Deputy Director, Monitoring, Evaluation, And Learning

Overview
Church World Service (CWS) is a not-for-profit, faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable solutions to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. CWS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, genetic information, age, disability, or veteran status in employment or in the provision of services.
About CWS
Imagine waking up every morning with the chance to change someone's life. Imagine knowing your efforts will benefit both your career and our neighbors around the world. At CWS, our team knows they are making a difference every day. Whether you're in our U.S.-based offices supporting refugees, asylees or unaccompanied children ... implementing hygiene initiatives in Cambodia or rebuilding projects in Central America ... or even connecting remotely from your home on fundraising campaigns, grant reports, or critical communications - you have the opportunity to work towards a world where everyone has food, a voice and a safe place to call home.
Purpose
The Deputy Director for Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) is responsible for developing and ensuring the integrity of MEL frameworks and MEL plans for programming within the Resettlement and Welcome Services department programs portfolio. The Deputy Director for MEL promotes implementation of RWS programs in accordance with donor and CWS policies and guidelines to foster successful resettlement, integration, safety, well-being, and stability of newcomers in the U.S. The primary responsibility of this position is to ensure accountability, effectiveness and continuous improvement of RWS programming through development of MEL systems that incorporate participant feedback and inform program design. This position coordinates local network monitoring of program activities including establishing monitoring tools, managing the monitoring schedule, reviewing written reports, and establishing feedback loops and processes for incorporating learning and improvement. It is also responsible for coordination of consistent monitoring of CWS grantees and sub-grantees relative to CWS grant and sub-grant agreements. An important prerequisite for this position is the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team in a collegial manner and to work independently to carry assignments through to completion.
Occasional domestic travel is required.
Responsibilities
Program Management:

• Maintain up-to-date self-education about the Reception and Placement, Neighbor Network, Refugee Welcome Collective and Refugee Housing Solutions programs, and develop specific expertise in contractual requirements and best practices for MEL.
• Responsible to lead development of RWS MEL frameworks and program monitoring plans for each program unit, maintain and improve existing protocols and practices in collaboration with the program teams, including strategies to solicit, analyze and incorporate participant feedback.
• Possess technical knowledge on the US Refugee Admissions Program to apply to MEL frameworks.
• Remain up to date about program and policy changes and apply changes to processes as relevant.
• Work collaboratively with RWS program leaders to ensure the overall MEL strategy meets donor requirements and is in line with program needs, trends, industry best practices, and strategic direction.
• Liaise with Program Quality and Compliance and other relevant CWS departments to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and Learning of local network offices and sub-grantees including but not limited to Program, HR, Finance, Privacy requirements.
• Lead the maintenance and adjustment of efficient and effective monitoring, evaluation, and Learning tools and protocols to assess compliance with federal and private grant awards, promote best practices that exceed program requirements, identify trends and report on program progress.
• Step in to conduct desktop, on-site and ongoing monitoring of CWS local network for compliance with funder and CWS requirements when needed.
• Review and approve findings, reports and corrective action or change management plans.
• Serve as RWS programs steward of RWS complaints and grievance procedures and analysis in administration of the CWS Complaints and Grievance Mechanism and liaise with other program departments as required for investigations, corrective action and Learning.
• Analyze key performance indicators across RWS programs to inform training, sub-granting and programmatic activities.
• Ensure high-quality documentation of monitoring activities and timely submission to local network, sub-grantee and relevant CWS national colleagues.
• Identify strengths and weaknesses in existing data collection and management systems and propose solutions.
• Lead working groups and tasks forces across program units and CWS departments to ensure coordinated and effective MEL activities.
• Lead the development of HQ staff training and manuals and ensure RWS local network sites and program sub-grantees have adequate resources to conduct self-monitoring, evaluation and Learning; facilitate training on MEL approaches, tools, and resources as required.
• Ensure preparedness of RWS programs and local network for monitoring by funder partners.
• Contribute to proposal development including the design and drafting of relevant sections as well as donor reporting.
• As requested, represent CWS at internal and external conferences, meetings, committees and working groups with CWS colleagues, national RWS network events, federal partners, and other stakeholders.
• Perform other related duties and projects as requested.

People Management:

• Provide direct oversight of dedicated MEL staff and coordinate MEL activities of program colleagues
• Provide regular 1:1 and group supervision to direct reports
• Conduct frequent and annual performance management activities for direct reports
• Lead hiring efforts for vacant MEL positions
• Develop a coverage plan when an MEL position is vacant, and serve as back up as needed
• Support direct reports to achieve professional development goals
• Promote a culture of support and collaboration and maintain positive team morale
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications
Experience:

• 6 years of experience leading the development and implementation of monitoring, evaluation and Learning frameworks for US Government grants for multi-office projects required; experience monitoring both national programs and local network programs strongly preferred
• Program development, leadership, and/or other supervisory experience in R&P or similar program at a national network with a strong technical expertise in direct service to newcomers preferred
• Strong technical experience implementing MEL frameworks and plans from inception to close-out, including MEL concepts and tools
• Experience with donor reporting
• Experience in general office work, processing information and materials and maintaining records and files
• 5 years of supervisory experience

Skills:

• English fluency required; fluency in another newcomer language preferred
• Strong interpersonal and diplomacy skills ability to work collaboratively and effectively with partners and teams
• Ability to independently manage projects
• Ability to rapidly assess situational needs, develop problem solving strategies and implement sustainable solutions
• Ability to conduct oneself in a professional and courteous manner at all times to represent the professional and institutional interests of CWS
• Strong verbal communication and professional writing skills
• Advanced Skills in Microsoft Office Products, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• Familiarity with client databases and easily adapts to new platforms for tracking client data
• Excellent project and data management skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills and ability to maintain a high-performance standard with attention to detail while managing a large and diverse workload under pressure and with competing priorities
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal and diplomacy skills; ability to work collaboratively and effectively with partners and teams;
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment required;
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and willingness to support CWS' Platform on Racial Justice as a CWS employee required.

Education and Certifications:

• Master's degree in social sciences, statistics, economics, social work, nonprofit administration or similar field required
• Specialized certifications in monitoring and evaluation preferred

Special Requirements
Work Location:
This position is a remote role with some in-person responsibilities related to meetings or onsite technical assistance visits. Remote employees must be able to fulfil the following conditions:

• Ability to maintain secure and appropriate personal work environment for day-to-day work
• Access to strong and reliable internet access
• Ability to adhere to CWS data security policies and protect sensitive and personally identifiable information
• Regular work hours must span core business hours 10AM-4PM Eastern time
• Close proximity to U.S. airport and ability to travel to attend CWS and external meetings, conferences and other in-person engagements.
• Must use CWS provided equipment such as laptop and cell phone

Benefits
CWS offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
- 403 (b) Retirement Plan
- Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Generous Paid Time Off (21 Paid Days Off; 27 Days after 2 Years)
- 14 Official Holidays
- Sick Time Off (12 Accrued monthly)
- Life Insurance and AD&D
- Long Term and Short-Term Disability
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Health Savings Account
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Commuter Benefits