The Strategic Learning Advisor provides strategic guidance, vision, and management for successful monitoring and evaluation of the program. This individual also supervises MERL staff and ensures the strategic and functional integration of all MERL activities as well as active collaboration with sub-awardees and USAID/DRC Jeunesse Etoile Activity. The Strategic Learning Advisor oversees all MEL activities, provides technical direction and support, ensures the accurate reporting of results for program activities, and ensures the program aligns with Pact’s quality standards for MERL in close coordination with Pact’s Learning, Evidence, and Impact (LEAP) team.

The specific duties to be carried out by the successful candidate are listed below:

• Oversee the design and implementation of the project’s MERL system in coordination with Pact’s Learning, Evidence, and Impact (LEAP) Team to develop key performance indicators, targets, tools, and appropriate MERL responsibilities across the project.
• Manage baseline assessments and support the implementation of formative assessment such as baseline market and needs assessments, identifying facilitators and barriers to health care services, gender-sensitive assessments with Pact’s HQ LEAP Team.
• Coordinate any external evaluation processes, including drafting evaluation ToR and selection of firm, in alignment with award.
• Develop and disseminate relevant M&E tools, formats and lead the provision of M&E specific technical training
• Oversee data collection, collation, storage, analysis, and reporting, ensuring that data is of high quality and audit worthy
• Supervising a team of 4 Program Officers with MERL roles and responsibilities
• Supervise other M&E staff and oversee consortium partners’ compliance with MEL system.
• Ensure appropriate training and supportive supervision of all partners in monitoring and evaluation procedures, data collection tools, and data management practices in alignment with the MELP
• Work closely with partners to establish their internal MERL systems, M&E plans, and data quality management, oversee partners’ compliance with MEL system, and design and conduct trainings to support capacity for MEL among partners.
• Strengthen staff and partners’ capacity in qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation techniques through comprehensive staff training, mentoring, and/or coaching.
• Conduct and manage Routine Data Quality Assessments (RDQA); ensuring implementation of corrective actions to improve data quality and accountability of staff and partners
• Oversee the development and maintenance of a comprehensive project database, ensure accurate and timely storage of electronic files.
• Responsible for calculation and reporting of Pact’s Global Indicators through imPact, Pact’s instance of DHIS2, and calculation and reporting of relevant project data into impact
• Responsible for the data analysis, writing, and review of the results and learning sections of program reports in collaboration with program staff, before submission to donor and ensure consortium partners’ compliance with internal data quality requirements and timely submissions for reporting.
• Commitment to applied learning and adaptation based on data: Lead the program team on routine reviews and interpretation of data for learning and adaptation; package and disseminate timely findings in a meaningful way, and make suggestions for adaptive management in line with Pact’s principles and USAID’s CLA approaches.
• Create a learning agenda and implement a system designed to identify lessons learned and disseminate timely information.
• Produce learning products and thought leadership pieces relevant to the project intervention; present in local conferences or on webinars regarding project’s MERL successes
• Employee complies with all company policies and procedures, including completing all compliance training topics by the deadline to satisfy each and receiving the corresponding acknowledgment statement that the training has been completed.
• All other duties as assigned

Basic Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Master’s degree in any of the following or related fields: social science, international development, public health, evaluation, statistics, or economics
• At least 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in designing, managing, and implementing results-based MERL activities
• Demonstrated relevant technical skills in analyzing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data, and packaging the findings
• Progressively responsible experience in monitoring and evaluation of sexual and reproductive health and livelihoods, program beneficiaries, and program staff.
• Experience in utilizing gender and social inclusion sensitive indicators and measures
• Extensive knowledge of reporting procedures, including USAID, best practices, guidelines, and tools for monitoring, evaluation and learning, including impact evaluation.
• Ability to work well on team and with various partner organizations
• Extensive expertise in research ethics and Do No Harm requirements in sensitive research environments
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, i.e., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc., and the ability to use various commercially available statistical software programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with DHIS2 platform and mobile data collection software
• Experience in utilizing gender and social inclusion sensitive indicators and analysis
• Congolese nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.

Pact is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, citizenship status, genetic information, matriculation, family responsibilities, personal appearance, credit information, tobacco use (except in the workplace), membership in an employee organization, or other protected classifications or non-merit factors.
At Pact, we recognize your impact, offer you opportunities and support your total well-being. Our comprehensive benefit offerings may include healthcare, retirement (8.8% to 13% based on service tenure) and savings plans, paid time off, disability and life insurance programs, learning and development opportunities, wellness programs as well as other optional benefit elections .
With the continuing impacts of COVID-19 around the world, we are taking action to protect the health and well-being of our colleagues and maintain the safety of the communities where we operate. Pact seeks an environment free from COVID-19 and prefers all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Attestation of vaccination status will be required for employment with Pact. Unvaccinated employees may be subject to additional health and safety requirements to include any federal, state and/or client restrictions.

How to apply

Please apply on our website.https://careers-pactworld.icims.com/jobs/2060/senior-learning-advisor%2c-usaid-drc-jeunesse-enseignement-technique-pour-opportunit%c3%a9s-inclusives%2c-lucratives-et-%c3%89quitables-%28etoile%29-activity/job?mode=view&mobile=false&width=701&height=500&bga=true&needsRedirect=false&jan1offset=-300&jun1offset=-240