Director Of Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning

Washington, D.C., New York, California or Seattle. | Full-time / Hybrid /Remote

I. Position Summary:

The Director Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning leads the development of Malala Fund monitoring, evaluation and learning systems to deliver a strategic vision for MEL’s role in overall organizational impact. The Director leads MEL planning, communications, product design and improvement. They oversee and supervise MEL development, applying creative approaches to provide stakeholders, including staff, the Board and external partners, relevant, compelling and timely information and feedback about work and impact through relevant MEL products, data and learning opportunities. The Director engages with key staff across the organization to understand information and communications needs about impact, works with the MEL team to design efficient and sound data collection strategies, and delivers a purposeful and defined set of data packaged in accessible and persuasive formats. The Director marshals MEL evidence, analysis and learning practices in support of quick and adaptive management at national, workstream and organizational levels.

To deliver this portfolio the Director will have demonstrated success in overseeing a team of systems, data and reporting professionals, and have a deep understanding of applied research and evaluation. They will manage a small team of MEL experts who lead implementation of MEL at various levels of the organization. Malala Fund takes a data-driven approach to identifying, scaling, and continuously improving programs that deliver transformational impact. It is committed to measuring, reflecting on and learning from its collective work and impact through the MEL systems the Director with the MEL team develops for the organization. The Director will work with the team to oversee evaluation of the current strategic plan and the application of relevant evidence from it in support of planning Malala Fund’s next phase of work. The Director is an advisor to leadership, generating through MEL systems and presenting data that inform organization strategic direction and decision-making.

II. Responsibilities

Strategic

• Leads design and improvement of Malala Fund MEL systems in order to deliver the most strategic opportunities for MEL in support of organizational impact, growth and credibility
• Guides MEL team to set up MEL frameworks and systems for the timely collection, management, analysis, and reporting of relevant and reliable data
• Purposefully plans and calibrates the scope of country, workstream and organization MEL systems such that they meet stakeholder information needs and prioritize the most essential information
• Builds innovative, outcome focused MEL centered on girls in order to capture Malala Fund’s non-traditional value-add to girls’ education
• Shapes Malala Fund strategic planning and learning with relevant and accessible MEL products

Technical

• Aligns all Malala Fund MEL to support overall impact tracking at organizational levell
• Designs and works with MEL team to deliver compelling and persuasive quarterly and annual MEL products to communicate Malala Fund’s theory of change and surface key impacts for external stakeholders
• Consults regularly with senior staff to understand and refine information needs and creates with the MEL team efficient MEL systems to meet these needs
• Undertakes periodic reviews of MEL systems and plans and implements systems strengthening actions
• Oversees the publication and communication of information on impact and lessons learned to the Board, donors and other key stakeholders
• Uses MEL to advise on and strengthen strategy development processes at organizational, country, and/or workstream levels
• Designs with MEL team participatory learning and reflection processes for staff using MEL data to ensure that findings are fed back into workstream implementation and strategies
• Provides quality assurance for MEL systems and products

Leadership and Representation

• Cultivates and manages high-level relationships with global and technical stakeholders able to contribute resources, expertise and/or political capital to Malala Fund’s MEL work
• Working with Chief, Accountability and Impact, provides leadership in developing and delivering Malala Fund’s Accountability and Impact work, in line with the organisation’s five-year strategy
• Represent Accountability and Impact department in strategic collaborations with other departments
• Plays a thought leadership role within and outside the organisation on evidence-based interventions that increase girls’ access to 12 years of free, safe, quality education

People Management

• Welcomes and inducts new team members into Malala Fund, and facilitate collaboration across and within your team.
• Manages external evaluations, research and technical support
• Actively contributes to making Malala Fund a diverse and equitable workplace through inclusive practices and openness to different perspectives, cultures and ideas.
• Leads the MEL team to deliver the MEL portfolio
• Actively builds and maintains systems that allow for the growth and development of all direct reports
• Co-creates clear objectives and development plans for direct reports and engages in regular and constructive performance conversations
• Maintains behaviour and conduct that uphold the highest standards for safeguarding, professionally and personally
• Acts as a role model for a ‘learning organisation’ culture by seeking insight and using problems as opportunities to learn.
• Shares key messages and relevant information with direct reports, and seeks out, addresses and/or escalates feedback as appropriate
• Ensures all team members understand and comply with Malala Fund policies, procedures and resources..
• Develops and manages all aspects of the MEL budget

III. Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours

Essential

• Able to efficiently project manage multi-stakeholder MEL works in order to deliver viable beta MEL products in timely fashion
• Documented skills for design and oversight of MEL data management tools and software
• MEL experience in education, social science, human rights, international development, gender or related field
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally and domestically, as required
• Experience creating compelling MEL products to support strategic planning
• Excellent leadership, decision making, and interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills, including oral and visual presentation skills
• Excellent team player with ability to work independently and in collaboration with colleagues at all levels across departments and external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of data collection and visualization software and technologies
• Experience managing a team, ensuring quality and timely delivery of products
• Senior level MEL managerial experience in international development focused on the global south
• Strong judgment that permits clear articulation of relevant technical information to non-technical audiences
• Strong commitment to gender equality, anti-racism, anti-discrimination, decolonisation and social justice.
• Strong commitment to Malala Fund’s mission, purpose and values.
• A creative problem solver with user-centered design approach

Malala Fund is committed to racial equity and social justice. We actively seek applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences and identities, to provide a wide range of perspectives, ideas, views and insights into the strategy, policies, culture and ambitions of Malala Fund. We would particularly welcome applications from candidates who have lived in countries in which Malala Fund is operating.

IV. About Malala Fund

Registered as a public charity in the U.K. and U.S., Malala Fund is working toward a world where all girls can learn and lead. With more than 130 million girls out of school today, we're breaking down barriers that hold girls back.

Malala Fund advocates for resources and policy changes needed to give all girls a secondary education. The girls we serve have high goals for themselves and we have high expectations for leaders who can help them. We invest in local education leaders and front-line organisations — the people who best understand girls in their communities — in regions where most girls are missing out on secondary school. We give girls the tools they need to advocate for education and equality in their communities and a platform for the world to hear their voices. We believe girls should speak for themselves and tell leaders what they need to learn and achieve their potential.

We offer competitive remuneration and a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical insurance cover for staff and dependents, life and disability insurance, leave, parental leave of 180 days, global week of rest, end of year holiday break, mobile allowances, and retirement benefits. Additional benefits such as relocation assistance and remote working may be provided to staff if they meet the eligibility criteria for the particular benefit.

Malala Fund has office locations in Washington DC, London, Abuja, Nigeria and Islamabad, Pakistan. However, please note that Malala Fund is not able to sponsor work authorization for this role. Successful candidates should not require Malala Fund to sponsor their work authorization in the office in which they'll be based.

Malala Fund is an inclusive organisation and welcomes applications from under-represented and intersectional groups including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities. We are seeking people from different backgrounds, cultures, age, experience and identities, to provide a wide range of experience, ideas, views and insights into the strategy, policies, culture and ambitions of Malala Fund.

Due to the high number of applications we receive, we are only able to respond to candidates with whom we wish to move forward in the interview process. Malala Fund is committed to safeguarding children and employment with our team is conditional upon successfully completing a background check.