RTI International Job Vacancy For Monitoring, Evaluation, & Learning Director

RTI International's Global Health Division is currently accepting applications for a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director for an anticipated USAID-funded health systems strengthening opportunity in Ghana. The new project will build on USAID's and Government of Ghana's achievements in strengthening health system building blocks - including management and leadership, health information systems, health workforce, supply chain and infrastructure, and health financing - with a strong focus on integrated service delivery at all levels of the health system. The project will support the Government of Ghana (GoG) accelerate its achievement of universal health coverage, which it has committed to reach by 2030, and will address systemic inequity gaps and quality of health services through promoting community-based health planning services (CHPS) and primary health care approaches.

The MEL Director is responsible for leading, coordinating, and implementing all MEL tasks of the project, ensuring all performance monitoring, reviews, and evaluations are completed adequately and that implementation progresses per schedule. The MEL Director will work with technical staff to oversee tools for data collection, storage, and analysis, train staff and partners on MEL system operations, collection methods, and tools. S/he will perform data analyses, generate reports of findings, and create graphics to contribute to reporting requirements and project communications products. S/he will also plan for and supervise intermittent performance evaluations, as needed, collect and disseminate lessons learned, and share successes during project implementation. The MEL Director will be based within the national project office in Accra and local travel will be required.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Support the field team in refining the project's results framework and participate in work planning sessions.
• Develop the project's MEL plan by defining indicators and preparing indicator reference sheets.
• Ensure the Chief of Party and project staff in the field and home offices understand the importance of MEL and the use of information for learning purposes and adaptive management.
• Ensure the project's staff understands their roles and responsibilities in the collection of data for the monitoring and evaluation system.
• Oversee the collection of baseline data and target setting.
• Supervise the collection, analysis and reporting on performance indicators by other team members and project counterparts.
• Ensure data quality and integrity through field visits and spot checks to verify data.
• Identify and track reliable secondary data sources.
• Maintain the MEL system, periodically evaluate its effectiveness, and adjust as necessary to provide the project with accurate and useful data.
• Lead the development of monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports on the status of project implementation; contribute to other project reports such as annual work plans.
• Integrate MEL into a routine project evaluation and performance improvement process that uses MEL findings to adjust program activities.
• Design and implement the project's learning agenda and Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) strategy. Provide valuable learning leadership to project staff and other stakeholders.
• Seek opportunities to advance knowledge management and learning activities to ensure rapid, effective sharing and application of learning for activities and overall project objectives.
• Develop guidance, processes and practices to support project staff when engaging with USAID and other stakeholders collaboratively as knowledge peers.
• Supervise and mentor MEL staff.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required (with 12 years' experience), Master's degree preferred (with 9 years) in the areas of statistics, public health, demography, M&E, public administration, program management, or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of demonstrated experience in monitoring and evaluation of large-scale development projects.
• USAID experience and/or other international donor projects preferable.
• Strong understanding of health sector in Ghana. Previous work experience with the Government of Ghana and public health sector of Ghana considered a plus.
• Solid experience and familiarity with impact evaluations, quantitative and qualitative research methods, surveillance surveys, research methodologies, data analysis, sampling techniques and establishing M&E systems preferable with donor-funded development programs.
• Experience in strategic planning and performance measurement, performance evaluations for improvement, reporting, and developing MEL and/or performance monitoring plans.
• Strong skills in data collection and analysis, strategic analysis, M&E, identifying trends in data, and the ability to write convincing findings and recommendations.
• Solid experience with incorporating learning and knowledge management into project/program cycle to guide evidence-based decision making
• Strong knowledge of USAID Evaluation Policy, ADS (Automated Directive System), and other relevant MEL guidance from USAID, including CLA, and other donor-funded development agencies.
• Computer literacy, with ability to analyze and interpret data using Excel, online reporting tools, or statistical packages such as SAS, SPSS, or STATA.
• Excellent management, communication (oral presentation and written) and organizational skills; flexibility and ability to multi-task.
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English is required.
• Ghanaian citizens/nationals are encouraged to apply.

Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Position is contingent upon award and funding.