MEL Specialist, USAID SPARK (Hybrid)

Job Description

The Institute of International Education (IIE) is looking to hire a MEL Specialist for the anticipated USAID Strategic Partnerships for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK) program.

SPARK will fund locally-led research in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), in collaboration with researchers in the U.

S., to develop and disseminate solutions to local and global challenges.

We invite you to join a team united by a single goal : to transform our interconnected world into a network of more peaceful and equitable societies.

IIE’s team members share a belief that when education transcends borders, it opens minds, enabling people to go beyond building connections to solving problems together.

Learn more about IIE, our culture and commitment to DEIA here .

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Job Summary

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist will be responsible for the development and implementation of the MEL Plan, incorporating a collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) approach to enrich program activities to achieve SPARK goals and objectives.

The MEL Specialist will be responsible for working with grant recipients to develop their own MEL plans that will tie into SPARK’s reporting and indicators.

Additionally, the MEL Specialist will oversee and contribute to SPARK’s gender and social inclusion analyses and strategies.

Additionally, the MEL specialist will also be responsible for coordinating closely with USAID and the third-party research study team to ensure appropriate data and access to data is available to support implementation.

The MEL Specialist will report to the SPARK Program Director and will collaborate with an array of stakeholders including IIE’s Research, Evaluation, and Learning team.

The MEL Specialist will supervise the MEL Officer.

Essential Functions :

• Development of MEL Plan across all components of SPARK including Performance Indicator Reference Sheets (PIRS) for each indicator.
• Development of annual MEL Plans.
• In collaboration with the Program Director, development of a collaboration, learning, and adapting (CLA) plan to identify challenges and successes and assist the program in making needed changes to achieve goals and objectives of SPARK.
• Develop, plan and train staff on data collection process under SPARK.
• Contribute to quarterly and annual reports for USAID and other program deliverables.
• Work with grantees to ensure accurate information flow including guidance / support on data collection, measurement, and reporting.
• Oversee and contribute to SPARK gender and social inclusion analyses and strategies.
• Lead the development and implementation of all MEL tools and activities including data collection and analysis.
• Collaborate with third party researchers as needed on SPARK data collection and reporting.
• Provide mentorship and capacity strengthening support in MEL to grantees as needed.
• Produce ad hoc reports for Program Director, USAID, or other stakeholders as needed.

This position is contingent on funding.

Job Requirements

Education and Work Experience :

Requires a bachelor's degree and at least eight (8) years of related work experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :

Five (5) or more years of experience leading MEL activities on a donor-funded program, preferably focused on research and / or higher education partnerships.

At least three (3) years of experience implementing MEL activities on USAID-funded programs.

• Completion of monitoring and evaluation coursework or certificate programs.
• Experience managing MEL activities throughout the program life cycle including start-up, implementation, and closeout.
• Experience developing collaboration, learning, and adapting (CLA) plans.
• Knowledge and experience with development of evaluation tools and processes to support a MEL Plan including training staff and partners on data collection.
• Experience in designing and managing MEL databases, surveys, and other data collection tools.
• Experience in conducting gender analyses and incorporating findings into MEL activities.
• Experience using quantitative and qualitative data analysis tools (e.g., SPSS).
• Fluency in English.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :

Data visualization experience preferred.

Salary Range : $78,534 - $94,947. A candidate’s salary is determined by various factors including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, job-related knowledge, skills, abilities, internal organizational equity, and geographic region.

IIE offers a robust suite of benefits to team members including medical, dental, and vision plans, paid time off and holidays, student loan and tuition reimbursement programs, professional development reimbursement program, retirement plans and a family medical leave benefits.

Please visit our careers page for further details.

The Institute of International Education ( IIE ) has a hybrid work environment that allows team members a combination of in-office work and telework at any of the locations listed above.

Work Conditions & Physical Demands :

Essential functions are performed in a general office setting with low noise. Job demands may require long periods of sitting;

telephone work and / or computer work, as well as interactions with other team members and external stakeholders. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

IIE is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.