Mercy Corps Director of Research and Evidence - Girls Improving Resilience through Livelihoods Jobs in Kenya
Mercy Corps Director of Research and Evidence - Girls Improving Resilience through Livelihoods Jobs in Kenya
General Position SummaryThe Director of Research and Evidence will be responsible for designing and driving the research and learning agenda within the GIRL program.
The Director will oversee the generation of programmatic evidence and lead the execution of a research agenda to drive learning and thought leadership to make the case for adolescent girl programming interventions.
As a senior role within the program management team, the DRE will lead a robust research and learning agenda, ensuring that program M&E functions across the three countries are coherent and gathering robust data, that program M&E and discrete research pieces feed into the learning agenda, that the program uses data and evidence to inform program adaptation and decision-making, and that program learning and influence pieces are produced regularly to promote internal and external learning.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Research & Project Management
Lead the development of the program’s research and learning agenda, and provide leadership to ensure that monitoring and evaluation activities as well as discrete research are used to inform and refine the program model and to inform internal and external stakeholders on critical questions in adolescent girl programming.
Lead the development of a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system, working closely with country offices and partners to ensure that robust data collection systems are in place to capture results in order to inform program implementation and adaptation.
Set and manage MEL program budget, developing quarterly workplans and budget allocations on an ongoing basis in consultation with the Program Director.
Lead in the implementation of Mercy Corps M&E policy and program adherence to it.
Lead in the design and implementation of evaluations and assessments to answer key research questions, drawing on appropriate research and survey tools and incorporating Mercy Corps standards.
Use data and learning to refine the GIRL approach, contributing to development of a foundational model for other programs globally working with girls, including food security, livelihoods, etc.
Ensure program milestones related to research are developed that include benchmarks, impact assessments and case studies.
Serve on the senior management team and work with the Program Director to design and lead management meetings and strategy sessions.
Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
Influence & Representation
Play a leadership role in distilling and packaging program insights and learning into digestible presentations and learning briefs to position Mercy Corps as a thought leader in adolescent girl programming.
Work closely with Mercy Corps HQ M&E and research staff to ensure robust systems and coherence with global research themes and priorities
Represent Mercy Corps at internal and external events and meetings to highlight the work of our GIRL teams and share evolving evidence to support the model, building agency influence in the adolescent girl and youth space.
Develop GIRL learning documents and facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned with internal and external stakeholders.
Develop a communications strategy to disseminate GIRL learning documents through various forms of media and speaking engagements.
Develop a community of practice within Mercy Corps country programs to share programmatic learning and insights and drive strong programming within the adolescent girl space.
M & E System Development
Working with country M&E staff, establish an overall M&E framework that will guide M&E for all country offices and develop a M&E system that captures program results across the three countries.
Advise country project teams and partners on the most appropriate monitoring, evaluation and learning design given budget, time and field force set up
Collaborate with the technology team, implementation teams and partners to execute the M&E systems in country
Be the custodian of data, developing a system that develops insights and analysis presenting impact to donors, government, agencies and communities.
Lead in efforts to ensure adequate data protection procedures are maintained during data acquisition and adherence to Mercy Corps and global standards ensuring compliance and security procedures are maintained.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Assessment
Play a central role on the design and implementation of impact evaluations
and assessments which might include experimental forms of research, baseline/panel data studies, surveys and needs assessments as outlined in the program agenda and work plans, drawing on appropriate research and survey tools and incorporating Mercy Corps’ standards on design, monitoring, and evaluation
Ensure analysis and cross tabulations of program data, and ensure that data is readily available to inform program learning and reporting
Support the Program Director to lead Quarterly and Annual review meetings, using data to inform analysis of program performance. Ensure that data is used to inform annual and quarterly activity planning and budget forecasts. Lead quarterly technical review of implementation plans and update program work-plan as needed to respond to changing dynamics/needs and emerging opportunities.
Establish sound data collection, cleaning, management, analysis and reporting strategies on key performance using the appropriate M&E tools across countries and partners
Engage in relevant field research in support of data and information gathering
Initiate and manage consulting agreements and relationships for M&E activities based on Mercy Corps policies and procedures. This includes identifying, procuring and overseeing all MEL consultant work, ensuring high levels of coordination and integration into overall programming, as well as appropriate support for partners.
Provide project management support to Program Director working together with all M&E consultants and technical team leads ensuring high levels of coordination and integration into overall programming, as well as appropriate support for partners.
Team Management
Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
Knowledge and Experience
Minimum 5 years of experience designing and delivering high-impact monitoring, evaluation and learning systems, including skills in indicator design and measurement, research design, and development of program adaptation/learning feedback loops. Experience in complex/fragile environments is preferred.
In-depth technical knowledge related to adolescent girls, youth and/or gender and experience leading research and program implementation to achieve technical excellence in youth and gender programming is strongly preferred.
Experience driving a research and learning agenda and ensuring that key research findings and learnings are disseminated internally and externally to support learning and thought leadership.
Direct experience working across multiple departments/geographies to achieve high-level results, and flexibility and comfort working across multiple reporting lines.
Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders, including strong presentation skills.
Proven verbal and written communication skills and ability to distill complex information and data into accessible conversation and written pieces.
Ability to multi-task, organize and prioritize daily tasks and the big picture.
Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem-solving.
Ability to effectively manage a team and apply relevant Mercy Corps’ procedures and approaches.
Experience supporting technical capacity and skill development amongst diverse teams.
Success Factors
The ideal candidate will have a strong curiosity for gender and development and adolescent girl programming issues more specifically, and will thrive working in cross-cultural environments with diverse teams across our program intervention countries.
The DRE will be an excellent communicator, multi-tasker, and able to work in ambiguous situations.
The Director will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures demonstrating cultural sensitivity with diverse stakeholders.
The DRE will be a team-player with a positive attitude toward problem solving and conflict resolution. Commitment to learning, open communications, impeccable professional standards of ethics and ability to manage successful partner relationships are essential.
The successful candidate will be focused on team-building and open collaboration; be a strategic thinker and maintain a sense of humor.
How to Apply
For more information and job application details, see; Mercy Corps Director of Research and Evidence - Girls Improving Resilience through Livelihoods Jobs in Kenya
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