Strategic Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager

Job Description

SNV is seeking a dynamic and pragmatic professional to become part of the SNV Kenya team, appointed under the Country Director with a functional management line to the Global Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (PME) team. The MEL Manager is a senior position that works at the MEL system level across all projects within a country portfolio. This position is created to implement SNVs global MEL Investment Plan (MEL IP) 2024-2026.

The MEL Manager is a strategic, highly skilled position that focuses on the quality establishment and quality assurance of project and country level MEL systems, facilitation of project and country level learning frameworks, and capacity development of existing M&E staff. They coach project M&E Advisors & staff with MEL responsibilities.

The solutions that the Strategic MEL manager will drive forward at country-level are:

Improving quality & maximising the use of country and project MEL systems via mobilisation of existing M&E staff and sector staff at country level Growing data analytics capacities including critical analysis and using data for adaptive project management. Contribution to stronger knowledge management and learning through improved change measurement and the establishment of integrated country and project learning framework.

Responsibilities

Establishment of the country MEL system with guidance from Global PME and taking the lead on initiation, implementation, and continual improvement. Acting on improvement areas with the country team and relevant sector/global staff. Contributing to stronger knowledge management and ensuring lessons learned are applied in daily practice. Steering (functionally) & coaching M&E and other country and project level colleagues towards compliance with the country MEL system and its ownership.  Leadership on prioritisation of MEL and a focus on quality. Modelling a culture of MEL and leads by example with regards to critical reflection, recognition of failure/weaknesses, and continual learning Focusing on the quality of project implementation linked to learning and adaptive management. Establishes systems to assure the quality of MEL activities, data, and products. Facilitating the design and implementation of planning, monitoring and evaluation capacity development initiatives at country level. Stimulating relevant PME topics and best practices within the organisation through relevant learning and knowledge sharing initiatives. Supporting relevant global PME processes as required.

Qualifications

Strong background in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) including quantitative and qualitative methodologies. A minimum of 6 years of relevant work experience in MEL in the development sector, consultancy firm, research institute and/or businesses with experience of working in a developing country context. Solid experience of successfully setting up new systems, processes, and/or initiatives related to MEL. A strong understanding of and experience in facilitating theory of change development and review and the development and use of high-level results frameworks. Experience of conducting and quality assuring assessments and/or evaluations that include primary data collection. Experience in designing and facilitating iterative learning processes. Strong communication and influencing skills with practical experience of leading collaborative processes. Team player, strong interpersonal skills, used to working in multi-cultural environments. Excellent English with French language highly desirable. Experience of conducting and quality assuring assessments and/or evaluations that include primary data collection. Familiarity with SNVâs leading sectors: Agriculture, Energy, and Water Willingness and ability to travel.