MEAL Manager (national position)

Job Posting Organization:
Relief International (RI) is an international non-profit organization established to partner with communities affected by conflict, climate change, and disasters. The organization aims to save lives, build resilience, and promote long-term health and wellbeing. With a workforce of over 7,000 staff and local volunteers, RI operates in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, focusing on Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education, and Livelihoods programming. RI's mission is executed through a collaborative approach with local actors to develop safe, inclusive, evidence-based, conflict-sensitive, and climate-smart programming that reaches those in need. The organization is an alliance of four entities: Relief International, Inc., Relief International-France, Relief International-UK, and Relief International-Europe, all functioning under a unified leadership team and shared mission.

Job Overview:
The MEAL Manager will be responsible for leading and enhancing the implementation of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) systems across all geographical areas covered by Relief International in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt). This role is crucial for ensuring quality, effectiveness, and accountability in program delivery by overseeing evaluations, monitoring, learning processes, and data-driven decision-making. The MEAL Manager will drive the development, integration, and continuous improvement of MEAL systems, ensuring robust data collection, analysis, and reporting mechanisms. The position requires close collaboration with RI teams and partners to enhance accountability, learning, and adaptive programming. Additionally, the MEAL Manager will support proposal development, budgeting for MEAL activities, and compliance with donor requirements, ensuring that all MEAL practices align with organizational standards and donor expectations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The MEAL Manager will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Accountability and Complexity: Ensure the MEAL system is fully integrated into design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design and implementation, aligning with donor and RI standards. Lead the development and improvement of cross-sectoral MEAL frameworks, tools, and methodologies. Conduct in-depth analysis of program data to inform decision-making, strategy, and program adaptation. Oversee beneficiary feedback mechanisms to ensure accountability to affected communities. Ensure accurate and timely reporting on program impact, learning, and donor compliance.
• System Strengthening and Technical Leadership: Develop and oversee the roll-out of an organizational MEAL system that supports both emergency and development programming. Integrate mobile technology and digital tools for data collection, analysis, and reporting where feasible. Provide technical guidance on assessments, evaluations, and surveys, including methodologies for target setting, logframe development, and reporting for RI and implementing partners. Support third-party monitoring (TPM) activities, including developing Terms of Reference (ToRs), reviewing reports, and providing technical feedback. Drive continuous learning through structured reviews of program implementation, effectiveness, and impact.
• Capacity Building and Staff Development: Lead and mentor MEAL teams within RI and its implementing partners, ensuring alignment with international standards and best practices. Build the capacity of RI staff and partners on MEAL best practices, including accountability, participation, and digital data collection tools. Develop and implement MEAL training programs for RI and partner staff, ensuring continuous professional development. Conduct field visits to provide hands-on training, coaching, and technical support.
• Management and Leadership: Oversee the recruitment, onboarding, and professional development of MEAL staff. Ensure the MEAL system operates effectively with strong linkages between field and country-level teams. Provide leadership and technical oversight to MEAL staff across RI hubs. Represent RI in inter-agency coordination bodies and MEAL working groups.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Master’s degree in social sciences, statistics, international development, or a related field. Candidates must have a minimum of 4 years of experience in MEAL within humanitarian or development organizations. Proven experience in designing MEAL frameworks, logframes, and performance monitoring plans is essential. Strong experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including survey design and data analysis, is required. Knowledge of MEAL requirements for major donors such as USAID, ECHO, DFID, and BPRM is necessary. Candidates must demonstrate fluency in English and Arabic, along with advanced proficiency in Excel, Power BI, and statistical software such as SPSS, STATA, and EPI-Info. Additionally, candidates should possess strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, as well as the ability to manage teams and build MEAL capacity in complex environments.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in social sciences, statistics, international development, or a related field. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of MEAL systems and their implementation in humanitarian and development contexts.

Experience:
The role requires a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in MEAL within humanitarian or development organizations. Candidates should have a proven track record of designing MEAL frameworks and performance monitoring plans, as well as experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Familiarity with MEAL requirements for major donors is also essential.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in these languages is crucial for effective communication with stakeholders, reporting, and ensuring accountability in program delivery. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not required.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a national role, and it may involve travel depending on the duty station. The role requires standard pre-employment checks and is expected to adhere to the highest standards of behavior as outlined in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies. The MEAL Manager will be expected to model ethical conduct standards for team members and ensure that the actions of the team do not compromise the safety of RI staff and the vulnerable communities served. The position may involve full-time engagement, and specific details regarding contract duration and compensation will be discussed during the hiring process.