Who We Are
IREX is a global development and education organization. We strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world—where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people, and communities thrive. With a projected annual portfolio of more than $150 million and more than 750 staff worldwide, we work with partners in more than 100 countries in four areas essential to progress: cultivating leaders, empowering youth, strengthening institutions, and increasing access to quality education and information.
The Global MEL Specialist will support the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activities (Including data collection, data analysis, progress tracking and program reporting) of Transform programming in Kenya, Guatemala, and other pilot countries
The MEL Specialist will also closely manage the Transform program’s learning strategy. They will use the program’s existing MEL tools to support and, where possible, improve ongoing program data collection and analysis activities to track program progress. By applying technical expertise and operationalizing IREX’s learning and impact evaluation methods, the MEL Specialist will monitor and assess program outcomes.
The Specialist will play a key leadership role in instituting a robust Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) approach to Transform programming in close coordination with USAID.
We are doers. Our decades of on-the-ground experience help us create greater impact, practical recommendations, and lasting partnerships.
Are you the next member of our team?
Your Background & Skills
- Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field.
- Minimum 7 years of relevant experience.
- Experience in strategic planning and performance measurement, including indicator selection, target setting, reporting and report writing, database management, and developing MEL and performance monitoring plans that support learning agendas and contribute to program efficacy.
- Professional communication skills in English (written and oral), including a demonstrated ability to convey assessment, monitoring, evaluation, and learning concepts to program staff and in-country partners and present information in reports.
- Proven success in designing, implementing, and operating project MEL systems from project initiation to closeout.
- Knowledge of the major evaluation methodologies (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, mixed method, and impact) and data collection and analysis methodologies.
- Demonstrated ability to transfer technical MEL knowledge to divers' audiences through formal and non-formal methods, including training, mentoring, consultations.
- Excellent time management and organizational skills, including ability to prioritize tasks under deadlines and among competing priorities.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in diverse, muti-cultural environments.
- Positive attitude and willingness to support and assist colleagues.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
- Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel)
- Demonstrated very good communication skills and follow up
- Demonstrated knowledge of local laws and donors’ procurement policies.
- Demonstrated high attention to details
- Positive attitude and willingness to support and assist colleagues
- Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
- Excellent communication in English and interpersonal skills
- You must have unrestricted authorization to work in Kenya.
Your Daily Tasks
- Under the direction of the Transform Technical Advisor, manage approved Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Plan, including coordination with country leads on implementation (including country-specific implementation), and monitoring of innovation grantee activities and MEL Plans.
- Provide training on data collection and reporting protocols and MEL compliance to all team members and partners who are responsible for monitoring, collecting, and reporting data to ensure that all MEL data is properly collected and routinely entered and stored in a secure database.
- Support virtual and in-person events, especially program learning events, including developing content, facilitating sessions, supporting planning and logistics, and providing MEL leadership and oversight. Support internal learning events such as CLA activities.
- Produce and update program deliverables and project learning and impact including materials, tools, templates, guides, program reports, presentations, evaluations, and knowledge products for implementing partners and innovation grantees.
- Conduct regular spot checks and data quality assessments to ensure that data collection processes are proceeding efficiently and as planned.
- Contribute to broader IREX-wide learning activities, including collaboration with CSM-STAND community and the Center for Applied Learning and Impact (CALI) when applicable.
- Contribute to internal IREX program reporting, knowledge management, and information sharing. Serve as the lead for program data reporting, both internal and external.
- Ensure MEL plans and strategies are adapted as needed in alignment with broader CSM-STAND approach to monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
- Continuous MEL capacity building of Transform staff, implementing partners, and innovation grantees partners, on knowledge management through the review of MEL deliverables, the provision of targeted feedback and regular consultations and MEL training sessions.
- Other support duties as needed.
You will Get:
Committed, passionate, collaborative, and mission-driven colleagues who make IREX a good place to work. You will receive best-in-class learning, development, and growth opportunities, as well as a comprehensive benefits package designed to help you thrive. This includes a well-being and employee assistance program, health coverage, a flexible work schedule, a generous PTO policy, a technology stipend, a diverse and inclusive work environment, and many more benefits.
We conduct background checks on all successful candidates.
This position is eligible for Telework. The eligible employee is a regular, full-time Kenya-based staff who works from a worksite outside the Kenya office for one or more days a week.
This position is not eligible for Immigration Sponsorship.
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
EOE – Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.
