Job Summary:
You will provide direct technical and management leadership of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) activities to multiple countries in the Asia region. Your technical skills and knowledge will enable program teams to design effective monitoring systems, ensure accountability to beneficiaries and donors, deliver effective evaluations, and advance learning, in alignment with donor and agency standards. Your work will ensure that CRS collects quality data that enables adaptive management, learning, and positioning. Your management skills will support MEAL and program staff to develop MEAL capabilities and enable country teams to ensure high-quality programming and continuously work towards improving the impact of its programming.ย You will be called upon to provide MEAL leadership in both development and emergency contexts.Roles and Key Responsibilities:
Provide management support, guidance, and technical oversight of all MEAL systems in new and existing projects, supporting throughout the project cycle to ensure effective design, start-up, implementation and close-out are in line with CRS policies and procedures, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. Effectively coach MEAL talent, supporting their routine work as well as helping advance MEAL quality. Develop strategically tailored individual development plans, and support performance planning cycle for MEAL staff. Advise on MEAL objectives for non-MEAL staff. Coordinate and oversee the development of data management systems, ensure systems are fit for purpose, functional and supportive of adaptive management.ย Support the establishment of feedback, complaints, and response mechanisms (FCRM) and periodically review their effectiveness and functionality, ensuring accountability to beneficiaries and timely use of feedback information.ย Design evaluation processes that enable learning and documentation of results. Develop terms of references (TORs) that are robust and appropriate to the project scope and context. Identify opportunities for cross-learning and facilitate data-informed learning events in collaboration with technical advisors, country and regional program leadership.ย ย Support research and facilitate the generation and dissemination of learning pieces and knowledge products that contribute to the Asia strategic learning agenda.ย Ensure integration of innovations and best practices, including advancing use of technology in MEAL. Contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure responsible growth in line with agency, regional, and country strategic priorities. Serve as the MEAL lead to ensure quality proposals per agency and donor standards. Contribute to MEAL budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals. Collaborate with the MEAL Regional Focal Point, fellow MEAL Managers, regional / global technical advisors, and other MEAL and non-MEAL program staff to design and deliver capacity strengthening activities in MEAL for staff and partner organizations in assigned countries as well as other countries in Asia as needed. Required Languages:Professional fluency in written and verbal English required.Travel:
Must be willing and able to travel up to 30%ย Supervisory Responsibilities:
To be determinedKey Working Relationships:
Internal: MEAL staff in assigned countries, Heads of Programming, Country Managers, Program Quality Managers, Program and Project Managers and staff,ย Business Development Specialists, Regional and Global Technical Advisors or Focal Points, and Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality as needed. External: Other International Nongovernmental (INGO) MEAL and Program actors, implementing partners, research and academic institutions.Basic Qualifications:
Master's Degree in International Development, International Relations, Statistics or a related field required. Additional experience may substitute for some education. MEAL skills and experience required. Minimum of 5 years of relevant field-based experience in MEAL coordinating, managing, and/or technical advisory roles for moderately complex projects, preferably with an international NGO.Preferred Qualifications:
Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.ย Proficiency in using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, ICT systems for data collection, and information management systems. Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals. Experience in project development, including MEAL systems design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors. Experience in designing and overseeing the implementation of program studies and evaluations, and use of findings to support adaptive management. Experience in quantitative and qualitative methodology design, tool development, and data analysis and reporting. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions Experience engaging with partner organizations and other external stakeholders.ย Good presentation and facilitation skills Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-orientedยAgency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
Personal Accountability โ Consistently takes responsibility for oneโs own actions.ย Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.ย Is considered honest. Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions. Collaborates with Others โ Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams. Open to Learn โ Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.Agency Leadership Competencies:
Lead Change โ Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation. Develops and Recognizes Others โ Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance. Strategic Mindset โ Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.MEAL Competencies:
Each staff member in this position is expected to have the following levels of knowledge and ability and can apply the following competencies in new or complex situations, including emergencies:
MEAL in Design - Advanced Monitoring - Advanced Evaluation - Advanced Accountability - Advanced Learning - Advanced Analysis and Critical Thinking - Advanced ICT4MEAL - Intermediate MEAL in Management - AdvancedNote: CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens / permanent residents of, and based in, countries where we have offices.
What we offer:
CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.ย Salary and benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.ย CRSยด work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States.ย Catholic Relief Servicesย works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. ย Catholic Relief Servicesโย relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.ย We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRSโ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.
CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.ย The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRSยด Code of Conduct.
CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.
Disclaimer:ย This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.ย
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
General Requirements
CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidateโs ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.ย ย All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.
CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.