Manager Research, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning, and Monitoring (Manager- REALM)

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3: The post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g., once a week or more) or intensively (e.g., four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Chief of Party

Staff reporting to this post: REALM Officers

Direct: Up to six individuals

Indirect: None

Budget Responsibilities: As required

Role Dimensions: Save the Children, Pakistan (SC Pakistan) is seeking a Manager—Research, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning, and Monitoring (REALM) for its USDA-funded McGovern Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program in Pakistan. The Sindh Sustainable School Meals (SSSM) project which will be implemented in three districts of Sindh including Karachi and Sujawal, to reach 530 schools and over 150,000 direct beneficiaries throughout the course of the project.

Under the supervision of the Chief of Party the Manager-REALM will be responsible for developing SSSM’s systems, skills, and approaches to designing and successfully implementing methodologies, policies, systems, and capacities for research, monitoring, evaluation, and ongoing learning in ways that facilitate and improve project outcomes. The Manager-REALM will promote and enable SSSM’s culture and practices of measuring progress against plans and learning from evidence and successes as well as challenges, and will be responsible for providing technical leadership and oversight on monitoring and evaluation strategies, including but not limited to: systems for data collection by SSSM staff and partners, monitoring and reporting on USDA indicators, knowledge management, impact evaluations, learning activities, and liaising with third part evaluators/partners on SSSM baseline, midline, and endline needs or research efforts, while coordinating closely with SC Pakistan Country and Save the Children International (SC International) leadership and technical advisors.

KEY AREAS OF MEAL:

Key Responsibility Areas:

• Design, develop, and oversee implementation of a robust quantitative and qualitative Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) system with SSSM to ensure compliance on project indicators in ways that are responsive to community, stakeholder, and donor requirements while also supporting program quality improvements.
• Design qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation efforts to assess the impact of the SSSM project.
• Create/improve data systems and capacities—collection, storage, use—to increase accountability, efficiency, and scalablity of SSSM activities.
• Act as the key technical lead for MEL quality design, including tools, methods, and budgets tailored to the context and technical requirements of the project. Ensure the use of diverse, cost-effective, and blended qualitative and quantitative methodologies such as key informant interviews, e-surveys, videos, student/teacher portfolios, and other tested approaches for more robust data collection and verification.
• Explore and provide recommendations for innovative technologies and approaches to streamline monitoring, evaluation, and other operational functions.
• Promote learning with SSSM project staff and partner teams and facilitate Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation (CLA) strategies including training and oversight of SC and partner monitoring staff and third-party researchers as needed.
• Ensure operationalization of robust quality assurance benchmarks and data quality assurance review process.
• Manage and implement all MEL activities throughout relevant project cycles—from startup to implementation and closure in line with SC Pakistan and SC International’s policies and procedures, donor requirements, program quality principles, and standards of best practice.
• Work closely with Operations and Finance teams for KPI and cost-effectiveness reporting.
• Conduct field visits and provide active field-level leadership and engagement during all data collection, validation, and monitoring processes to ensure data quality and timely completion and compilation of data.
• Champion identification of best practices and lessons learned through ongoing sharing with Chief of Party and technical leads, and ensure dissemination within SSSM team and partners, as well as with key stakeholders in line with SSSM’s broader policy and advocacy efforts.
• Present data to Chief of Party and technical leads on challenge areas and offer specific course correction suggestions.
• Support building USDA, SC Pakistan, and SC International in building a knowledge base for the SSSM project and on food for education approaches through research and partnerships with international academic/research institutions.
• Recruit, mentor, and effectively manage field-based SSSM and partner staff to ensure that MEL activities are completed on schedule and at a high-level of quality.
• Coordinate closely with SSSM and SC Pakistan’s Safeguarding team and partners to establish necessary Feedback Response Mechanisms (FRM) in compliance with organizational Safeguarding and Do No Harm policies. Ensure FRM tracker maintenance and reporting and oversee availability of multiple proactive and reactive channels so that SSSM activities are responsive to donor, stakeholder, and participants.
• Participate in any provincial/federal/international working groups and represent SSSM as required and demonstrate highest levels of professional excellence.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (SCI Values in Practice):

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.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in social sciences, international development, or statistics required.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:

Required/Essential:

• Minimum of twelve years MEAL experience on senior advisor/specialist level positions with extensive proven experience both in Pakistan as well as internationally.
• Experience with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) or other United States Government (USG) projects and in particular with evaluation tools and methodologies applied on such projects to capture teacher, learning environment, and student data including (but not limited to) the Early Grades Reading Assessment (EGRA) and the Early Grades Mathematics Assessment (EGMA).
• Previous experience as Deputy Chief of Party and/or senior-project management positions with cross-functional MEL and program management expertise (even if short-term).
• Demonstrated experience in education, health, nutrition, WASH, construction, and humanitarian efforts.
• Publications/reports or evidence of research and evaluation efforts conducted and documented.
• Experience of analysing quantitative and qualitative data using analysis software and a high-degree of fluency in Excel, SPSS, and other software packages as well as ways to represent data using infographics and dashboards.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation, and coaching.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.
• Ability and willingness to spend extensive time in project field locations/implementation sites working alongside project staff and partners for at least 30% of the time, or more as needed based on project requirements.
• Fluency in Sindhi, Urdu, and English; both verbal and written.
• Demonstrated, current field-based experience and strong networks in Sindh.

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.

Equal Opportunities:

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures. Females are encouraged to apply.

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.

Safeguarding our Staff:

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy.

Health and Safety:

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Save the Children has zero tolerance towards Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Fraud, Bribery and Corruption.