Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Advisor

Position Description

EnCompass LLC is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Advisor, to lead MEL services for USAID clients and serve as an internal thought leader in the MEL space. The MEL Advisor will be responsible for serving as a technical leader for business development and leading technical teams consisting of EnCompass staff and consultants, and will be accountable for technical quality, effective client relations, contract compliance, and budget. We are looking for someone with expert technical and managerial skills, strong business development experience, deep understanding of USAID contracts in the international development MEL space, the ability to foster an atmosphere of teamwork, productivity, fairness, equity, and innovation, and support for diversity in working with team members, clients, and stakeholders.

This is a full-time position located at the EnCompass principal office in Silver Spring, Maryland, and follows the EnCompass flexible hybrid work model with split time between telework and the office. This individual may also be expected to work from client sites in the Washington, DC metro area, as needed.

Candidates residing in the DC metro area will be given first consideration. Remote applicants might be considered, but only if the candidate resides in a state where EnCompass is currently registered.

For US-based positions: Must be legally authorized to work in the US for any employer without sponsorship.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Essential functions:

Management

• Serve as Technical Director/Project Lead for larger/complex MEL contracts, with a priority on USAID mission MEL platforms
• Serve as Point of Contact for client and manage all client and partner relations
• Manage EnCompass staff and consultants, including delegating tasks, ensuring timely and quality production, and generating solutions for issues that arise
• Oversee budget, ensuring profitability on all contracts under purview
• Review monthly projections and budget updates with Project Management team and Technical Assistance/MEL Team Corporate Officer.
• Ensure contract compliance, drawing on the EnCompass contracts team as needed.
• Review and approve internal and external project workplans
• Review and approve project deliverables
• Review and approve recruitment of project staff and consultants
• Anticipates internal challenges and recommends solutions to leadership
• Supervise staff on the EnCompass MEL team
• Contribute to deepening synergies across all teams and practices at EnCompass

Technical

• Lead design and implementation of MEL contracts for USAID and other funders
• Oversee technical designs of MEL activities
• Develop or review drafts of evaluation or monitoring system designs, data collection strategies/instruments, consent forms, analysis strategies, and reports
• Ensure technical work is continuously positioned for use by the client and other key audiences
• Provide leadership to data collection teams, including training data collectors, managing issues that arise during data collection, directly leading data collection as needed, and facilitating workshops using appreciative inquiry and adult learning good practice in line with participatory approaches to MEL
• Provide technical guidance and quality assurance on deliverables
• Provide technical support to long term, USAID, in-country MEL contracts, guiding in-country colleagues, and overseeing home office technical teams engaged in in-country technical implementation.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to EnCompass MEL technical specialists in leading and managing smaller/less complex MEL contracts or task orders.
• Identifies internal learning needs and designs and delivers training to MEL staff using appreciative, participatory, adult-learning methodologies, collaborating with other technical experts as needed
• Ensures integration of collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) principles across all aspects of technical MEL work
• Brings leading edge approaches, methodologies, and applications from the broader MEL community and advocates for their integration into internal work processes, as appropriate

New Business

• Serve as Technical Lead and Lead Writer on large, complex proposals, including overseeing the development of the technical approach, management approach, and budget, as well as managing partner relations during the bidding process.
• Provide mentorship and coaching to EnCompass MEL Specialists serving as Technical Leads and Lead Writers on smaller/less complex MEL proposals.
• Contribute to company business development through networking in professional circles
• Participate in new business generation discussions with potential partners and EnCompass staff
• Recruit, hire, and manage consultants for proposals and contribute to the expansion of the Global Consultant Network

Other:

• Engage fully as a member of the EnCompass staff team, including participating in staff meetings and other EnCompass events, and providing administrative support to other team members as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Position Requirements

Qualifications

Academic Qualifications

• Minimum of a High School Diploma and 14 years of experience; Associate’s degree and 12 years of experience, a Bachelor’s degree and 10 years of experience or a Master’s degree and 8 years of experience
• Degree in Social Sciences, International Development, Education, Public Health or a related field

Experience and Skills

General/Management

• Minimum of eight years of direct MEL experience with demonstrated progression in taking on leadership roles
• Direct client engagement experience required
• Demonstrated understanding of international development processes, actors, and cultures
• Fluency in French or Spanish is highly desirable
• Experience implementing USAID monitoring, evaluation, and learning initiatives required. Familiarity with USAID policy and guidance with respect to monitoring and evaluation required
• Direct experience engaging with USAID missions, and supporting long-term, in-country staff focused on implementation of MEL programs strongly desired.
• Experience with contract and budget management and oversight, including having served as a home office technical backstop on an in-country USAID activity
• Flexibility and ability to travel internationally or domestically for varying lengths of time
• Proven track record of successful teamwork, good presentation/facilitation skills, and excellent verbal and written communication skills, including proposal writing, required
• Ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues
• Skilled in Microsoft Office program suite
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact with individuals at all levels
• Ability to work in an appreciative and strengths-based environment and coach others in using appreciative approaches
• Experience in designing and facilitating interactive meetings and workshops
• Strong planning, organization, and strategic thinking skills
• Demonstrated experience managing and supervising consultants, staff, and teams
• Ability to manage multiple contracts simultaneously and deliver quality, expected results on time

Technical:

• At least three years of business development experience serving as Technical Lead and/or Lead Writer on USAID proposals
• Demonstrated technical expertise in MEL approaches and implementation good practice
• Experience implementing USAID Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting principles desired.
• Demonstrated experience developing MEL technical designs and data collection tools, managing large/complex data collection efforts, leading analysis, and preparing high-quality reports
• Strong qualitative research skills, including sample design, instrument development, data analysis (using software), and reporting on qualitative evidence.
• Strong quantitative skills with demonstrated ability to synthesize complex data streams and skilled in statistical packages (SPSS, STATA, etc.)
• Strong technical expertise within one or more social development sectors, such as education, democracy and governance, public health, gender, etc.
• Experience in applying appreciative inquiry and participatory approaches and ability to model that approach for others highly desirable
• Experience overseeing third party monitoring (TPM) activities highly desired.
• Experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is desired.

The pay range for this role allows for the wide variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, certifications, and other business and organizational needs. At EnCompass, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is $102,617 to $125,527

EnCompass LLC is a progressive Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote, celebrate, and support a diverse and inclusive organizational culture and workforce. We are committed to providing all of our employees with an environment free from discrimination and harassment, where all are treated with dignity and respect. We do not tolerate, and explicitly prohibit, discrimination or harassment of any kind, at any time, in all aspects of employment. This includes recruitment, hiring, promotions, disciplinary measures, terminations, compensation, benefits, social and recreational programs, and training. EnCompass also does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who report discrimination or harassment. Our continuing commitment to the principle of Equal Opportunity Employment for all means all employment decisions are based only on the job requirements, the candidate’s qualifications, and the needs of EnCompass as a business—not on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, belief, sex (including pregnancy and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, HIV status, family/marital/parental status, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where we work.

For US based positions: The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.

The incumbent must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle and prioritize multiple, competing tasks and demands and to seek supervisory assistance as appropriate.

If you require accommodations in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act to complete your application, please call 301-287-8700, provide your contact information and a description of your accessibility issue. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case-basis, and we will call you back within approximately 3 business days.

EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement, Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

VEVRA Notice