Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Manager
Background:
World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian international development organization that works with and through its southern partners to promote sustainable development. Founded in 1957 and currently working in more than 20 countries worldwide with an annual budget of approximately $45 million, WUSC fosters youth-centered solutions for improved education, economic, and empowerment opportunities to overcome inequality and exclusion. We believe youth have the potential to provide for their families, build strong communities, and create positive social change for future generations. Globally, WUSC has a network of higher education institutions, civil society organizations, private sector partners, professionals, students, volunteers, faculty, and community leaders that can be leveraged to support our work.
WUSC’s members are Canada’s most globally engaged post-secondary institutions. WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference for youth around the world. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in education, employment and empowerment.
Job Role
Under the supervision of the Country Director, Kenya, the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Manager will lead the MERL strategic response by offering leadership, and technical oversight across country level programming. The MERL manager will be responsible for designing the MERL system in alignment with the country level frameworks.
Management and Leadership
- Strategic leadership on MERL across WUSC projects in Kenya
- Provide technical assistance and leadership across project in East Africa if required
- Establish and manage working relationships and strategic engagement with external evaluation and research consultants and other partners, including relevant government bodies, researchers, regulators and other MERL stakeholders.
- Develop annual operating forecasts of MERL budgets, research, evaluation and learning agenda
- Oversee the process of assessments and thematic papers, research, analysis, interpretation and reporting of various data across all projects in the region to ensure the highest standards of intellectual honesty, research ethics, and academic convention;
- Lead in the development of the MERL frameworks and plans for programs, in line with the donor and WUSC’s requirements.
- Take the lead in providing capacity building and overall support to partners and stakeholders to monitor and evaluate the programs.
- Supervisory role over the MERL team
Evaluation, Research, Design and Publications
- Lead the process of obtaining approvals for research and evaluations to ensure compliance with local requirement
- Provide technical support to Evaluation teams/consultants in the process of conducting baseline/midline/endline surveys
- Lead in periodic project or program internal evaluations as needed.
- Take an active role in managing the communication research strategy of projects
- Lead in the dissemination of project research findings to external audiences
- Provide advisory roles in preparing annual and impact reports for the programs.
Learning
- Lead in translation of data into actionable policy and communicating to stakeholders (internal and external)
- Provide leadership to projects in the utilization of the research conducted in the design of new projects to influence policy in the region.
- Take leadership in implementation of WUSC’s Knowledge Management and help develop strategies for reflection and dissemination of lessons learned.
Line Manager
- Country Director, Kenya
Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in applied social science, statistics, international development, or another related field. Specific academic training in Monitoring, Evaluation and research is desirable.
- Experience in leading evaluations and research projects
Experience & Competencies:
- The ideal applicant will need to have a familiarity with the East African context, a strategic and analytical mindset, excellent listening and interpersonal skills, and ability to get things done.
- At least 7 years of experience working in the design, implementation and evaluation of international development and other key donors in any of the following thematic areas: forced displacement, education, livelihoods, youth programming.
- Experience in managing and and fostering teams of MERL staff members
- A strong focus on qualitative and participatory data collection and analysis methods and tools
- Quantitative background and experience with cutting-edge data collection and analysis methods would be an asset
- Demonstrated experience designing and implementing qualitative analyses that reflect best practice.
- Effective oral and written communication skills, including the demonstrated ability to distill data and effectively topline messages for busy senior leaders.
- Ability to create a MERL agenda that is closely linked with business development priorities.
- Demonstrated experience in and commitment to working in teams across lines of business.
- Experience infusing a gender responsive lens across MERL
Other requirements
- The role will require regular travel (up to 30%) to field sites in the regions, as well as participate in international travel for conferences, workshops and meetings.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule
WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence, and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion, sexual exploitation or abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced criminal record check where appropriate.
How to apply
To apply click here and submit your CV and cover letter as one pdf document, to reach us on or before 22nd May 2024. Only those candidates who are short-listed for an interview will be contacted.