Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Specialist 1 at Highlight Technologies

This position is located in the Learning and Knowledge Management (LKM) Division in the Program Office (PO) within USAID’s Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI). DDI serves as USAID’s leader for technical assistance in democracy and governance, economics and market development, education, energy, environment, human rights, and infrastructure. DDI also provides expert guidance and training on cross-cutting development priorities, including women’s empowerment and gender equality, innovation, technology and research, private-sector engagement, while increasing USAID’s partnerships with diverse organizations, such as local and faith-based groups. The DDI Program Office manages the core program functions for the DDI Bureau to operate effectively, including but not limited to monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL).

The MERL Specialist will support MERL efforts within DDI by providing technical advice and guidance to DDI offices/centers/hubs, implementing partners, and missions related to performance monitoring, annual reporting, data management and rollout in the Development Information Solution (DIS), data visualization, and use of data across enterprise data systems for learning and adaptive management throughout the program cycle. The MERL Specialist will be responsible for working with the team to ensure that MERL data is utilized for decision-making. The MERL Specialist will also be responsible for leading efforts to develop succinct guidance documents, templates, training materials, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) all of which are to be cleared with LKM leadership before dissemination. The MERL Specialist should have strong stakeholder engagement skills and be able to work effectively in a team.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategies and workplans so that DDI staff are able to readily access high-quality performance monitoring data in DIS and other enterprise/Bureau systems to use for adaptive management.
• Develop and implement strategies and workplans so that any enterprise systems are (a) requirements-based; (b) implemented with a lens as to what is best for the enterprise, vice bespoke features or requirements; (c) in line with knowledge management and organizational learning policies and procedures; and (d) designed with learning and adaptive management as the end-state.
• Coordinate with DDI centers/hubs/offices to identify and understand their priorities, pain points, and equities as it relates to performance monitoring data management and use.
• Coordinate with the DIS team so that the product team, enterprise-training team, O&M team, and business owner team all understand DDI MEL priorities and requirements, which are fed into DIS development and O&M
• Coordinate with other bureaus and missions across USAID to develop advocates for DDI priorities and equities as it relates to performance monitoring data management and use.
• Develop and facilitate tailored training sessions for USAID staff, implementing partners, and leadership related to performance monitoring systems using a human-centered design approach.
• Develop and disseminate succinct and engaging job aids for USAID staff, implementing partners, and leadership related to performance monitoring systems using a human-centered design approach.
• Support broader efforts to implement the Agency Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning Policy and aligned procedures.
• Coordinate the efforts of centers/hubs/offices across the Bureau to collect and report on data that feed into reporting requirements such as the Performance Plan and Report (PPR), the Annual Performance Plan and Report (APP/APR), and the OMB Strategic Review.
• Support the M&E team in the development and implementation of high-quality, succinct guidance documents, Frequently Asked Questions, training, and job aids for MEL-related tasks and reporting requirements.
• Support the M&E team in the development of MEL guidance, templates, tools, and best practices for project/activity-level MEL such as logic models, monitoring plans, monitoring checklists, Data Quality Assessments, and evaluation use plan templates.
• Support M&E team efforts to institutionalize the use of M&E findings in decisions by program managers and in strategic programming, policy, and budgeting decisions by DDI.

Qualifications

• 3-10 years of relevant experience.
• B.A/B.S. degree required.
• Experience in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (preferably for a U.S. government agency implementing foreign assistance or an implementing partner that has performed this work for the USG).
• Familiarity with USAID or U.S. Department of State-funded foreign assistance programs.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills.
• Detail-oriented; able to dive into the weeds while also understanding implications.
• Proactive; able to drive tasks to successful completion.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Strong communication skills, including ability to write succinctly.
• Strong time management skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Strong Excel skills skills.