Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research Advisor II

Overview of the Company

Social Solutions International, Inc. (Social Solutions) is a Hispanic and woman-owned business emphasizing quality research and evaluation, training and technical assistance, and institutional support services. We are a mission-driven organization that believes that superior science can improve the world. Social Solutions is dedicated to the creation of social and health solutions to improve the welfare of underserved populations worldwide.

Overview of the Position

This position is located in the Front Office of the Innovation, Technology and Research (ITR) Hub, in USAID’s Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI).  The ITR Hub leads USAID in experimentation and innovation to transform development. The ITR Hub takes smart risks to test new ideas and partners with others to scale impact, and transform how we save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people progress beyond assistance. Working collaboratively with the Agency and external partners, ITR's mission is two-fold:

• To produce breakthrough development innovations by sourcing, testing, and scaling proven solutions that impact millions of people; and
• To transform development by opening it to people everywhere with good ideas, promoting new and deepening existing partnerships, bringing data and evidence to bear, and harnessing scientific and technological advances.

The ITR Front Office coordinates and manages programs and operations across the three Divisions of the Hub.

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research Advisor will support Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) efforts both within the ITR Divisions, across the Hub, and across the Agency by providing technical MERL advice and guidance to Division and Mission staff to improve program strategy, design, implementation, and performance management, learning and adaptation, and accountability of programs. The Advisor will play a lead role in the design and implementation of a comprehensive monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan for the assigned portfolio. The incumbent may provide targeted, technical evaluation and learning support both to technical teams and/or on specific programs. The incumbent will work with the ITR Front Office, DDI Program Office, and ITR leadership and teams to establish and implement effective MERL systems and processes for the Hub to improve the use of quality data for informed decision making.

Place of Performance:

Washington, DC -  Ronald Reagan Building (RRB).  This position is telework and remote work eligible.

Travel - Limited International and Domestic Travel

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research Advisor II (Senior MER Advisor) will provide technical MEL advice and guidance to Division Leadership and Mission staff to improve program strategy, design, implementation, and performance management, learning and adaptation, and accountability. The Senior Advisor will play a lead role in the development, maintenance, and vetting of an overall collaborating, learning, and adapting model for the Hub.
2. Ensure the ITR Hub meets Agency and Bureau MERL requirements, including regular performance reporting and systems, such as the Performance Plan and Report, Annual Performance Plan (APP and JSP reporting), Public Private Partnership module, Evaluation Registry, and Bureau MEL Plans, among others.   Coordinate taskers and processes between the DDI Program Office and ITR Divisions/teams.
3. Effectively coordinate MERL activities across the ITR Hub, and facilitate strategic engagement in Agency- and Bureau-wide MERL processes.  This could include leading regular ITR MEL POC meetings, participating in Agency- and Bureau-wide MEL meetings, and serving as a representative of the ITR Hub.
4. Provide expert technical guidance and assistance to ITR teams on MERL activities.  Act as lead MEL Advisor to teams, ensuring monitoring and evaluation efforts are rigorous and meet Agency standards and requirements.  Provide support to teams to identify priority evaluation and research questions.  Conduct peer review of draft evaluation products to ensure quality, rigor, and compliance to ADS 201. Work with teams to ensure team results frameworks and program/activity MEL plans feed into performance reporting, team learning, and programmatic adaptation.
5. Work with ITR divisions/teams to build MERL processes and management information systems, including working with teams to integrate results frameworks, indicators, and data into the Agency’s new performance information system.  Engage ITR teams and Agency stakeholders to help build systems that meet the program management needs of the ITR Hub.
6. Build capacity of ITR MEL POCs to effectively collect and use data to improve programming.  Onboard new MEL staff to ITR and DDI processes.  Provide guidance, tools and resources in MERL.  Collaborate with technical and program staff to identify challenges or gaps, and create or improve policies and procedures.  Conduct trainings or coaching with ITR and other USAID staff to improve the quality and rigor of MERL work.
7. Facilitate ITR leadership and staff in using and sharing learnings to improve strategic planning, project design, and implementation.  Design and lead efforts such as portfolio reviews, learning agendas, or other learning efforts/events to drive strategic adaptation and learning.
8. Serve as a technical expert on ITR panels or programs.  Conduct original research to contribute to the field of data for development.
9. Other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

1. Master’s degree with 10-15 years of professional experience, including in rigorous qualitative and quantitative evaluation approaches and methods or other technical training in evaluation and research methods; or PhD in relevant field with 7+ years of relevant professional experience.
2. Demonstrated relevant professional experience, including experience with MERL of foreign assistance programming, preferably with USAID and/or other federal agencies or development organizations.
3. Experience designing and implementing research and program evaluations for foreign assistance programs (including rigorous impact evaluations and other non-experimental, performance, or mixed-method evaluation designs).
4. Experience developing strategic monitoring, evaluation, research, and/or learning systems with teams.
5. Demonstrated flexibility and capacity to operate within, and adapt to, environments of uncertainty; understanding of developing country contexts preferred.
6. Track record of solving problems by identifying areas for improvement, iterating, and delivering results.
7. Excellent facilitation and coaching skills.  The MER Advisor will need to facilitate conversations between multiple stakeholders, and will be expected to provide coaching and technical assistance to a diversity of teams.
8. Track record of building trusted relationships with colleagues and partners.
9. Must be able to obtain a Secret clearance level.

Equal Employer

Social Solutions offers competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits. Please submit your resume online at www.socialsolutions.biz.

Social Solutions is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.