The Monitoring and Evaluation, and Research/Learning Director will provide technical leadership, oversight and strategic direction for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities for an upcoming USAID health service project in Madagascar. The project will operate over an anticipated five-year period.

The MERL Director will provide technical leadership to develop project framework, M&E systems and indicators to capture performance results and provide effective, accurate and timely monitoring, evaluation and reporting of all project activities. The MERL Director will supervise and manage the M&E team and oversee the collection, management, analysis and use of project data, ensuring that lessons learned are integrated into project implementation to continuously improve quality of interventions and outcomes. The Monitoring and Evaluation, and Research/Learning Director is responsible for developing a research and learning agenda for the activity, and ensuring the methodological rigor of research undertaken.  They will document and disseminate project successes, challenges and lessons learned to USAID. The Monitoring and Evaluation, and Research/Learning Director will also be responsible for designing and conducting assessments, operations research and evaluations to address project needs. The Monitoring and Evaluation, and Research/Learning Director will liaise with and support consortium partners and the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) to implement monitoring and evaluation (and learning) activities.

This position is contingent upon award from USAID. Madagasy nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Provide leadership and direction on M&E to ensure the project achieves its goals and corresponding objectives and targets
• Oversee the development and implementation of the Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) to efficiently track, use and disseminate performance indicators and results over the life of the project, including routine service delivery data reporting, baseline and end line assessments, and all monitoring for process and outcome evaluations
• Work closely with technical and programmatic staff to ensure high-quality MEL activities
• Supervise a team of M&E professionals, ensuring high-quality implementation of all monitoring, evaluation and learning activities
• Develop and oversee implementation of robust context-appropriate systems for data collection, quality assurance, analysis and reporting on activity outputs/outcomes and program quality
• Lead results reporting to USAID by providing written documentation on M&E activities and indicator results for progress and annual reports, as appropriate
• Ensure alignment of project systems and approaches with Madagascar’s national monitoring and evaluation guidelines, protocols, information and reporting systems
• Cultivate strategic M&E relationships and alliances with monitoring, evaluation and learning counterparts in other USAID projects national institutions, and key stakeholders, leading initiatives to learn from project data and adapt intervention strategies as appropriate
• Lead efforts to utilize training monitoring systems to track and monitor trainers and participants at training events to facilitate follow-up and recordkeeping
• Ensure data is used to contribute towards strategic decision-making and project planning with project leadership
• Support project leadership to champion holistic approaches to collaboration, learning and adapting (CLA), including design and implementation of an action-oriented project research and learning agenda, routine analysis of available health sector data sources, and application of best practices in knowledge management
• Oversee and/or conduct targeted assessment, evaluations and operations research, ensuring compliance with MOPH and Johns Hopkins University institutional review board policies
• Ensure quality of data through data verification procedures including routine data quality audits and that these are routinely carried out during the project lifecycle
• Represent M&E activities in public and professional circles through meetings, conferences, and presentations
• Ensure relevant data is entered into Jhpiego’s organization-wide performance management system designed to capture, analyze, and disseminate project data
• Support the project to provide MOPH technical assistance to strengthen the country’s HMIS for the optimal use of routine HMIS data
• Ensure project compliance with USAID monitoring, evaluation, research and open data policies
• Promote and support the dissemination of project information among the project team
• Work with project and financial staff to prepare and track progress of project and activity budgets
• Train and mentor project staff and implementing partners in monitoring and evaluation methods, tools, and systems including digitalization;
• Ensure protection of participant data and confidentiality during all monitoring, evaluation and research implementation and dissemination processes
• Ensure that project data is included in regular reporting, success stories, briefs and other communication materials

• Degree in statistics, evaluation, public health, international development, social sciences, or another relevant field
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience working in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning on public health programs in resource-limited settings
• Proven expertise in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methodologies, implementation research approaches, health management information systems, data visualization and reporting
• Demonstrated strong management, coordination, teamwork and planning skills with proven ability to function effectively with multiple host-country counterparts in both the public, NGO and private sectors
• M&E experience in maternal and child health, nutrition, malaria, and/or reproductive health
• Familiarity with the health management information system and other national M&E systems in Madagascar
• Documented hands-on practical experience setting up and managing MERL systems for health programs in developing countries, including data quality assurance
• Demonstrated expertise in rigorous quantitative and qualitative research and experience in M&E capacity building
• Proficiency in word processing and Microsoft Office
• Strong technical skills, including ability to process and analyze data using DHIS2 and one or more statistical software packages, e.g., SPSS, Epi-Info, Stata, MS Excel.
• Experience hiring and supervising personnel and ensuring they acquire the necessary training and skills to meet evolving project needs
• Excellent diplomacy skills and a proven ability to establish and maintain interpersonal and professional relationships with USAID Bureau of Global Health, USAID Missions, host-country counterparts and representatives from other key stakeholders such as NGOs, CSOs, and the private sector
• Demonstrated experience leading a capacity-building approach for CSOs, providing capacity building assistance at individual and organizational levels in data collection, analysis and use for decision making.
• Full professional proficiency in English and French.
• Excellent verbal, written interpersonal and presentation skills
• Proven ability to produce professional quality English-language documents such as progress reports, case studies, and research protocols
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally as needed.

• A Master’s Degree or higher in statistics, evaluation, public health, international development, social sciences, or another relevant field preferred

Jhpiego offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package.

Please apply at www.jhpiego.org/careers

Applicants must submit a single document for upload to include: cover letter, resume, and references.

For further information about Jhpiego, visit our website at www.jhpiego.org

Note: The successful candidate selected for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.

Jhpiego is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University affiliate, is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Jhpiego promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans.

EEO is the Law

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