Job Description
BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION
The USAID Project Management Specialist (Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning [MEL]) is located in the Health Office, HIV/AIDS PEPFAR Team, and plays a lead role in the development of effective strategic information and monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems in support of the full range of Contracting/Agreement Officer’s Representative (C/AOR) managing Mission Health programs/projects/activities.
The Specialist applies evaluation research to the monitoring of program/project/activity implementation in order to document results, and to translate MEL and other data into meaningful policy and program improvements. The Specialist serves as a subject matter expert and key contributor to strengthening the capacity of information systems, providing senior-level technical guidance to Health Office leaders, the broader USAID Mission, implementing partners (IPs) involved in program monitoring and evaluation, and within the cooperating country government. The Specialist serves as a C/AOR or Activity Manager, responsible for providing technical and programmatic guidance to assigned activities.
The Specialist is a key member of the Health Office, HIV/AIDS PEPFAR Team. The jobholder reports to the USAID Project Management Specialist (HIV Team Lead) and has no formal supervisory responsibility.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Program/Project/Activity Performance Management and Reporting (30%)
- Provides senior/high level technical guidance to Health Office, Mission staff, IPs, and other USG agencies on MEL concepts, processes, design, training, and best practices.
- Provides expert direction and technical guidance in the implementation of the Health Office portions of the Mission Performance Management Plan (PMP), and Health Office responsibilities from Mission PMP; and, MEL services and support to IPs in the development and implementation of program/project/activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plans.
- Provides guidance to IPs in understanding of the Performance Monitoring Plan systems, and their role in the process, and advises on specific measurement techniques appropriate for their programs/projects/activities.
- Provides technical monitoring and evaluation (M&E) expertise to the Program Office, USAID/Washington, and other USG agencies in order to plan and manage Health Office responsibilities related to the PMP, including collection, assessment of validity, and improving data quality.
- Develops innovative and cross-cutting monitoring tools, including Data Quality Assessment and Improvement (DQA/I) tools in coordination with the Program Office and MEL contractors; tracks and maintains multiple sets of key indicators, common indicators related to standard components in all USAID programs/projects/activities, indicators at the strategic objective level, and detailed indicators at the activity level; and, ensures proper collection of data, and that indicators serve is an appropriate measure of their corresponding result.
- Provides technical leadership to C/AORs and IPs to ensure activity work plans and monitoring plans include relevant and effective performance measures, which together provide greater results and more accurate measurements.
- Leads, designs and performs assessments/studies/research requiring independent analysis and interpretation, on a regular and recurring basis; studies and research are cross-cutting, and include substantive and often sensitive Mission and Health Office topics. Briefs Health Office and Mission leaders on findings and makes recommendations to impact strategic, operational and programmatic direction.
- Provides expert guidance to Health Office technical staff on defining measurable indicators and targets for desired results addressed by their program / project / activity, and edits quarterly, semi-annual, and annual performance reports.
- In collaboration with the Mission Program Office, leads the Health Office compilation and reporting on the annual Performance Plan and Report (PPR) to Congress and ensures all required indicators have appropriate targets and data are collected and reported on by IPs.
- Leads USAID’s support to the cooperating country government for the development and management of a national information system, and a central repository (data warehouse) for Health data; and, serves as USAID point of contact for health data and information systems.
Evaluation and Organizational Learning (30%)
- Provides technical guidance and leadership to ensure evaluations are properly planned and carried out in a high quality and professional manner, by aiding Health Office C/AORs to draft appropriate Scopes of Work (SOWs) for evaluation Teams, by actual participation in and/or leading evaluation Teams, and by ensuring that Team comments on draft evaluation reports are reflected in final reports.
- Leads a team in the development and execution of an evaluation plan that ensures compliance with USAID Evaluation Policy. Advises thematic teams/working groups and technical specialists on planning, designing, and implementing appropriate Evaluation Plans.
- Provides technical guidance and leadership to other USG agencies in the development, preparation, and dissemination of results of Public Health evaluations, Demographic Health Surveys, etc.
- Leads cross-cutting evaluations, and supports prioritization and implementation of recommendations, as required.
- Manages the Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) component of Health Office activities.
- Organizes and leads roundtables and consultations with Health Office staff, IPs, and other stakeholders to develop a Learning Agenda for Health interventions; identifies mechanisms for implementing research; and, manages implementation of research and evaluation activities and dissemination of results.
- Provides technical leadership and oversight to the Ministry of Health and other cooperating country government staff to ensure that national-level data is available and reliable, and works with inter-agency Heads of Departments and senior technical staff to ensure that USG data contributes to an accurate picture of the situation on the ground, that double-counting is avoided, and that results are attributable to USAID (and USG) interventions.
Project Management (30%)
- Serves as a C/AOR and/or Activity Manager for MEL programs/projects/activities awarded through the Health Office, providing financial and programmatic oversight to ensure contracts and grants achieve anticipated results, and are linked to and enhance attainment of the Health Office, Mission, and USG objectives.
- Conducts site visits and data quality audits, as required, in order to monitor progress, and to provide technical and programmatic recommendations to ensure effectiveness, efficiency and judicious use of USG funding.
Representation (10%)
- Represents the Health Office, Mission, and USG at national and/or international technical and programmatic meetings, and in consultations with other social sector donors, government officials, and IPs.
- Provides technical and strategic leadership in the preparation of key annual and midterm planning reporting documents including Congressional Budget Justifications, Technical Notifications, Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports.
- Drafts talking points and/or speeches for the Office Chief, Mission Director, Ambassador and others, as required, and prepares briefing papers, presentations, and coordinates site preparations for VIP site visits.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
To be considered for this position, offerors must meet the following minimum qualifications:
a. Education – Master’s degree or local equivalent from an accredited program in social science, statistics, mathematics, economics, computer science, epidemiology, health informatics, public health, infectious disease, zoonotic disease, biology or other quantitative discipline, or the local equivalent, is required. Note: Additional education may NOT be substituted for experience.
b. Prior Work Experience – Five (5) years of progressively responsible job-related professional-level experience in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) and other surveillance systems, evaluation of program/project/activity implementation, in direct program/project/activity management, or in a closely related activity is required. At least two (2) years of this experience in a development-oriented workplace, or a related field, for other donor agencies, cooperating country organizations, or private-sector institutions, and which included project design, performance monitoring, and/or the analysis and interpretation of large amounts of data, is required. Note: Additional experience may NOT be substituted for education.
c. Language Proficiency/Communication Skills – Level IV (advance professional proficiency) language proficiency in English and in Tagalog (local language) in speaking, reading, and writing is required. With this level of proficiency, the Specialist is expected to: prepare regular and ad hoc reports, project documentation, and briefing papers, develop and deliver professional quality reports and presentations, and possess the ability to translate, on occasion, when the Specialist may need to act as an interpreter.
d. Job Knowledge – The Specialist must have in depth, professional-level knowledge of development approaches and methods for performance analysis, data visualization, and program design, monitoring and evaluation. The Specialist must have excellent knowledge of MEL systems, public health programming, and international donor operations in the sector. The Specialist must have knowledge and understanding of the economic, political, social, and cultural characteristics of the cooperating country; development problems in the health sector in the cooperating country and the region; an understanding of the resources, resource constraints, and overall development prospects and priorities of the cooperating country and the region. The Specialist must have working knowledge of USG legislation, policy, and practice relating to monitoring, evaluation, and learning, and of USAID programming policies, regulations, procedures, and documentation, and of the objectives, methodology, and status of assigned activities.
e. Skills and Abilities – The Specialist must have the ability to plan, organize and execute complex MEL activities, including the ability to provide technical leadership and apply this ability to programming in the cooperating country and the region. The Specialist must have the ability to issue precise and accurate factual reports using rigorous analytical and interpretive skills. Excellent communication skills both writing and speaking, especially in being able to communicate technical subjects to individuals with nontechnical background. This role requires the ability to respond professionally and adjust in fluid situations in order to meet deadlines in the face of competing priorities and time pressures. Excellent computer and software skills including ability in Excel, SPSS, STATA, R and/or other analytical databases.
CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: May 22, 2024 / 11:59 PM, Philippine Standard Time (PST)
