda, and related issues
  • Ensure that required deliverables from IFES MEL implementation in CEPPS projects are provided to CEPPS for consortium level data management and learning practices
  • Participation in CEPPS-sponsored learning and MEL forums to represent IFES points of view and MEL accomplishments

• Manage MEASURE team and provide inputs into IFES decision-making on key issues impacting the organization
  • Overall management of the MEASURE team, including its work product, performance appraisals, and related staff/personnel issues
  • Participation in IFES Senior Leadership discussions on policies, practices, and strategies that guide the organization, including participation in leadership team discussions for the IFES Center for Applied Research
  • Systematic Engagement with Senior Leadership of IFES regional program teams to discuss programmatic progress and learning, and represent MEASURE in discussions on key program implementation issues

• Qualifications:

  • PhD with more than 6 years of experience or a Masters degree with more than 10 years of experience in managing and implementing MEL during program implementation; experience in DRG sector is a plus
  • Experience with management of MEL staff
  • Quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills
  • Proficiency in data analysis software.
  • Experience with research in elections management field a plus.
  • Foreign Language skills a plus.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft 360 tools and environment

  Successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following attributes:

  • Skilled communicator, both verbally and in writing.
  • Exacting attention to detail and highly organized.
  • Collaborative, team oriented individual.
  • Strong supervisory skills and abilities.
  • Ability to give general direction to staff, prioritize, and handle multiple tasks under tight deadlines