Global Merl Director - Global Health Sbc Activity

Please apply via our Career's Portal: https://careers.jsi.com/

DESCRIPTION

SI Research and Training Institute, Inc (JSI) is a global non-profit organization dedicated to improving people’s lives around the world through greater health, education, and socioeconomic equity. For decades, we have embedded SBC interventions into our RH/FP, immunization, HIV, MNCH, malaria, education and systems strengthening projects. Following major investments in this space, JSI now has ~90 SBC specialists currently working in 18 countries.

JSI is currently recruiting for a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Director for the anticipated USAID Global Health Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Activity. The activity’s overall objective is to improve health and development outcomes through increased implementation of theory-informed, evidence-based, locally-led social and behavior change programming and evidence generation across health and development areas.

The MERL Director will lead and manage all monitoring, evaluation, learning, and research staff and activities across the SBC activity. The MERL Director will oversee the development and implementation of a performance management plan, including performance-monitoring criteria, as well as the development and implementation of activity-wide learning agendas. The MERL Director will ensure continuous monitoring of Activity progress and is responsible for reporting on Activity results to key stakeholders.

This position will report to the Project Director.RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead, design, and implement a comprehensive MERL framework for the program, including the development of an overarching MERL plan, theory of change, learning agendas, and all other MERL-related contractual deliverables.

• Establish and oversee the monitoring of defined MERL indicators; ensure data is reviewed and utilized throughout program implementation using Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation (CLA) approaches.

• Determine MERL functional responsibilities within the team and with activity partners to ensure coordinated planning, implementation and reporting of MERL activities.

• As head of the MERL team, develop and implement detailed plans to build the technical MERL capacity of activity staff, including supporting country and local levels for improved reporting and data comprehension.

• Serve as project’s lead focal point for MERL and devise strategies with the technical and communication teams to ensure consistency in the quality of and use of data and quality reporting;

• Maintain activity reporting systems to routinely collect and analyze information on inputs, outputs, outcomes and impact to ensure cost-effectiveness of select interventions;

• Lead and coordinate MERL reporting to USAID-W and country Missions;

• Support subcontractors, potential grantees, private sector, and local government partners to identify, monitor, and report high quality data, ensuring timely submission;

• Lead the design MERL approaches and strategies for improved reporting and interpretation at all levels;

• Work as part of the Senior Management Team, supporting the Activity’s strategic vision, ensuring collaboration and learning between functional areas, and supporting effective implementation of activities;

• Review, interpret and synthesize data with the technical team for strategic information thinking behind reports and all technical deliverables.

• Lead development of overarching and country specific learning agendas. Use learnings from these agendas to support senior leadership decision making and broader dissemination.

• Serve in a supporting role in guiding host country governments and regional and global bodies through the process of using evidence to inform policy decisions and best practices.

• Lead the development of any evaluation research, special studies, operational or implementation research in accordance with international standards

• Promote and disseminate program results, lessons learned, and success stories through various fora (e.g., national and international conferences, technical briefs, peer-reviewed publications).

• Participate in relevant global technical working groups and apply global guidance to project MERL indicators and measurement.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s level education/training or its equivalent in Public Health, Social Sciences, Behavioral Sciences, Economics, International Development, Statistics, Epidemiology, Population Sciences, or a related field. Doctorate is a plus.

• At least 15 years of experience working on international programs in low- and middle-income countries. Technical experience in family planning, sexual/reproductive, and/or maternal, and child health necessary. Technical experience in other health areas is a plus.

• At least 5 years of experience supporting MERL of SBC activities in international programs.

• Experience working on large, multi-country USAID programs and knowledge of USAID reporting requirements.

• Extensive experience working with global teams in different countries in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning activities. Ability to effectively work across partner organizations is essential.

• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods research in LMIC. This includes all forms of evaluation research (process, outcome and impact evaluations)

• Demonstrated leadership working with other technical experts in MERL and research in the international community and at country level.

• Ability to tailor data collection and analysis approaches to local needs, interests, and capabilities

• Ability to convey MERL results to non-technical stakeholders and generate interest in the use of MERL data/results for programmatic improvements.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including demonstrated ability to supervise team members and manage professional relationships.

• Excellent written and oral communications and negotiating skills.

• Prior experience in senior-level leadership positions on projects of similar scope and complexity essential.

• Proven ability to work with governments in low- and middle-income countries.

• Experience working with U.S. Government agencies, international donors, or other multilateral agencies.

• Fluency in English with strong oral and written communication.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated leadership in SBC measurement.

• Experience in USAID gender policies, capacity strengthening, and knowledge management.

• Professional fluency in languages other than English, e.g., French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic.

Position is contingent upon USAID award to JSI.

Salary commensurate with experience.

Salary commensurate with experience.

Interested candidates should submit their resumes and cover letters online.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person