Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist (Research Associate I) - USAID I

EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC)

EDC is one of the world's leading nonprofit research and development firms. EDC designs, implements, and evaluates programs to improve education, health, and economic opportunity worldwide. Collaborating with both public and private partners, we strive for a world where all people are empowered to live healthy, productive lives.

EDC's approach to equity, diversity, and inclusion is grounded in EDC's commitment to respect the dignity of each individual. EDC has a commitment to promoting equity and access to high quality education and health services that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. EDC expresses its commitment to increasing equity through its strategies, services and products, which contribute to building capacity and transforming lives.

Project Description

Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) is serving as the Prime recipient of USAID's five-year Inclusive Development and Equitable Assistance (IDEA) Leader with Associate (LWA) Award. Grounded in the twin tenets of inclusive development, namely "nothing about us without us," and "do no harm," EDC partners with marginalized and underrepresented groups in USAID regions around the world to advance their own development goals while being more intentionally engaged as part of USAID's international development efforts.

The project strengthens engagement of marginalized and underrepresented groups and persons in vulnerable situations (MUGPV) in USAID's international development effort by facilitating partnerships between MUGPV and USAID entities like USAID Missions, Bureaus, or Independent Offices (M/B/IOs). It further enhances capacity of MUGPV by assessing existing capabilities, developing and advancing tailored capacity strengthening interventions, facilitating linkages and collaboration among MUGPV organizations, and disseminating learning strategies and best practices between and among them.

Position Description

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist (Research Associate I) is responsible for supporting the overall implementation of USAID IDEA LWA MEL activities. They will contribute to the design, and continuing refinement of the LWA's results-based M&E System, while responding to MEL needs of IDEA's evolving programmatic design and implementation strategies. The MEL Specialist (Research Associate I) will work closely with the Database Manager and liaise will IDEA field partners to ensure data collection, data storage, and reporting requirements are met and align with quality standards. The MEL Specialist (Research Associate I) will also analyze data, draft reports, and carry out data collection and analysis for technical and operations research and learning, as well as support USAID to conduct routine data quality assessments and learning activities. The MEL Specialist (Research Associate I) will report to IDEA LWA Senior MEL Officer. This is full-time position that can be based anywhere in the United States.

Essential functions include:

• Collaborates with IDEA LWA (IDEA) team to further develop and implement the Activity's strategic MEL framework, plan, Management Information System (MIS), learning, and capacity developmentapproach.
• Assists IDEA Senior MEL officer to develop and implement MEL work plans and learning agenda, and to strategize, set technical priorities, and review technical progress related to monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• Identifies opportunities to improve IDEA MEL system and respond to evolving program design and implementationstrategies.
• Assists IDEA partners, grantees, and sub-awardee organizations to develop and implement their own M&E system, integrate their information and data into IDEA MISsystems, as needed, and ensure compliance to core standards.
• Develops and deploys MEL tools for measuring program outputs, outcomes, and impact, including forms, data collection instruments, procedures, and guidelines.
• Supports Data Quality Assurance. Manages archiving processes to ensure that appropriate support documentation/means of verification is on file and easily located to back up project indicatordata.
• Cleans, organizes, aggregates, and analyzes MEL data (quantitative and qualitative) for inclusion in quarterly and annual reports, as well as for other deliverables and deadlines as needed, such as meetings, events, andpresentations.
• Ensures timely completion of all USAID datareporting requirements.
• Facilitates technical orientation and training activities to achieve MEL andMISobjectives and plans, including those relevant to data collection, data processing, data analysis and otherareas.
• Facilitates internal and external reflection and discussions with staff, technical specialists, management, USAID, stakeholders, partners, EDC teams, and others to share findings and learning from monitoring and evaluation data and/oranalyses.
• Keep abreast of theterms of the USAID contract, specifically the expected project results and targets, and ensure compliance withrequirements.
• Supports outreach and communications by providing summary data and interpretation for inclusion in publications and reports for consumption by differentaudiences.
• Participates in relevant technical or senior leadership meetings and decision-making processes, asrequested.
• Anticipates potential or actual problems or risks related to achievement of targets, MEL activities and/or data quality, and proposes appropriate recommendations to eliminate or minimize the threats orrisks.
• Demonstrates a high level of professionalism when dealing with sensitive and confidentialdocumentsandissuesandwithco-workersandEDCpartners.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Education:

• The MEL Specialist shall have at a minimum a bachelor's degree in social sciences, public health, education, project design and management, or a similar relevant field.

Required skills and experience:

• Six or more years of progressively responsible experience with M&E systems design and implementation, data collection, data analysis, and report writing r
• Demonstrated experience in monitoring program performance and results
• Experience with electronic data collection
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods and tools, such as SPSS, Excel, R-studio, QDA Miner, etc.
• Practical knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint
• Ability to prioritize and manage activities with minimal supervision.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Must be able to work independently, and within a team in a cross-cultural setting, negotiate diplomatically, and function well under pressure to meet deadlines.

Preferred skills and experience:

• Expertise in data visualization using PowerBI
• Experience with USAID reporting requirements
• Substantial experience monitoring and evaluating development sector programs
• Experience with donor-funded projects and not-for-profit organizations

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Proficiency in French, Spanish, Arabic, and/or any additional language(s) is preferred.

EDC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits. Women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Research shows that individuals from historically marginalized groups find themselves meeting many of the criteria of a job posting, yet doubting if they should apply. At EDC, we value and strive for a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Equity and excellence are inseparable. If you meet some of the preferred requirements but not all of them, and feel aligned with our vision and mission, we encourage you to apply.

Total Rewards:

EDC offers the following comprehensive benefits package for all eligible employees:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 12 paid holidays
• Generous vacation benefits for full- and part-time employees
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition and transportation reimbursement
• Robust retirement plan with TIAA/CREF (Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association/College Retirement Equities Fund)
• Paid sick time and up to 16 hours of personal time annually
• Parental leave
• Employee assistance program

This position offers an anticipated annual base salary range of approximately $58,500 to $75,000. Salary offers are made based on market analysis and internal equity.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access the EDC job opportunities website as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by e-mailingor by calling her at 800-225-4276 or 617-618-2329.