Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning / Collaboration, Learning, and Adapting (MEL/CLA) Director job at Abt Associates

The Opportunity
Abt Associates seeks a qualified MEL/CLA Director to lead the anticipated five-year USAID-funded Strengthening Local Health Systems Activity in Uganda. The project aims to strengthen various aspects of Uganda’s health system, including health care financing (HCF), human resources for health (HRH), health management information systems (HMIS) and community health systems. As the MEL/CLA Director, you will be responsible for the monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive learning components of this project including the design and implementation of the MEL/CLA Plan, supporting the effective and continuous use of data for programming decisions and working with team members to ensure the project achieves its targets. The position will be responsible for the development and oversight of the project’s collaboration, learning and adaptation (CLA) agenda and any operational research studies or assessments undertaken by the project. The position will provide primary support to the team for timely, complete, and quality reporting of all MEL/CLA, research, and assessment data from project activities. Strong experience in managing, implementing, and fostering a culture of MEL/CLA, excellent data analysis, and writing skills are important.

Core Responsibilities
• Provides oversight to the development and implementation of a comprehensive project MEL/CLA Plan for the effective and continuous use of data for programming decisions at all levels.
• Develops and oversees the project’s collaboration, learning and adaptation (CLA) agenda and any operational research studies or assessments undertaken by the project.
• Directly supervises and manages the performance of project MEL/CLA staff including providing coaching and support to local partners to co-create and lead distinct MEAL activities.
• Closely collaborates with the COP and DCOP to monitor project performance and results and ensure that activity components align with results-oriented indicators, deliverables are of high quality, and reporting is relevant, timely, and translated into program adaptations.
• Nurtures strong and practical MEL/CLA leadership and capacity strengthening to advance routine reporting, surveillance and use of data-informed approaches with MOH, local organizations, and other stakeholders, especially at the subnational levels.
• Oversees and develops quantitative and qualitative data collection tools and oversees data collection while ensuring data quality, integrity and security standards and procedures are in place. Conducts periodic internal quality checks to ensure the quality and accuracy of project reported data.
• Supports and oversees the design and implementation of needs-based operational research, evaluations, or assessments.
• Leads preparation of all program reporting requirements and lead the development of learning products for information sharing with appropriate stakeholders.

What We Value
• Minimum of a Master’s Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Statistics, Social Sciences or other relevant field, PhD preferred.
• Minimum of ten years of relevant professional experience in monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive learning and research in the public health field, with progressively increasing level of responsibility; experience with USAID-funded activities preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in rigorous quantitative research and analytical methods, some experience with qualitative research; firm command of MEL/CLA needs with respect to health systems in Uganda.
• Demonstrated hands-on practical experience setting up and managing MEL/CLA systems for health programs; experience with District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2) desired.
• Strong interpersonal skills, initiative, good judgment, demonstrated team leadership, and problem-solving abilities.
• Extensive experience in knowledge management and dissemination of results and research findings.
• Computer literacy (MS Word, MS Excel, statistical software).
• Must be fluent in English.
• Possesses strong oral, written communication, presentations skills.

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