Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Specialist (MELS) (Innovations for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health )
28 Oct 2009 11:55:00 GMT
Deadline date: 11 Nov 2009 |
| Organisation: | Concern Worldwide |
| Location: | Ireland |
| Type: | contract |
| Salary: | TBA (000's USD) |
| Description: | Job Title Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Specialist (MELS) (Innovations for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health) Reports to Head of Operations (HOO) Liaises with Innovations Leadership Team members, country managers and team members Other parts of Concern, including: - Relevant regional teams (regional directors & desk officers) - HO staff, especially the Head of Programme Approaches & Learning, and the Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation Adviser - Relevant Concern country teams UNICEF, external advisors and consultants Donor Global Advisory Group Direct reports: None Based in Concern Worldwide office in Dublin or New York, with regular overseas travel Pay Band Pay Band 6: 50,968 - 62,961 per annum depending on experience Contract length Two year fixed term contract (grant funding available for 4 years) Job Background: Concern Worldwide received a major five-year US$41m grant to support the development and field testing of bold and innovative ways to overcome barriers to delivering proven maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) solutions in six countries in Africa and Asia. In 2009, the project commenced in Malawi, India and Sierra Leone. In 2010, three other countries will be included based on the learning from the first three countries. Innovations for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (Innovations) will take a complementary yet very fresh approach of seeking good ideas from non-traditional actors with limited influence or decision-making powers that have never been heard or listened to. Innovations will seek new ideas to solve current challenges in the delivery of increased coverage of essential, low cost, evidence-informed interventions. The goal is to identify, field test and evaluate at least 27 innovations addressing implementation challenges, where at least two innovations result in significant increases in MNCH coverage to influence national and possibly global scale-up. Job Purpose: The Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Specialist (MELS) will lead all aspects of the monitoring, evaluation and learning of Innovations and of the ideas selected for implementation at district level. S/he will provide specialist knowledge and skills to ensure that Innovations collects, analyses and disseminates evidence, results and learning effectively and promptly across all participating countries, the Innovations Leadership Team (iLT), Concern offices and externally. S/he will bring a dynamic and rigorous approach to monitoring, evaluation and learning, providing the Director and iLT with timely management information to guide adaptation and improvement of the approaches used, and to ensure that Innovations achieves its objectives. As a key member of the Innovations Leadership Team (iLT), the MELS will work closely with the Director, members of the iLT (in particular the Maternal, Newborn & Child Health Specialist) and country managers to track progress and learning. The MELS will also liaise closely with the Head of Programme Approaches & Learning. Main duties & Responsibilities 1. Provide specialist expertise to the design and planning of Innovations, including identification of key learning priorities and the accompanying monitoring and evaluation frameworks to measure short, medium and long term results 2. Develop a set of key performance indicators and means of assessment against these indicators for Innovations and the ideas identified and selected for implementation 3. Lead the design and development of relevant cost-effective monitoring and evaluation plans and operations research for the ideas selected for implementation 4. Develop terms of reference for all key monitoring and evaluation work 5. Identify, select and assess suitable human resources including, consultants and institutions to undertake key monitoring and evaluation assignments, including reviews, mid-term evaluations, final evaluations and monitoring and evaluation of the projects selected for implementation 6. Lead, develop and manage all internal and external reporting, and knowledge sharing, including the production of monthly and annual reports and participation in the development of organisation-wide knowledge management platforms such as dashboards 7. Manage the Project Management Office (online project management tool), alerting the Director and iLT in a timely manner about significant issues and liaising with the IT team on the architecture and maintenance of the tool 8. Conduct regular analysis of monitoring data, analysing and interpreting trends for the iLT and country managers, including identifying learning opportunities and dissemination through appropriate means including presentations and written briefings 9. Provide, resource and co-ordinate technical assistance for country teams on all aspects of monitoring, evaluation and learning 10. Develop and provide practical monitoring and reporting tools to country teams 11. Liaise with UNICEF and the Health Policy Analyst seconded to UNICEF on a regular basis to ensure that high standards of research, monitoring and evaluation are developed and maintained 12. Actively participate in iLT and global team planning and meetings, contributing to other aspects of Innovations as requested by the HOO and Director Person specification Essential: 1. At least 6 years of senior experience in monitoring, evaluation and/or research 2. At least a Masters level degree in epidemiology, statistics, operations research, action research or associated field 3. The ability and reputation to access and build relationships with global and regional M&E specialists, both individual and institutional 4. Experience in monitoring and evaluating development programmes in developing countries 5. Demonstrated expertise in qualitative and quantitative methods 6. Very strong analytical skills, allied with clarity of thought and expression 7. Very strong writing skills and ability to document clearly and succinctly for internal and external audiences 8. Familiarity and experience with real-time management information systems and knowledge management platforms 9. Strong facilitation, interpersonal and social skills 10. Demonstrated experience in working within teams and working to short deadlines 11. Commitment to the core values and vision of Concern Worldwide Desirable: 12. A doctorate in applied or action research 13. Experience in performance measurement and management, and the monitoring and evaluation of innovations 14. Expertise in promoting a learning culture 15. Experience working in one or more developing country settings and/or multi-country initiatives To Apply If you feel you meet the requirements to be considered for the post please apply by sending: 1. Curriculum Vitae 2. One-page letter of motivation outlining how your experience meets the person specification and including details of your current salary All applications should be submitted through our website at www.concern.net/jobs by 5pm (GMT) on 11th November 2009 Please note: Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the Republic of Ireland or the United States of America at the time of application. Concern Worldwide is an international, non governmental, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the worlds poorest countries. Founded in Ireland in 1968, Concern works in 30 countries throughout Africa, Asia and the Caribbean with a team of 3,600 personnel providing emergency relief and long-term assistance in the areas of education, health, livelihoods and HIV & AIDS. www.concern.net Concern has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context staff have a responsibility to the organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concerns core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct candidates acknowledge that they have understood the contents of both the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and the Programme Participant Protection Policy and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents. Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year. Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List). Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant. For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office. By submitting a formal application for paid or voluntary employment to Concern, you agree to Concern carrying out a clearance check as outlined above and that Concern will not proceed to recruit you should your name appear on any of the aforementioned lists. Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer. |
