PMEL Manager

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days/month in the office. You can be based in our office in Washington DC, London, The Hague or Nairobi. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. To be eligible for this position in US, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.

About the Program:

World Resources institute (WRI) has set ambitious targets for the next several years to support a transition to a low-carbon economy that is good for people, nature and climate at the organizational and for our focus countries. As part of the department of Research, Data and Impact (RDI), the Managing for Results (MfR) team is integral to the successful delivery of WRI’s Strategic Plan, 2023– 2027: From Commitments to Impact. The strategy drives five major shifts in WRI’s approach:

• Shift 1: An integrated approach for People, Nature, and Climate.

• Shift 2: Focus on systems change.

• Shift 3: Emphasis on country transitions to deliver impact.

• Shift 4: A unified approach to measure success, including use of Theories of Change (TOC).

• Shift 5: Shaping the institution. This strategy reflects a new level of rigor in how WRIsets targets, creates theories of change, tracks progress, and evaluates and learns from the results.

The MfR team ensures WRI is equipped to understand if its work is contributing to the longer-term positive changes WRI intends to make in the world and fosters a culture of learning and accountability. Over the next several years MfR will accelerate a “step change” in PMEL practices and culture at WRI to enhance programmatic effectiveness and demonstrate impact. The specific goals of the step change in PMEL include having:

• Robust, evidence- based theories (TOC) of change for programs and projects that are easily accessible for staff and partners to facilitate shared understanding, and ongoing testing, learning and improvements with regard to proposed pathways to change and learning;

• Relevant, verifiable quantitative and qualitative WRI results data that are easily accessible, useful, and where contribution is well understood and WRI’s commitment to address social inequalities is reflected in the results; and

• Intentional relevant evidence gathering, mixed-methods data analysis and visualization, and timely Pause and Reflect sessions across program cycles to review TOCs and M&E data, discuss learnings and changes needed to achieve the results in the strategic plan;

• Sufficient PMEL expertise and capacity across WRI country and program teams to support timely and evidence-based adaptive management;

• Iterative cycles of evaluation that support ongoing reflection and learning, systematization and publication of lessons learned.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to Senior PMEL Manager, MfR, you will integrate equity into your work. You will play a key role in ensuring that WRI programs and country offices put in place and maintain high quality planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning systems, anchored in robust TOCs and MEL practices. You may have one or more direct reports, and you will be supervised by the Senior PMEL Manager for MfR. You will play an instrumental role in supporting WRI’s programs and country offices to deliver results against the organizational Results Framework. You will also work with the Global Director for MfR as well as colleagues across the Institute, including global programs and country offices. The position will require travel approximately 20% of the time.

What will you do:

Data and Evidence Gathering (40%):

• Assist teams in developing methodology, sampling design, timing, collection, analysis, and reporting for use of data and evidence to inform programmatic decisions and improve the effectiveness of WRI’s initiatives, including to inform MfR initiatives
• Ensure the best use of traditional, mixed methods, and complexity-aware evaluation approaches in WRI’s evidence gathering practices
• Collaborate with program teams to synthesize and present data in a way that supports adaptive management and strategic decision-making
• Support teams in data quality assurance and DevResults inputs and reporting

  MEL Standards and Guidance (30%):

  • Contribute to the development and maintenance of WRI’s PMEL standards, guidelines, and best practices, ensuring consistency across the organization
  • Lead and assist in the creation of resources and training materials that support the implementation of MEL standards, including the use of evidence gathering methods
  • Assist the Senior PMEL Manager in setting and updating organization-wide standards for TOC and MEL practices based on lessons learned. Reduces to 20% after Year 2
  • Improve guidance, as needed for quality MEL and DevResults reporting and use for WRI upstream and downstream units

    Capacity Strengthening and Training (20%):

    • Collaboratively lead capacity strengthening initiatives and trainings in utilization-focused MEL methods to fit context and need, including using traditional, mixed methods and complexity-aware approaches and methods
    • Offer ongoing technical support to program and country teams for specific PMEL needs
    • Support MfR in strengthening the PMEL Community of Practice to foster cross-team learning and knowledge sharing
    • Provide trainings for WRI-wide PMEL capacity strengthening, especially on monitoring, data quality and DevResults data use. Increases to 30% after Year 2

      Theory of Change and MEL Plan Development (10%):

      • Support the development, refinement, and implementation of robust Theories of Change (TOC) for WRI’s programs and projects, ensuring they are evidence-based and aligned with WRI’s strategic goals
      • Support teams in developing and implementing strategically aligned Theories of Change and MEL Plans for learning, use and adaptation

        What will you need:

        • Education: You have a completed Bachelor’s degree in international development, public policy, economics, environmental studies, systems modeling, MEL or a related field. Relevant work experience in lieu of degree is accepted
        • Experience: You have a minimum of 7 years of full-time relevant experience in PMEL, with demonstrated expertise in TOC development, TOC-based MEL planning, designing, implementation of small and large evaluations, and the use of both traditional and innovative evaluation methods.
        • Technical Skills: Proficiency in developing and using MEL frameworks, MEL plans, data collection, analysis, and visualization tools. Experience with complexity-aware evaluation and mixed methods
        • Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.
        • Project Management: Proven ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, with attention to detail and a focus on results
        • Cultural Competence: Experience working with multicultural teams and an understanding of the challenges and opportunities in global development contexts
        • Values Alignment: Commitment to WRI’s mission and values, including integrity, innovation, urgency, independence, and respect
        • Languages: Fluency in English is required; proficiency in French is strongly preferred
        • Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization

          Potential Salary: US salary range is between 96,000 and 116,000 USD. UK: 53 – 67K GBP. NL: 67K –