MEAL Consultant

POSITION SUMMARY:

HIAS seeks a MEAL Consultant (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) to provide remote technical guidance and support to HIAS Venezuela’s current MEAL practice and systems for a project implementing mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and water, sanitation and health (WASH) activities.

The MEAL Consultant will have two main work streams:

1. Provide technical guidance, support and quality review of all MEAL components of project deliverables at a specialist level, including the baseline study and associated report(s), project progress reports, post-distribution monitoring, endline study and associated reports(s) and end-of-project reporting.

2. Support the national MEAL Coordinator in establishing and adapting MEAL systems and practices to meet all project and funder requirements, including developing and delivering targeted trainings for relevant MEAL staff on project-specific MEAL technical topics.

The MEAL consultant will provide advanced technical support to the HIAS Venezuela MEAL Coordinator in order to ensure that HIAS Venezuela is aligned to organization-wide monitoring and evaluation standards and systems that will serve as the foundation for the successful completion of all MEAL requirements for the project. They support the HIAS Venezuela MEAL Coordinator in establishing and refining MEAL routines, analysis and reporting processes flow across all project locations, including ensuring adherence to all data ethics, data protection and data quality standards for MEAL data. They provide technical support and quality oversight to the results reporting and MEAL components of funder deliverables for HIAS Venezuela during the consultancy period. In partnership with the national MEAL Coordinator, they will guarantee that the staff capacity gained in measuring program performance and deliverables is sustained during the project period and thereafter.

This position may be performed remotely in alignment with the working hours of HIAS HQ and HIAS Venezuela. This position works closely with the national MEAL Coordinator (HIAS Venezuela) and reports to the Regional MEAL Officer, LAC with overall oversight provided by the Director, Results & Impact.

OBJECTIVES & DELIVERABLES:

• In coordination with MEAL Coordinator, supports the continued improvement of key MEAL standards, processes and systems/tools for HIAS Venezuela, focusing on those standards and systems required to directly support project deliverables and funder standards.

• MEAL System: Based on the needs observed and in alignment with organizational standards, provides technical support to MEAL Coordinator in refining a national-level MEAL system and processes that meet funder requirements and incorporate organizational accountability and learning (coordinated with global and regional focal points).

• SOP Development: Provides technical assistance and support to the MEAL Coordinator in developing SOPs for data collection, analysis and reporting for the project.

• Knowledge Transference: Provides support to MEAL Coordinator in training all program staff members on the project MEAL system, as appropriate.

• Capacity Building: Supports the MEAL Coordinator in providing capacity building for all staff on the monitoring and evaluation system and processes throughout the program cycle. This aspect requires a full understanding of all funder and grant MEAL requirements, the operating context, challenges and barriers, as well as a full understanding of how MEAL is integrated into the program cycle.

• Quality Assurance: Provides quality assurance for technical aspects of all external (HQ and funder-facing) deliverables with a MEAL component, including reach tracking and program results reporting; supports MEAL Coordinator in continual improvement processes to ensure high-quality deliverables.

• Regional & Global Alignment: Supports MEAL Coordinator in ensuring national processes, systems, tools and deliverables are aligned with regional and global MEAL standards.

• Evaluation & Assessment: Provides technical assistance to assessment and evaluation activities, including TOR development, evaluator recruitment and in-country oversight of external evaluation timelines and deliverables.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Undergraduate degree in relevant field required.

• 3-5 years of work experience and experience in MEAL required.

• English and Spanish fluency required.

• Familiarity with Venezuela context and/or LAC regional context and dynamics preferred.

• Background in (or at minimum, exposure to) humanitarian or refugee issues strongly preferred.

• Ability to manage, track and report on program data; proficiency with Excel in tracking and analyzing data required.

• Excellent writing and communication skills, including demonstrated experience with writing high-quality funder reports, SOPs and other program management documents required.

• Experience with training and capacity-building for colleagues on MEAL systems and topics required.

• Experience in use of data management systems, statistical software and/or data visualization platforms preferred.

• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment and meet strict deadlines.

• Excellent critical thinking skills; ability to multi-task.

SAMPLE 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 for consultancies:

Step 1: Submit your application!

Step 2: Video interview with the hiring manager.

Step 3: Offer, consultancy agreement and background check.

Step 4: 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.