Job Description

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Director

Location: Kampala, Uganda

Position Category: Local hire, paid in country

Posting Date: 05/03/2024

Deadline Date: 05/24/2024

Description

Background
World Education, a division of JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI/WE) is dedicated to improving people’s lives around the world through greater heath, education and socioeconomic equity for individuals and communities, and to providing an environment where people of passion can pursue this cause.

JSI/WE is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Director for the anticipated USAID’s Targeting the Learning Crisis Activity in Uganda, which aims to create sustained, measurable improvements in development outcomes in Basic Education through Targeted Instruction for foundational skills, a learner-centric pedagogy that reorganizes math and reading instruction based on children’s actual learning levels, rather than on the prescribed grade-level syllabus. The Activity seeks to implement cost-effective, sustainable, and impactful programming, centered around Targeted Instruction pedagogy for P3-P5, Targeted Instruction and other evidence-based approaches for P1-P2, and evidence-based early childhood education for pre-primary years, in order to significantly improve math and reading learning outcomes for Ugandan primary students. Expatriates and Third Country Nationals will be considered.

Job Summary
The Monitoring Evaluation & Learning Director's primary responsibilities are to provide oversight for program planning, evaluation, knowledge management and monitoring, and operation of the project monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system at the national, sub-regional, and district levels. The MEL Director tracks activity progress toward achieving targets and results and ensures that performance monitoring, action research, and evaluations are consistent with program results. They manage and coordinate field-based monitoring and evaluation managers, sub-recipient monitoring and evaluation staff, and any other staff responsible for performance monitoring, oversight, and data collection and reporting. Finally, s/he will ensure access, retention, reading and learning outcomes, school safety, community engagement, gender, and disability-inclusion measures are being consistently and systematically tracked and reported.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Design and implement an advanced data management system, performance monitoring and management plans, and data collection tools and protocols in collaboration with technical teams;
  • Lead the development of M&E components of annual plans and budgets for relevant activities, and monitor work plans to ensure timely delivery of USAID M&E-related deliverables;
  • Ensure regular reporting of M&E activities to all relevant stakeholders (including the Ugandan Ministry of Education and Sports) and contribute to quarterly, annual, and project reporting for USAID;
  • Collaborate with the technical team to monitor program progress in terms of USAID compliance requirements of results and indicators;
  • Work closely with technical staff and with institutional partners to explain M&E processes and to understand how those processes relate to the technical work of the project, and provide M&E related training as needed;
  • Supervise and build capacity of regional-level M&E project staff to carry out activities;
  • Manage M&E informational resources and ensure M&E information and resources are current, available for staff, and widely disseminated;
  • Oversee ongoing quantitative/qualitative data analysis at different points in the program leading to specific program/contract deliverables;
  • Oversee technical assistance and training to regional- and district-level stakeholders to support increased use of education data for decision-making;
  • Oversee the coordination of policy research studies;
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Education, ICT Management, statistics, or related field required. Master’s degree or equivalent preferred;
  • At least 8 years of experience specifically developing and managing M&E of early grade reading and math programs to improve learning outcomes and attain program objectives;
  • Must have demonstrated experience developing, assessing and evaluating baseline studies, education-related management information systems, logical frameworks, performance monitoring plans, and performance and impact evaluations related to improvement of reading and math at the primary grade level;
  • Must be familiar developing and conducting project baseline, midline, and endline assessments and classroom-level assessments (including EGRA and EGMA);
  • Must have knowledge of a range of approaches to performance monitoring, impact evaluation, and research in areas including design, instrument development, sampling design, data collection, data analysis, and dissemination;
  • Ability to utilize a wide range of software applications, including database applications;
  • Significant expertise in providing technical assistance to project/host country government staff working on MEL activities;
  • Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills. Effective oral and written communication skills including demonstrated ability to make formal/informal presentations and compose professional, analytic reports;
  • Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring, and training staff; and,
  • Prior experience supporting Ugandan education sector is desirable but not required, preferably including experience coordinating with national and sub-national level stakeholders.
  • Prior experience supporting USAID-funded programs, preferred.

Salary commensurate with experience.

Interested candidates should submit their resumes and cover letters online by 05/24/2024.


No phone calls please.
Principals only please.



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