Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning Manager

PACT Overview

Pact is an international nonprofit that works in nearly 40 countries building solutions for human development that are evidence-based, data-driven and owned by the communities we serve. Founded in 1971, Pact works with partners to build resilience, improve accountability, and strengthen knowledge and skills for sustainable social impact.

Department

Program Operations (PrOps) - Pact exists to help create a world where those who are poor and marginalized exercise their voice, build their own solutions, and take ownership of their future. The Program Operations teams contribute to realizing this by: ensuring effective project management through supporting project startups, implementation, reporting and financial management as well as closeouts; portfolio coordination: providing a coordinating role across departments in DC that support country offices and programs; working with country teams to develop, refine and pursue their strategies by leveraging technical knowledge (our own and others) and supporting business development as needed; knowledge sharing and learning: enhancing communication between country offices and DC-based teams to ensure better understanding of the diverse operating environments and program approaches.

Position Overview

Pact seeks an experienced Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Manager for an anticipated project in Zimbabwe from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The project is expected to help establish norms of participation, accountability, and respect for human rights- and contribute to effective civic action to claim and defend constitutional rights.  The MERL Manager will provide strategic guidance, vision, and management for successful monitoring and evaluation of the program. The MERL Manager oversees all MEL activities, provides technical direction and support, ensures the accurate reporting of results for program activities, and ensures the program aligns with Pact’s quality standards for MERL in close coordination with Pact’s Learning, Evidence, and Impact (LEAP) Team. This position is contingent upon award.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the design and implementation of the project’s MERL system in coordination with Pact’s LEAP Team; this will include the development of key performance indicators, targets, tools, and appropriate MERL responsibilities across the project.

• Manage baseline assessments and support the implementation of research studies with Pact’s LEAP Team.

• Coordinate any external evaluation processes, including drafting evaluation Terms of Reference and selection of consultants/firms, in alignment with the award.

• Develop and disseminate relevant M&E tools, formats and lead the provision of M&E specific technical training to the technical staff and subawards

• Supervise other M&E staff and strengthen staff capacity in qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation techniques through comprehensive staff training, mentoring, and/or coaching.

• Ensure appropriate training and supervision of all partners in monitoring and evaluation procedures, data collection tools, and data management practices in alignment with the MEL plan

• Work closely with partners to establish their internal MERL systems, M&E plans, and data quality management

• Conduct and manage Routine Data Quality Assessments (RDQA) and Data Spot Checks (DSC) ensuring implementation of corrective actions to improve data quality and accountability of staff and partners

• Responsible for calculation and reporting of Pact’s Global Indicators

• Responsible for the data analysis, writing, and review of the results and learning sections of program reports in collaboration with program staff, before submission to donors and ensuring consortium partners’ compliance with internal data quality requirements and timely submissions for reporting.

• Adhere to all of Pact's Code of Conduct policies including our Zero Tolerance Policy on Harassment, Sexual Exploitation, and Abuse in the workplace.

• Other tasks as required to achieve the Program Objectives and Expected Results.

Basic Requirements

• Master’s degree in any of the following or related fields: social science, international development, public health, evaluation, statistics, or economics

• At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in designing, managing, and implementing results-based MERL activities, with preference given to democracy and governance activities

• At least five (5) years of supervisory experience

• Demonstrated relevant technical skills in analyzing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data, and packaging the findings

• Excellent organization skills

• Fluent in English (speaking and writing)

• Experience in utilizing gender and social inclusion sensitive indicators and measures

• Extensive knowledge of reporting procedures, including FCDO requirements, best practices, guidelines, and tools for monitoring, evaluation, and learning, including impact evaluation.

• Ability to work well on a team and with various government officials, civil society leaders, community leaders, and program beneficiaries.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, i.e., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc., and the ability to use various commercially available statistical software programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fluency in one or more official languages of Zimbabwe (aside from English)
• Experience with DHIS2 platform and mobile data collection software
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with complexity-aware measurement approaches, such as Outcome Harvesting, Outcome Mapping, and Most Significant Change