Senior M&E Specialist - USAID Mali MEL

Job Description

Job Title: Senior M&E Specialist

Department/Location: Bamako, Mali

Reports To: Chief of Party

Type: Regular Full-Time

Classification: This is a managerial, exempt level position and is not eligible for overtime pay

Overview: IBTCI is currently seeking a Senior Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist for a proposal for the five-year Mali Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Platform. The purpose of this project is to establish a monitoring platform which will 1) conduct third-party monitoring on behalf of USAID Mali; 2) conduct data quality assessments data collected in non-permissive environments; and 3) provide logistical support for external USAID Mali meetings/events. This position is contingent on award and is open to third country nationals and local nationals only.

Essential Duties/Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the design, quality, development and completion of all assessments, analytical reports and evaluations.
• Oversee, recruit for, and participate in evaluations, assessments, and baseline surveys throughout the life of the contract.
• Serve as the evaluation team leader of select evaluations conducted under this contract.
• Ensure the short-term technical experts and evaluation team members recruited are of a high caliber and possess required technical expertise.
• Lead and oversee the review of Performance Management Plans (PMPs), support such technical work as reviewing reporting methods, carrying out training needs, designing tools and advising on USAID and Implementing Partners on their M&E work, including field monitoring and DQAs.
• Provide raw data to USAID for tracking purposes.
• Monitor indicator data to identify any gender gaps (the extent to which females and males are participating in and benefiting from projects and activities).
• Assess the environmental impact of USAID activities during regular site visits.
• Analyze performance and context monitoring data to extrapolate relevant information and provide written and oral briefings to USAID to inform management and adapt interventions.
• Examine technical reports and deliverables to review performance data.
• Meet with implementing partner staff and other stakeholders to discuss data collection methods.
• Prepare written and oral reports on DQA findings and provide recommendations on how to address deficiencies identified.
• Work with implementing partners to develop actions plans that address the report recommendations.
• Contribute substantively to the design and field testing of the evaluation methodology, participatory data collection methods and protocols, data verification techniques, and other technical evaluation and analytical tasks as needed.
• Ability and willingness to work for extended periods in insecure and diverse environments.
• Ability and willingness to safely enter and exit a large, armored SUV vehicle that is several feet off the ground without assistance, while wearing body armor and/or a heavy flak jacket.
• In case of an emergency situation, must be able and willing to “duck and seek cover”, which may require the individual to exit the vehicle, unaided, and hurriedly seek shelter elsewhere, as needed, in the event of a roadside emergency.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• At least eight (8) years’ experience working in monitoring & evaluation in developing countries, preferably including experience in post-conflict and in West.
• Demonstrated experience in indicator development, data collection and analysis, data quality assessments, and/or performance monitoring and reporting.
• Strong quantitative skills.
• Demonstrated experience in providing guidance to technical teams in developing and updating PMPs, as well as creating and managing PMPs.
• Demonstrated experience in leveraging performance monitoring data for improving ongoing project management.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing performance and impact evaluations of development interventions.
• Experience in designing and field testing surveys and other data collection instruments.
• Demonstrated strong project management skills.
• Familiarity with USAID policies related to evaluation and performance management.
• Strong written and oral communication and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability and willingness to work for extended periods in insecure and diverse environments.
• Ability and willingness to safely enter and exit a large, armored SUV vehicle that is several feet off the ground without assistance, while wearing body armor and/or a heavy flak jacket.
• In case of an emergency situation, must be able and willing to “duck and seek cover”, which may require the individual to exit the vehicle, unaided, and hurriedly seek shelter elsewhere, as needed, in the event of a roadside emergency.
• Fluency in French, proficient in English

Education: Master’s degree in the social sciences, in particular: statistics, economics, public policy, public health or other relevant field.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Project or program management, with remote management experience a plus.
• Previous experience on a USAID-funded award.
• Development and oversight of monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems for clients.
• Prior experience working in Mali preferred.

Working Environment: Work is typically performed in an office environment.

Physical Requirements: This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear, see, and lift small objects up to 20 lbs.

Supervisory Responsibility: This position does have supervisory responsibilities.

Travel: International travel may be required and may include travel to fragile and/or conflict-prone zones.

No phone calls please. All candidates will be acknowledged, but only final candidates for particular activities will be contacted.

IBTCI is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran, or any other classification protected by applicable anti-discrimination laws. We prohibit and do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment. We are an E-Verify Employer. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability, or unable to use the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact Human Resources at 703-749-0100.

About the Organization

International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI), a U.S. based international development consulting company established in 1987, has worked in over one hundred countries and implemented over two hundred projects. IBTCI serves government agencies, private sector companies and several donor agencies. IBTCI specializes in Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) across many sectors including, but not limited to, conflict and crisis, democracy and governance, economic growth, education, environment, and global health.