Country Level MEL Manager

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps began working in Kenya in 2008 and has to date built a robust and diverse portfolio in working to enable Kenyans affected by poverty, resource scarcity, and conflict - in particular, youth, women, adolescents, and marginalized communities - to be healthy, productive and to drive peace and development of their communities. To do this, we deliver integrated programming to strengthen resilience, market and governance systems, address the root causes of conflict, and equip vulnerable populations- in particular youth, women, adolescents, and marginalized social groups- with the skills, opportunities, and resources they need to be healthy, productive and to drive the development of their communities. Mercy Corps Kenya also collaborates with neighboring countries to implement several multi-country and cross-border programs.

Working with a diverse base of donors that includes the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), European Commission (EC), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Embassy of the Kingdom Of Netherlands, Gates Foundation, Swiss Agency for Development and Corporation (SDC), Google.org, MasterCard Foundation and other foundations and institutional donors, Mercy Corps empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good. We work closely with the private sector, civil society, and governance structures at local and national levels to facilitate change and ensure that opportunities are inclusive of all Kenyans.

General Position Summary

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager is the key position in Mercy Corps responsible for cross-cutting programmatic information management, monitoring and evaluation, ensuring that information collected is reflected upon, used to improve ongoing programs, and is incorporated into consistently high quality reports and proposal development.  The MEL Manager will be responsible for developing (in partnership with project staff), coordinating, maintaining and constantly improving the nation-wide M&E system, as well as training M&E staff in each office. Mercy Corps Kenya is in the process of launching a new country-wide data automation system to generate instant data analytics to inform program adaptation, and the Country MEL Manager will be responsible for driving this forward.  

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Develop country MEL strategy, provide leadership to field offices in developing individual program level M&E systems that inform and improve each program, as well as feed into the broader nation-wide M&E system and country strategy.

• Lead and develop an M&E team country team and also the M&E officers assigned to each program in developing and maintaining a system that improves the country’s ability to analyze and represent impact to donors, government, colleague agencies, and communities themselves.

• Participate in country management meetings and country-wide strategy sessions.

Program Management

• Use existing MC resources train M&E and program teams in the area of monitoring and evaluation and report writing.

• Build the capacity of all relevant team members to develop and maintain an excellent M&E system, including training on Tola (digital tool developed by MC) and the periodic reflection and analysis of program monitoring data to disseminate learning.

• Develop plans to mentor and coach staff to build their capacity to enable them to develop excellent reports and other documents.

M&E System Development

• Lead efforts to establish an M&E unit working out of Nairobi that will facilitate M&E for all programs and collaborate closely with Program Managers in developing and establishing the M&E system, one that serves the needs of the overall of the country portfolio and its field officers.

• Spearheaded the data automation process across all programs in the portfolio, integrating this into the country M&E system.

• Support all country programs’ independent M&E efforts to ensure high quality M&E at the program level as well as build a nationwide system that captures and presents results at a national level.

• Design and maintain an M&E system with utility and program quality in mind, providing managers and their teams real time information that can steer program implementation as well as informing donors and strategic program direction and that helps strategize future program interventions.

• Work with senior management to address shortfalls in M&E that affect program implementation and conduct internal DQAs.

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.

• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.

• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Team Management 

• Build a unified MEL team at country-level supporting all programs.

• Provide supervision of MEL team members, ensure their work is aligned and contributing effectively to the strategy and that they have access to MC resources.

• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.

• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.

• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

Monitoring and Evaluation/ Assessments

• Assist in designing programs that incorporate Mercy Corps’ standards on design, monitoring, and evaluation.

• Coordinate and play a role in assessments as requested. Provide input as to M&E systems and act as a link to HQ M&E technical staff.

• Set up and supervise the country M&E programs including hiring, orienting and supervising M&E staff as appropriate.

• Play a central role in all evaluation, design and implementation and developing the capacity of a national team to conduct internal evaluations.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.

• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning 

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility

MEL Program Managers/Coordinators/Officers

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Evidence, Learning, Technical Resources and Quality (EL-TRaQ) Director

Works Directly With: Program Managers, Regional MEL Advisors

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/S or equivalent, preferable in business administration, public administration or international development. MA/S in relevant field preferred.

• 5-7 years of experience in the areas of program development and monitoring and evaluation, including relevant experience building and managing an M&E system and team, relevant experience supervising data collection and data validation exercises, and building staff capacity.

• Must have extensive training skills and experience working with a variety of donors.

• Must have a high interest in, and capacity in, computer and digital technology – e.g. Excel, CommCare, PowerBI etc.

• Should enjoy building and managing high-performing teams, including fostering a positive culture.

• Ability to manage and meet deadlines.

• Ability to work independently and multi-task. .

• Excellent Communication and organizational skills.

• Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.

Success Factors

The ideal candidate will have a strong curiosity for understanding and working effectively within the complex cultural, political, security and social environment of Kenya.  They will be an excellent communicator, multi-tasker, and able to work in ambiguous situations. They will be tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures.  The successful candidate will be focused on team building and capacity-building of national staff; be a strategic thinker, have strong skills in design monitoring and evaluation of development programs and maintain a sense of humor.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Kenya, and Nairobi and it requires up to 40 % travel to field offices. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision.  Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the  Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete the mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).