Climate and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist, USAID TOPS

Position Description

EnCompass LLC is seeking a Climate and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist who is passionate about the power of evaluation to help advance the goals set forth in USAID’s Climate Strategy, in support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID funded institutional support contract, the Technical, Operational, and Program Support (TOPS) project. Through this contract, EnCompass provides technical assistance to USAID in support of the Agency’s climate, environment, energy and infrastructure efforts.

The right candidate will have at least 5 years of experience in reviewing, analyzing, and reporting on quantitative and qualitative data in support of improving development outcomes. The Specialist must enjoy digging into the details of data sets, and also stepping back and working with others to ask big questions around data quality, data collection, and process improvements that can be implemented to support improved MEL functions.

The Climate and MEL Specialist will support USAID’s Bureau for Development, Democracy and Innovation (DDI) in the Climate and Cross-Sectoral Strategies Branch (CCS). This full-time role is based in the Washington DC area and will be fully embedded within USAID. Candidates must be able to work on-site as needed.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the US for any employer without sponsorship and eligible to obtain and maintain facilities access security clearance.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Essential functions include:

• Analyze performance, budget, and other monitoring data from a variety of sources to identify and address barriers to reporting or data quality issues, and to identify and share successes

• Track and analyze results related to Climate Strategy targets and performance from direct and indirect climate activities

• Develop Frequently Asked Questions documents, guidance, blogs and webinars in support of effective MEL

• Collaborate with MEL contractors on work planning and deliverable completion.

• Support awardees, Missions, and other OUs in addressing data quality concerns and establishing effective logistical arrangements and systems for capturing and disseminating results and learning

• Provide MEL support to missions and EEI and other OU teams such as the development and implementation of context-appropriate office, program, project, and activity level MEL plans (ranging from small activities to global programs)

• Develop meaningful and practical indicators, user-friendly tools for data collection, and conduct data quality assessments

• Design quantitative and/or qualitative data collection and analytical methods and tools to

support evaluation design and implementation

• Build tools and training materials to increase MEL knowledge transfer and skill-building.

• Support adaptive management, pause-and-reflect exercises, and other approaches to identifying and making needed mid-course corrections

• Other duties as assigned

Position Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 7 years of experience, or Master’s degree and 5 years of experience. Preferred areas of study include International Development, Economics, Public Policy, Business, Environment/Natural Resources Management, Social Science, and other relevant fields.

Experience and Skills

• Minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated experience supporting complex portfolios of evaluative and learning activities for improved development outcomes

• Experience working in the climate, environment, or energy sector

• Familiarity with USAID’s Climate Strategy

• Familiarity with USG-funded program management, policies, regulations, and procedures, such as Program Cycle guidance documents (e.g., ADS 201), USAID’s Evaluation Policy, and USG Foreign Assistance Indicators

• Experience with data analysis best practices and tools, sorting and cleaning data, relational databases, designing and maintaining shared datasets, data visualization, and pattern recognition

• Experience overseeing or assisting with the development, implementation, and analysis of qualitative and quantitative indicators, in partnership with individuals with varying degrees of familiarity with monitoring and evaluation concepts

• Project management experience, including developing and implementing work plans and overseeing delivery of work products

• Experience developing theories-of-change, performance measures, monitoring, evaluating, and/or facilitating multi- stakeholder conceptualization of changes in complex systems over time

• Experience analyzing and presenting monitoring and evaluation data to be used by a wide range of stakeholders, including program managers, policymakers, and local stakeholders

• Experience translating evaluative data into learning or communications products, such as infographics, reports, presentations, blogs, etc

• Experience in supporting MEL Capacity Strengthening efforts

• Experience developing and managing systems and processes to facilitate organizational and multi stakeholder learning

• Very strong written and oral communication abilities, including the ability to effectively communicate technical subject matter to non-technical audiences

• Ability to manage complex relationships with a variety of stakeholders

• High emotional intelligence, the ability to thrive in collaborative environments, and the ability to manage work independently

• Ability to obtain and maintain Facility Access Clearance

• Ability to travel internationally – less than 20% of the time

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

How to Apply

Please submit CV and cover letter, and complete the online application.

EnCompass LLC is a progressive Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote, celebrate, and support a diverse and inclusive organizational culture and workforce. We are committed to providing all of our employees with an environment free from discrimination and harassment, where all are treated with dignity and respect. We do not tolerate, and explicitly prohibit, discrimination or harassment of any kind, at any time, in all aspects of employment. This includes recruitment, hiring, promotions, disciplinary measures, terminations, compensation, benefits, social and recreational programs, and training. EnCompass also does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who report discrimination or harassment. Our continuing commitment to the principle of Equal Opportunity Employment for all means all employment decisions are based only on the job requirements, the candidate’s qualifications, and the needs of EnCompass as a business—not on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, belief, sex (including pregnancy and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, HIV status, family/marital/parental status, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where we work.

For US based positions: The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.

The incumbent must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle and prioritize multiple, competing tasks and demands and to seek supervisory assistance as appropriate.

If you require accommodations in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act to complete your application, please call 301-287-8700, provide your contact information and a description of your accessibility issue. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case-basis, and we will call you back within approximately 3 business days.

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