Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist (EYCD)

What will you do?

• The Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist (EYCD) will support the Director of Performance Management with the collection of primary performance data on CDCS outcome indicators; compiling contextual data; validating and analyzing performance data; developing monitoring tools; providing technical support for data quality assessments; and training and mentoring A/CORs and IPs MEL staff on performance reporting systems. Additionally, they will be responsible for creating data visualizations for effective learning by the Mission and IPs. They will serve as the primary point of contact (POC) to the Education, Youth, and Child Development Technical Office (EYCD). The Senior MEL Specialist will also serve as a thought partner to their respective technical office. They will proactively integrate USAID learning cycle processes into a cohesive project management approach that leads toward collaboration, learning, and adaptation (CLA) for improved development results.

Responsiblities

• Develop and continuously review the Performance Indicator Reference Sheets (PIRS) for EYCD indicators.
• Collect primary performance data on selected Education, Youth, and Child Development (EYCD) CDCS outcome indicators that the implementing partners may not have the capacity to collect data on.
• Identify and compile relevant contextual data to facilitate EYCD’s understanding of its contribution to wider national and agency development priorities.
• Validate and analyze performance data on EYCD indicators reported by USAID/Uganda implementing partners in a timely manner.
• Develop relevant, high-quality, inclusive, and cost-effective monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) tools and processes for EYCD and its implementing partners.
• Provide technical support to A/CORs and IP MEL staff for conducting data quality assessments on selected implementing partners.
• Collaborate with the Data Analyst to build the capacity of newly onboarded implementing partners to utilize the agency-wide performance reporting system, the Development Information Solutions (DIS).
• Work with the Senior Capacity Building Specialist to develop the capacity of Agreement and Contracting Officers' Representatives (A/CORs) and IP MEL Specialists to effectively carry out their MEL responsibilities.
• Work with the Senior GIS and Visualization Specialist to develop data visualizations using DIS and other relevant data sources like OVC-MIS, UNICEF Child-related datasets, to facilitate learning for the Mission and implementing partners.
• Provide technical direction to project teams to ensure the technical quality of MEL processes and deliverables.
• Support technical initiatives aimed at systematizing quality across the organization.
• Assist in the development and delivery of MEL training and contribute to Bixal's MEL Community of Practice.
• Serve as the initial point of contact and escalation for project issues, including responding to clients, resolving issues, and problem-solving, under the guidance of the Director of Performance Management.
• Supervise junior-level team members, including providing MEL Officers/Data Analysts with feedback and support.
• Support the business development process, including drafting proposal responses, updating corporate capability statements, and organizing discussions with partners.
• Assist teams with recruiting and hiring consultants or subject matter experts for various tasks, including screening candidates, writing terms of reference, and processing purchase orders/billing.
• Contribute to business development and thought leadership through content creation, industry presentations, and identifying growth opportunities in federal sector OD and talent management.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree plus 10 years of related experience; or Master’s Degree, plus 5 years of related experience.
• Spoken and written fluency in English.
• Understanding of USAID development programming.
• Familiarity with development partners and the Uganda government development landscape, including key stakeholders and potential USAID partners in relevant health focus areas.
• Extensive knowledge of USAID project management processes and the overall program cycle, including monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) practices and policies.
• Ability to work independently, with strong time management skills. Ingenuity to generate ideas for various activities, propose new courses of action, and suggest appropriate, mitigated risks.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to understand and respond to project management needs and develop trust.
• Synthesis skills, with the ability to gather information from diverse sources and connect the dots to form a coherent picture of project progress and external circumstances. Ability to tell a compelling story with evidence.
• Proactive approach, with the ability to take on new tasks with little direction, chart a course of action, and advise clients, colleagues, and supervisors on potential opportunities and challenges.
• Collaborative mindset, with the ability to work with colleagues and partners across sectors and beyond traditional functional expertise to catalyze activity toward shared objectives.

Nice to have

• Additional fluency in any of Uganda's local languages preferred.