Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist

Position Description

EnCompass LLC is seeking an experienced Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist to lead MEL services for a variety of clients in the international development space. The Senior MEL Specialist will be responsible for leading technical teams consisting of EnCompass staff and consultants, and will be accountable for technical quality, effective client relations, contract compliance, and budget. We are looking for someone with expert technical and management skills, deep experience in the international development MEL space, the ability to foster an atmosphere of teamwork, productivity, fairness, equity, and innovation, and support for diversity in working with team members, clients, and stakeholders.

The position is based at the EnCompass Headquarters offices in Rockville, MD, with possibility for part time remote work. Due to COVID-19, the position will be fully remote through June 2021.

Position Duties And Responsibilities

Essential functions:

Technical

• Lead design and implementation of large/complex MEL contracts or project task orders
  • Oversee technical designs of MEL activities
  • Develop or review drafts of data collection strategies/instruments, consent forms, analysis strategies, and reports
  • Ensure technical work is continuously positioned for use by the client and other key audiences
  • Provide leadership to data collection teams, including training data collectors, managing issues that arise during the data collection phase, directly leading data collection as needed, and facilitating workshops using appreciative inquiry and adult learning good practice in line with participatory approaches to MEL
  • Provide technical guidance and quality assurance on deliverables
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to EnCompass MEL technical specialists in leading and managing smaller/less complex MEL contract
• Support integration of collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) principles across all aspects of technical MEL work
• Develop and deepen innovative approaches to evaluation and participate actively in the broader MEL community

Management

• Serve as Project Technical Lead for larger/complex projects
  • Serve as Point of Contact for client and manage all client and partner relations
  • Manage EnCompass staff and consultants, including delegating tasks, ensuring timely and quality production, and generating solutions for issues that arise
  • Oversee budget, ensuring profitability on all contracts under purview. Review monthly projections and budget updates with Project Management team.
  • Review and approve internal and external project workplans, and ensure appropriate delegation to staff and consultants
  • Review and approve project deliverables
  • Review and approve recruitment of project staff and consultants
  • Report progress and challenges to TA&Eval and EnCompass leadership
• Supervise and mentor staff on the EnCompass MEL team
• Contribute to deepening synergies across all teams and practices at EnCompass

New Business

• Lead technical proposals on small to medium size proposals. May also serve as technical lead on large/complex MEL proposals. Leadership includes overseeing the development of the technical approach, management approach, and budget, as well as managing partner relations during the bidding process.
• Contribute to company business development through networking in professional circles
• Participate in new business generation discussions with potential partners and EnCompass staff
• Recruit, hire, and manage consultants for proposals and contribute to expansion of the Global Consultant Network

General

• Engage fully as a member of the EnCompass staff team, including participating in staff meetings and other EnCompass events
• Other duties as assigned

Position Requirements

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Master’s degree and 8 years of experience
• Degree in Social Sciences, International Development, Education, Public Health or a related field

Experience and Skills

• Minimum of six years of direct MEL experience with demonstrated progression in taking on leadership roles
• Demonstrated technical expertise in MEL approaches and implementation good practice
• Demonstrated experience leading complex efforts of international development programs, including developing MEL technical designs and data collection tools, managing large/complex data collection efforts, leading analysis, and preparing high quality reports
• Sector experience in health, education, or democracy and governance a plus
• Experience with contract and budget management and oversight
• Direct client engagement experience
• Demonstrated understanding of international development processes, actors, and cultures
• Strong qualitative research skills, including sample design, instrument development, data analysis (using software), and reporting on qualitative evidence. Quantitative skills a plus and should include good command of statistics, sampling methodologies, and statistical analysis software such as SPSS, STATA, Epi Info
• Ability to think strategically and integrate diverse information from varied sources
• Strong technical expertise within one or more social development sectors, such as education, democracy and governance, public health, gender, etc.
• Experience in designing and facilitating interactive meetings and workshops
• Fluency in languages other than English highly desirable
• Experience in applying appreciative inquiry and participatory approaches and ability to model that approach for others highly desirable
• Experience implementing USAID monitoring, evaluation, and learning initiatives required. Familiarity with USAID policy and guidance with respect to monitoring and evaluation required
• Direct experience engaging with USAID missions with respect to monitoring, evaluation, and learning strongly desired

Management

• Strong planning, organization, and strategic thinking skills
• Demonstrated experience managing and supervising consultants, staff, and teams
• Proven ability to cultivate team work and empower colleagues at all levels of a team
• Capability to identify, develop, and maintain a strong network of consultants
• Ability to be flexible in adjusting to client needs and project requirements

General

• Strong technical and general writing skills
• Flexibility and ability to travel internationally or domestically for varying lengths of time
• Proven track record of successful teamwork, good presentation/facilitation skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills required
• Ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues
• Ability to manage multiple contracts simultaneously and deliver quality, expected results on time
• Skilled in word processing, database management, spreadsheets (Excel), and web-based programs
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact with individuals at all levels
• Ability to work in an appreciate and strengths-based environment and coach others in using appreciative approaches

EnCompass LLC is a progressive Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote, celebrate, and support a diverse and inclusive organizational culture and workforce. We are committed to providing all of our employees with an environment free from discrimination and harassment, where all are treated with dignity and respect. We do not tolerate, and explicitly prohibit, discrimination or harassment of any kind, at any time, in all aspects of employment. This includes recruitment, hiring, promotions, disciplinary measures, terminations, compensation, benefits, social and recreational programs, and training. EnCompass also does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who report discrimination or harassment. Our continuing commitment to the principle of Equal Opportunity Employment for all means all employment decisions are based only on the job requirements, the candidate’s qualifications, and the needs of EnCompass as a business—not on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, belief, sex (including pregnancy and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, HIV status, family/marital/parental status, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where we work.

The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.

The incumbent must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle and prioritize multiple, competing tasks and demands and to seek supervisory assistance as appropriate.