JOB DETAILS:
In collaboration with of the Chief of Party and with guidance from the US-based MERL staff, the MERL Director will provide leadership and management oversight of monitoring, evaluation, research and learning activities for the project in alignment with the Breakthrough ACTION Tanzania results framework. This includes leading the collaborative learning and adaptation activities. They will lead the development of and manage the M&E Plan. The MERL Director will develop and maintain systems to collect data and lead data analysis to produce information on inputs, outputs, outcomes and impact of the program. They will collaborate with the program team to design operational research (OR) to support learning, evaluation, and planning, and oversee the implementation of OR projects as well as analysis, dissemination, and use. S/he will share M&E data and improvement plans, as well as strategies for program improvements for greater program effects with the program team. The MERL Director will be a data-driven adaptive management leader, with experience infusing MEL approaches on large healthfocused projects to drive program results and learning. The Director will also serve as a catalyst for how digital technologies can be used as an enabler for adaptive management and propelling project and health outcomes.

Responsibilities:
• In collaboration with the Chief of Party (COP) and the US-based MERL staff, design and establish a project monitoring, evaluation, research and learning system, including

• defining project indicators and sources of data and developing the project performance monitoring plan.

• Work closely with the COP and US-based MERL staff to co-design monitoring tools, selecting indicators, and determining field monitoring responsibilities. Work to ensure tool compatibility and coordination within the M&E framework, and consistency with national and donor requirements.
• Responsible for providing technical assistance, developing and setting up systems for the timely collection, management, analysis, and reporting of valid and reliable data that meet donor reporting requirements.
• Implement capacity-building activities to increase the ability of key staff across all levels to identify, collect, analyze, report on, and use high quality data through information technology systems in support of the project activity indicators.
• Work closely with the COP and US-based MERL staff to improve the capacity of project staff and partners/stakeholders to implement high quality data feedback systems to facilitate evidence-based policies and programming.
• Oversee collection, analysis and reporting of data for the project’s baseline and routine project monitoring, as needed.
• Prepare and ensure timely submission of project performance monitoring reports and contribute to annual workplans and other regular project reports.
• Organize and carry out a capacity-building plan to increase the ability of all project staff to identify, collect, analyze, and report on high quality performance monitoring data.
• Develop and implement quantitative and qualitative research instruments and research/evaluation protocols as necessary.

• Undertake periodic reviews of program and/or country M&E systems and participate in planning M&E system strengthening actions. Provide guidance on information systems for quality assurance, as well as best practices documentation and reporting.
• Oversee the publication and dissemination of information on successful and promising approaches, lessons learned and other program results to program partners, donors, Government of Tanzania counterparts, and other key stakeholders.
• Supervise direct reports with particular focus on their key tasks and the quality of project deliverables.

Qualifications
• An advanced degree in public health, statistics, monitoring and evaluation, research, or another relevant field;
• 10 years of demonstrated experience designing, and implementing monitoring and evaluation activities and special studies for health programs in developing countries
• An in-depth understanding of how to design and implement M&E systems for complex donor-funded activities of similar size and scope.
• Experience developing and tracking performance indicators to measure success in health especially in SBC, reproductive health, maternal, neonatal, and child health (including nutrition), HIV, malaria, TB, programs required.
• Experience conducting monitoring, evaluation, research and learning tasks related to technical areas.
• Experience working with and leveraging digital technologies such as DHIS2 and information systems to adaptively manage programs and drive results.
• Must have extensive knowledge in collaboration, learning and adapting concepts to health projects.
• Experience working in USG/USAID supported projects preferred.
• Knowledge of and experience in training and capacity building.
• Experience establishing data quality assurance systems.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:
• Excellent analytic skills coupled with proven ability in using visuals like graphs, charts, maps, and GIS.
• Proficiency in Excel, Word, and other MS Office software; data analysis software, e.g.
• SPSS or Stata; and online health information systems/data management such as DHIS2 ▪ Excellent organizational and planning skills with demonstrated attention to detail.
• Strong oral and written English skills for writing M&E reports and deliverables for USAID and project stakeholders
• Demonstrated decision making ability operating in a management culture built on consensus and results. Ability to work as part of a team and as an individual.
• Strong management skills to manage M&E support staff and activities.
• Tanzania national preferred.
• Required oral and written fluency in English; oral and written fluency in Kiswahili desired.
• Excellent past performance references.

All candidates are encouraged to submit e-mail applications to BATanzania.opps@gmail.com  with copies of current CV, cover letter and three professional referees. Please indicate which position you are applying for in the subject line of the email.