The Specialist for Sponsorship Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) contributes to ensure that the Save the Children Sponsorship Program, with annual revenue of over $80 million, has a robust MEAL system in place that generates high quality reporting regarding program results for children, evidence of impact for accountability to stakeholders. Reporting to the Sponsorship MEAL Advisor, s/he is responsible for providing country-specific MEAL technical assistance to assigned Country Offices (COs). With assigned CO counterparts, s/he will work to coach and support MEAL staff and program management staff on monitoring systems, evaluation planning, and learning activities. S/he will also develop tools, templates, and guidance to help teams improve data and results reporting.
- Provide technical assistance on monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning to assigned country programs (60%). S/he will provide technical support to a specified number of country programs currently operating sponsorship. The Specialist will use the Sponsorship Programming Guidance and SCI MEAL Operational Standards to provide technical support to MEAL teams in countries. S/he will support teams on program cycle steps (situational analyses, performance evaluations, assessments) and developing costed MEAL plans. S/he will liaise with other assigned MEAL Technical Advisors (TAs) from other departments to jointly support MEAL work in the CO. S/he will also work with other sponsorship assigned TAs to help conduct joint TA trips and participate in Sponsorship Reviews and other M&E related activities. If assigned by region, the Specialist will also support trainings and sessions for relevant regional MEAL trainings and workshops.
- Support CO teams in the development of Evaluation Designs and Plans (30%). The specialist will support CO teams to develop evaluation Statements of Work to design routine performance evaluations. Under the supervision of the MEAL Advisor, the Specialist will liaise with the evaluation and learning partners and internal teams to support the implementation of successful performance evaluations.
- Contribute to building a state-of-the-art Global Sponsorship MEAL System (10%). The Specialist will contribute to building the new Global Sponsorship MEAL infrastructure, including tools, guidance, templates, and digital platforms, as assigned by the MEAL Director.
- Minimum 3-5 years' experience in monitoring, evaluation, and/or program learning.
- Experience working in an international development setting
- Demonstrated ability to report, present and communicate results.
- Proven ability to collaborate with all levels of staff and to motivate and mobilize individuals outside their reporting line to achieve agreed operational plans.
- Ability to travel internationally 25-50% of the time.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelors’ degree in international relations, research methods, or other relevant area.
- Specific training in MEAL or Design, Monitoring & Evaluation (DME).
- Professional level of specialized knowledge to manage complex tasks, programs or projects.
- Familiarity with qualitative and quantitative research skills, including but not limited to study design, survey instrument design and use, establishing and measuring health and education indicators, sampling, data analysis plans, data cleaning, and statistical analysis.
- Proficiency in a language other than English that is relevant in one or more of the sponsorship COs (e.g. French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, or other).
- Meaningful work, with a knowledge that you are changing the lives of children all around the world
- A family friendly work environment
- Highly collaborative and innovative teams
- Generous paid vacation days, holidays, family leave days, and sick time
- Healthcare plans including medical, dental, and life insurance
- Retirement savings account with matching company contributions
- Structured and formalized management development and coaching programs for mid and senior level managers
- Extensive e-learning opportunities on a variety of topics offered through our affiliation with several prestigious universities as well as language learning opportunities