MEL Lead

Job Posting Organization:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a global humanitarian organization that responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises. Founded in 1933, IRC has been at the forefront of providing assistance to those affected by conflict and disaster. The organization operates in over 40 countries and has a workforce of more than 14,000 employees. IRC's mission is to help people survive, recover, and rebuild their lives, focusing on health, education, economic wellbeing, and safety. The organization is committed to promoting equity, inclusion, and safeguarding in all its programs, ensuring that the most vulnerable populations receive the support they need.

Job Overview:
The MEL Lead position is a core team role within the International Rescue Committee's bid for the FCDO's Girls and Out-of-School Children: Action for Learning Programme (GOAL) in Pakistan. This role is pivotal in developing and implementing the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) strategy for the program, which is designed to enhance educational outcomes for marginalized children. The MEL Lead will be responsible for ensuring that the MEL strategy aligns with the program's Theory of Change and logframe, focusing on data collection, management, analysis, and the use of innovative methodologies. The position requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including provincial education departments and other partners, to ensure that MEL evidence informs technical decision-making and program implementation. The MEL Lead will also play a crucial role in building the MEL capacity of provincial government counterparts, contributing to the program's systems-strengthening approach.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The MEL Lead will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Leading the production of the program's MEL strategy, ensuring it covers all aspects of data collection, management, analysis, and dissemination.
• Proposing and applying innovative MEL methodologies that capture progress in systems thinking and political contexts.
• Developing and maintaining the program's logframe, including establishing baseline data in collaboration with relevant partners.
• Designing real-time monitoring activities that integrate into existing government systems.
• Tracking and reporting on Value for Money (VfM) and ensuring that MEL data is disaggregated by gender, disability, and other factors.
• Preparing annual MEL Strategy documents and contributing to quarterly progress reports.
• Building MEL capacity within provincial government counterparts to strengthen their data systems.
• Collaborating with other team members to ensure that MEL findings inform program management and donor reporting.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates for the MEL Lead position must possess the following qualifications:

• An advanced degree in monitoring and evaluation, statistics, social science, education, or a related field.
• Substantial senior MEL leadership experience, ideally 8-10+ years, on complex donor-funded programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in adaptive and developmental MEL methodologies, moving beyond conventional approaches.
• Strong experience in developing and managing logframes and Theories of Change.
• Familiarity with KPI-linked payment structures and donor reporting requirements, particularly those of FCDO.
• Experience with education data systems in Pakistan or similar contexts is strongly preferred.
• Excellent written and spoken English; proficiency in Urdu or other regional languages is an advantage.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for the MEL Lead position includes an advanced degree in a relevant field such as monitoring and evaluation, statistics, social science, or education. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of monitoring and evaluation in the context of educational programs and for effectively leading the MEL strategy.

Experience:
The position requires substantial experience, specifically 8-10+ years in senior MEL leadership roles, particularly in complex donor-funded programs. Candidates should have a proven track record of working with adaptive and politically informed programming, as well as experience in developing and managing MEL frameworks and methodologies.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as the MEL Lead will be responsible for producing reports and communicating findings to stakeholders. Proficiency in Urdu and/or other relevant regional languages is considered advantageous, as it will facilitate communication with local partners and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is contingent on the outcome of the bid for the FCDO's GOAL program. The contract duration is expected to be up to 38 months, with a potential extension. The role is full-time and exclusive to the contract, and the IRC is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, IRC considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.