Director, MERL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning)

Director, MERL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning)

Americares

Remote, United States

About the position:

The Director of MERL at Americares will provide strategic leadership and oversight to a team of regional managers to ensure robust monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning frameworks are integrated into all health programs. This role is pivotal in enhancing the impact and effectiveness of Americares' initiatives both in the U.S. and globally by driving data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement to program quality.

Key Outcomes:

In the first 90 days, the Director will:

• Learn and live the Americares values;
• Complete all require new hire onboarding trainings;
• Develop a thorough understanding of the program portfolio and relevant stakeholders;
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of current MERL frameworks, processes, and tools;
• Build relationships with key internal and external stakeholders;
• Begin to identify areas for immediate programmatic improvement and quick wins within the MERL function;
• Establish a regular cadence for MERL team meetings and initial performance check-ins.

In the first 6 months, the Director will:

• Fully integrate into the Americares team and culture;
• Lead the MERL team effectively, fostering collaboration and professional development;
• Drive initial improvements in MERL frameworks and systems;
• Contribute to the development of a comprehensive MERL strategic plan in partnership with the Senior Director;
• Assess capacity-building needs in alignment with Data Literacy goals and develop a capacity-building plan;
• Lead a global MERL community of practice, organizing regular meetings and workshops;
• Begin to promote and embed a data-driven culture across the organization and with program managers, ensuring learning is integrated into program implementation.

In the first year, the Director will:

• Establish themselves as a trusted leader within Americares;
• Achieve substantial progress in enhancing MERL systems and frameworks;
• Demonstrate measurable improvements in program quality and impact through data-driven decision-making;
• Streamline data collection, analysis, and reporting processes, ensuring accuracy and timeliness;
• Achieve significant progress in capacity-building initiatives, with staff demonstrating improved MERL skills and knowledge;
• Sustain and grow the global MERL community of practice, facilitating regular knowledge-sharing sessions and professional development opportunities;
• Establish and track key performance metrics for the MERL team, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement;
• Develop and implement strategies for effective knowledge management and sharing of MERL insights across the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Oversight:

• Provide strategic input for MERL activities across programs globally and contribute to the development of a MERL sub-strategy in partnership with the Senior Director MERL;
• Ensure the integration of MERL frameworks into program design, implementation, and evaluation.

Team Management:

• Manage and mentor a team of regional MERL managers and staff;
• Foster a collaborative, supportive work environment and set clear performance goals;
• Lead a global community of practice for MERL staff, organizing meetings, webinars, and workshops;
• Encourage knowledge sharing, collaboration, and the adoption of best practices;
• Develop a learning agenda for the community of practice focused on emerging trends and methodologies;
• Promote continuous learning and ensure the team is equipped with necessary skills and resources.

System Development and Implementation:

• Contribute to the design and implementation of MERL systems to improve data collection, analysis, and reporting at both project and organizational levels;
• Develop and maintain MERL tools, guidelines, and processes to promote uptake across programs;
• Ensure the use of appropriate qualitative and quantitative methodologies including the use of SPSS, STATA, NVIVO, Dedoose or other analysis software;
• Contribute to business development

Capacity Building:

• Build capacity of project staff through training, workshops, and ongoing support in MERL practices;
• Develop and implement a capacity-building plan to enhance MERL skills and knowledge among staff;
• Promote a culture of learning and continuous improvement within the organization through the development of mechanisms and tools for feedback and learning.

Quality Assurance and Compliance:

• Ensure that all MERL activities adhere best practices and ethical guidelines;
• Conduct regular reviews and audits of MERL systems to ensure compliance and identify areas for improvement;
• Provide technical oversight to ensure the quality and accuracy of MERL data and reports.

Research and Innovation:

• Lead the design and execution of implementation research and evaluations;
• Foster innovation in MERL practices by exploring new methodologies and technologies;
• Collaborate with external partners and stakeholders to advance the field of MERL in health programs.

Degrees and/or experience required for the role:

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, International Development, or a related field;
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in MERL, designing and implementing MERL systems in a global health context, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.

These competencies are required for the role:

• Leadership and Team Management: Proven ability to lead and manage a diverse team across multiple regions;
• Strategic Planning and Execution: Strong skills in developing and implementing strategic plans and MERL frameworks;
• Data Analysis and Utilization: Expertise in data collection, analysis, and translating data into actionable insights, including a demonstrated understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and analysis;
• Problem Solving: Ability to identify issues and develop innovative solutions to improve MERL processes;
• Communication: Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively share findings and recommendations;
• Project Management: Strong project management skills to oversee multiple MERL initiatives simultaneously;
• Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to build and maintain relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders;
• Cross-Cultural Competence: Experience working in diverse cultural settings and the ability to navigate and respect cultural differences.

These competencies would be great to have, but are not required:

• Fluency in languages that are spoken in at least one of our core locations (India, Philippines, Tanzania, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Colombia, etc.), in addition to English.

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