Learning and Evaluation Specialist, Monitoring and Evaluation Program for Lebanon

Job Description

Project Summary:

The Monitoring and Evaluation Program for Lebanon (MEPL) supplements the monitoring, evaluation, and program management efforts of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) staff in Lebanon. MSI partners with prime contractor, EnCompass, to deliver the MEPL project. The program’s primary goal is to improve performance management to help the Mission make better-informed strategic and management decisions and advance USAID learning on effective development approaches.

**Please note: Only Lebanon citizens are eligible for this position.**

Position Summary:

The Learning and Evaluation Specialist will work on MEPL under the supervision of the project’s Senior Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Specialist. The position will be based in Beirut with occasional travel throughout Lebanon. The Specialist will participate in planning, designing, implementing, reporting on, and disseminating learning and capacity development activities as well as evaluations, assessments, activity monitoring, and other related tasks. The candidate will contribute to programmatic learning and capacity development events MEPL develops collaboratively with program technical staff from USAID/Lebanon and its implementing partner (IP) organizations. The Specialist will also contribute to the completion of evaluation, assessment, and program monitoring tasks such as data quality assessments and project site verifications in response to evolving USAID and MEPL needs. MEPL staff from both MSI and EnCompass work on a team basis to plan and deliver the project’s technical products.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate, schedule, and support implementation of learning activities such as meetings, workshops, trainings, communities of practice, and focus groups for Mission and IP stakeholders with the guidance from MEPL’s Senior CLA Specialist.
• Directly facilitate or provide background support for MEPL learning and capacity development events.
• Prepare a range of documents including, but not limited to, meeting agendas and notes, task schedules, concept notes, briefs, fact sheets, and other relevant materials.
• Participate in planning and conducting interim and end-of-project evaluations for USAID activities, as well as other performance and impact evaluations, special studies, assessments, and surveys as needed/requested in collaboration with the MEPL Data Generation Group.
• Support the design of appropriate research and evaluation tools and modification of existing tools when needed.
• Collect primary and secondary data and conduct related research and analysis as needed.
• Work collaboratively with the Mission’s staff and IPs to provide fast, flexible, robust, and rigorous learning, capacity development, evaluation, and related services.
• Participate in building the capacity of selected local organizations in their monitoring, evaluation, and learning methodologies.
• Utilize participatory approaches in conducting learning and evaluation activities, involving IPs and stakeholders throughout the process, as appropriate.
• Draft reports and dissemination materials based on research, and evaluation findings that communicate program progress, results and lessons learned.
• Create and maintain various databases and progress documents.
• Other tasks as needed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, social science, economics, or a related field required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum five years of experience contributing to the design and implementation of program evaluation, preferably for USAID or similar donors is required.
• Minimum five years of experience supporting programmatic collaboration, learning, and adaptation of international donors and implementing organizations is required.
• Demonstrated qualitative and quantitative social sciences skills required.
• Familiarity with statistical software as SPSS and qualitative analysis software such as Dedoose preferred.
• Demonstrated abilities in all Microsoft Office Suite software required.
• Experience with experimental or quasi-experimental designs preferred.
• Experience using participatory approaches in conducting evaluations preferred.
• Experience evaluating or researching youth or gender-focused programs will be considered favorably.
• Demonstrated facilitation and training skills, preferably related to monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning preferred.
• Experience managing complex tasks, setting realistic priorities, and planning for the successful implementation tasks, particularly in programmatic learning, research, and evaluation.
• Experience preparing dissemination materials such as briefing notes, memoranda, presentations, and infographics that distill complex topics for decision-makers and/or public audiences.
• Experience with donor activities in international development assistance; familiarity with USAID strongly preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including presentations and preparation of technical reports in professional English.
• Fluency in English and Arabic required.

MSI is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We strive to develop and maintain a culture that honors the perspectives and identities of our employees, our communities and those impacted by our work.

We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants’ and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.

MSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities/Veterans Employer.

Reasonable Accommodations:

MSI is dedicated to hiring an inclusive workforce. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations during the application process, please visit Tetra Tech’s Disability Assistance Page. Our recruitment team looks forward to engaging in an interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations for candidates.

Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

About the Organization

Company Profile:

Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.