MEAL Manager

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Manager

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Programs

LOCATION: Amman, Jordan

Child Safeguarding:

Level 3 – the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Manager of the MEAL department provides strategic oversight and operational leadership in areas of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL). S/he ensures that a high quality MEAL system is established, functional, and integrated into all aspects of Save the Children’s (SC’s) programming in Jordan. S/he facilitates capacity strengthening of MEAL staff. The incumbent facilitates the process of integrated program design with the start of developing a logical framework informed by assessments, and captures learning to inform best programming and lessons learned. S/he will also contribute to proposal narratives and MEAL tools, and ensure that all relevant organizational reporting is completed. The post holder will promote a culture of learning and accountability for the entire Programs team.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Director of Programs

Managing/Supervising: MEAL Officers

Dimensions:** The SC Jordan has a diverse program portfolio in areas of Education, Child Protection, Livelihoods, and Health, with strong intersectionality in gender and MHPSS.

Key Working Relationships:** Project Managers, Technical Advisors (TA), Awards, HR, Finance and Field Teams

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Design and Roll out of MEAL System and Tools

· Lead and strengthen the process of developing an organizational MEAL framework, systems, and structure in line with SC’s standards and procedures, ensuring accountability to donors and, most critically, the children and communities we serve.

· Oversee and guide the team in rolling out a MEAL framework, including management information systems aligned with the SC Program Quality Framework, COVID-19 reporting, and other internal requirements.

· Support Technical Advisors and Project Managers to design tools for monitoring and evaluation of project activities, and accountability to beneficiaries and donors as agreed in the MEAL framework.

· Support the field teams to ensure that the MEAL system is understood and integrated in program implementation, leading to enhanced quality, accountability, management and impact, including feeding into new/future program design.

· Assist in establishing quality benchmarks for each thematic area, developing checklists and tools to monitor benchmarks, and ensure quality monthly reports

· Facilitate participation of communities, including children in the program management cycle: assessment and program design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation; and solicit and respond to community feedback.

· Coordinate and oversee strategic and operational evaluations, including real time review, evaluations of humanitarian action, program evaluations, and baseline / end line surveys, etc.

· Ensure a clear system for accountability is in place including a robust and timely feedback and response mechanism from key stakeholders, particularly children, and presents the information to the SLT for decision making.

· Support roll out of any MEAL related IM systems (such as PPM PRIME)

· Build the MEAL Team’s capacity in data management, quality assessments, data analysis, report writing and data visualization (Power BI).

Program Design

· Ensure that learning from the previous or current programs are fed into new program design.

· Ensure appropriate indicators are included in all logical frameworks, including: child participation, gender equality, inclusion, thematic integration, and key program quality indicators as relevant and required.

· Support the program design and fundraising efforts, including log frame development, drafting narrative MEAL sections, budgeting for MEAL activities, and ensuring MEAL is an integral part of program design.

· Oversee and ensure that an inclusive process is followed in program design: inclusive and participatory assessment, including consulting communities and children, gender analysis, inclusion (disability, partnership, etc.)

· Collaborate with the TAs and field colleagues for integrated program design: child protection, gender, inclusion, marginalization, and extreme vulnerability, etc.

Promoting a Culture of Learning

· Collaborate with the Director of Programs, Technical Teams, and field-based colleagues to develop systems and forums, and clear agendas for capturing and using learning, including promoting participatory learning processes with communities and children.

· Guide the MEAL team to understand the role of MEAL throughout the project cycle, as well as key thematic indicators, and data analysis in relation to each project and thematic area.

· Maintain records of learnings for all projects, and ensure that reflection or lessons learned events and workshops are organized regularly and at the end of the projects, and that learnings are fed into new project cycles and designs.

· Communicate top level learning / analysis reports to the SLT for management decisions and advocacy and external sharing, including publications.

Country and Global Research, Evidence, and Learning

· Formulate research questions with project staff and lead on appropriate research methodologies.

· Ensure that evidence generated from the country projects is strategic, rigorous, and useful to drive impactful programming and advocacy.

· Support and contribute to Save the Children’s global and regional evidence on tracking and coordinating research activities that are linked to Global Breakthroughs.

Other

· Lead on country, regional and global MEAL assignments related to strategy, cross thematic areas, reporting, advocacy, protection and child safeguarding mainstreaming

· Ensure effective resources for the MEAL team are budgeted for and utilized effectively.

· Support in SC internal reporting processes, such as annual Total Reach reports, programme KPIs global COVID response monitoring, etc.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice):

General:

As a leader of the MEAL Team, demonstrates behaviours that are consistent with Save the Children’s Mission, Vision, and Values and ensure their broader application by staff across the program.

Accountability:

· Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.

· Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

· Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same.

· Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.

· Future orientated, thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

· Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members, and external partners and supporters.

· Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength.

· Harnesses internal and external technical resources in ways that can benefit the country program.

Creativity:

· Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions

· Willing to take disciplined risks

· Actively seeks new ways to develop the application of technical and professional standards within programs with limited budget.

Integrity:

· Honest, encourages openness and transparency

· Demonstrates personal integrity and commitment to Save the Children values and policies.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Essential

· Master’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Economics, Development Studies, Sociology, Social Science, Statistics, Business Administration, Public Health, or relevant field

· At least 7 years of experience in MEAL related roles in an INGO environment

· Excellent understanding of different components of MEAL and skills in leading MEAL systems

· Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English

· Sound conceptual understanding in advancing gender equality in programming and at workplace

· Experience of, and commitment to, working through systems of community participation and accountability

· Previous experience of managing a team and managing projects

· Demonstrated skills in oversight of research, assessment, and evaluations

· Hands on experience in strategic planning processes

· Excellent interpersonal communication skills

· Ability to work independently with very limited oversight and support

· Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff

· Excellent documentation and report writing skills

· Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact, and diplomacy

· Adherence to aims and principles of SC: good understanding of SC mandate and commitment to child participation.

Desirable

· Prior experience with Save the Children

· Experience in advancing gender equality and local partnerships

Additional Job Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Child Safeguarding

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

** Qualified male and female candidates are welcome to apply.​