Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, September 27 2023, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
2.0. Job Purpose
• The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Manager will be a strategic, key member of the senior management staff of StrongMinds Zambia. This position reports directly to the Zambia Country Director. The successful candidate will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating initiatives, programs and projects, both new and established, providing efficiency and success from start to finish. S/he will be responsible for establishing, modifying and monitoring key performance indicators to report and will record progress for specific programs and projects within all Programs of StrongMinds Zambia.
• The MERL Manager will play a critical role of overseeing regular project progress reports and will update the organization and the department with a vision, framework and strategic plan for its M&E unit. They will coordinate with the Global Research Director, as well as MERL Managers in other locations.

3.0. Responsibilities
Data Management
• Improve data collection and management processes.
• Perform field visits to ensure the quality of data collected by field staff.
• Analyze KPI data to make recommendations to Program staff.
• Ensure that donor, partner, and senior management data queries are addressed in an accurate and timely manner.
• Run project evaluations Data Collection processes simplified (tools updated).
• Data Quality Assurance SOP developed and disseminated.
• Data Analysis reports shared.
• Regular Progress review reports shared (Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly and Bi-Annual)
System Development
• Propose strategies to increase data use and demand amongst Program staff.
• Support project/program staff on ways to properly document, organize and capture program progress
• Drive research and learning agenda at SMZ ensuring learning feeds into program design and system development.
Management of the Monitoring and Evaluation Team
• Manage a team of M&E in SMZ by, delineating their responsibilities in order to support programmatic activities of SMZ Projects and ensure these are monitored and evaluated in a timely, efficient and effective manner.
• Coach, train, and mentor M&E Officers with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity.
Reporting and Dissemination of Findings
• Prepare and ensure donor reports are of high quality and are submitted on time.
• Assess organizational and performance gaps within the SMZ program and report on corrective actions needed.
• Clarify the core information needs of management and provide relevant and timely information to the Management.
• Document the lessons learned and best practices of the SMZ program and projects.

4.0. Desired Qualifications And Competencies
Qualifications
• Grade 12 Certificate with 5 ‘O levels including Mathematics and English.
• Bachelor’s Degree qualification in Social Sciences, Development studies, Quantitative economics, Statistics, population studies or other related field with postgraduate qualification in M&E preferred.

Job-related experience, Knowledge and Behaviors
• At least (4) years of professional experience in an M&E position responsible for implementing M&E activities of development projects.
• Experience in designing, implementing, and operating project M&E systems from project initiation to closeout stages.
• Designing and managing beneficiary monitoring and database systems.
• Indicator selection, target setting, reporting, database management, and developing M&E and performance monitoring plans.
• Knowledge of the major evaluation methodologies (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method, and impact) and data collection and analysis methodologies.
• Planning and managing surveys, Developing and refining data collection tools and Data quality assessments.
• Technical: Strong Excel / Google Sheets skills required. Experience with Stata / SPSS / R / Python preferred. Languages: Excellent written and spoken command of English.

The successful Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Manager will also be expected to embrace and role model the core values of Strongminds:
• We are people focused.
• We think big and act fast.
• We are data driven.
• We do what we say and say what we do.
• We believe in collaboration, not competition.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 48

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
• Send your application letter, outlining why you want to work for StrongMinds Zambia and why you believe you are a great fit for the role based on the job description including your salary expectation. The CV should be a maximum of 2 pages highlighting how your experience directly relates to the role (attached as one document) indicating 3 professional referees, two of the three should have been direct supervisors to zambiajobs@strongminds.org  not later than 13th October, 2023. Please clearly indicate MONITORING, EVALUATION, RESEARCH AND LEARNING (MERL) MANAGER Application in the subject line.
• StrongMinds Zambia is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are therefore encouraged to apply at the earliest opportunity; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• StrongMinds is committed to prioritizing the safety and well-being of children and young people, therefore all successful applicants will be required to sign onto our safeguarding/Child Protection Policy, Code of Conduct and complete a Police Check Clearance.

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