Evaluation Team Leader

Job Posting Organization:
UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) has been operational in Thailand since 1971, focusing on enhancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), promoting gender equality, empowering young people, and strengthening the generation and use of population data for development. The organization is currently implementing its 12th Country Programme (2022-2026) in partnership with the Government of Thailand. UNFPA's mission is to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The organization operates in numerous countries worldwide, with a commitment to addressing global challenges such as maternal health, family planning, and gender-based violence. UNFPA's strategic plan for 2022-2025 emphasizes the importance of evidence-based programming and accountability, particularly in light of the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women's and girls' access to health services.

Job Overview:
The Evaluation Team Leader will be responsible for the overall design and implementation of the Country Programme Evaluation (CPE) for UNFPA Thailand. This role involves ensuring the quality, coherence, and timely submission of all evaluation deliverables in accordance with the Terms of Reference (ToR). The Evaluation Team Leader will lead and coordinate the evaluation team, working closely with the National Evaluator on Data and Population Dynamics and the Young and Emerging Evaluator (YEE) to foster a robust, inclusive, and capacity-building approach. The position requires a strong commitment to ethical standards and the integration of human rights and gender perspectives throughout the evaluation process. The Evaluation Team Leader will also serve as a technical expert in one of the thematic areas of the country programme, contributing to the evaluation design, data collection, and analysis.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Leadership and Coordination: Lead the design, planning, and execution of the CPE; oversee and coordinate the evaluation team, ensuring clear roles and effective communication; ensure that evaluation deliverables meet UNFPA quality standards and are submitted on time; work closely with the CPE Manager for methodological guidance; foster a collaborative working environment for knowledge sharing and capacity building.
• Design and Methodology Development: Lead the drafting and presentation of the Design Report; define the evaluation approach, methodology, work plan, and agenda for the field phase in consultation with the CPE Manager; ensure adherence to UNFPA Evaluation Guidelines and best practices; integrate qualitative and quantitative methods for robust analysis.
• Field Phase and Data Collection: Oversee field data collection implementation; guide the evaluation team in conducting interviews, focus groups, surveys, and site visits; ensure ethical and participatory data collection approaches; work closely with the National Evaluator to ensure demographic and statistical accuracy.
• Analysis, Reporting, and Quality Assurance: Lead the drafting of the draft and final evaluation reports; ensure clarity, depth, and evidence-based conclusions; coordinate with team members to integrate their thematic expertise; maintain regular communication with the CPE Manager for guidance.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Presentation of Findings: Present key evaluation findings to the Evaluation Reference Group (ERG), Country Office (CO), and stakeholders; lead discussions on evaluation results and recommendations; facilitate stakeholder engagement throughout the evaluation process.
• Thematic and Evaluation Expertise: Provide technical expertise in areas such as Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Adolescents and Youth, or Gender Equality and GBV; contribute to evaluation design, data collection, and analysis, ensuring rigorous assessment in the area of focus.

Required Qualifications:
Master’s degree in public health, social sciences, demography, population studies, statistics, development studies, or a related field. At least 7 years of experience conducting or managing assessments in international development. Extensive experience in leading complex evaluations commissioned by UN organizations or other international organizations and NGOs. Demonstrated expertise in one of the thematic areas of the country programme covered by the evaluation. In-depth knowledge of theory-based evaluation approaches and ability to apply both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Ability to ensure ethics and integrity of the evaluation process, including confidentiality and the principle of do no harm. Excellent management and leadership skills to coordinate the evaluation team. Strong ability to share technical evaluation skills and knowledge. Experience with a multidisciplinary team of experts. Excellent ability to analyze and synthesize large volumes of data and information from diverse sources. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and spoken). Work experience in/good knowledge of the region and Thailand's national development contexts.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in public health, social sciences, demography, population studies, statistics, development studies, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure that the Evaluation Team Leader possesses the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively conduct evaluations and assessments in the context of international development and population studies.

Experience:
The position requires at least 7 years of experience in conducting or managing assessments in international development. Candidates should have extensive experience in leading complex evaluations commissioned by United Nations organizations and/or other international organizations and NGOs. This level of experience is crucial to ensure that the Evaluation Team Leader can navigate the complexities of the evaluation process and deliver high-quality results.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. This proficiency is essential for effective communication, report writing, and stakeholder engagement throughout the evaluation process. While English is the primary language required, knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly if they are relevant to the context of the evaluation or the populations being assessed.

Additional Notes:
The Evaluation Team Leader position is expected to work remotely, with a duration of 45 days from April 21, 2025, to November 30, 202

• The role involves one trip to Bangkok and Chiang Mai for the fieldwork (data collection) phase. The position offers attractive consultant fees, with payment made against deliverables. UNFPA promotes a work environment that reflects values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and healthy work-life balance, encouraging applications from underrepresented groups.