We are currently in search of a Program Manager role with an organization project focused on the economic empowerment, skills development, and poverty alleviation of Kenya’s most marginalized adolescent girls and young women through workforce success and entrepreneurship.

POSITION TITLE: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, & Learning Lead (MERL)

LOCATION: 100% Remote (Travel to Kenya once or twice a year)

DURATION: Full-time Permanent role

SALARY: $80,000-$90,000 annual salary

POSITION SUMMARY:

A gender-focused non-profit organization seeks a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) Lead to provide MERL technical direction in a scale-up project of its programs in Kenya. The needs for this project include: 1) Strategic MERL leadership; 2) Team management and capacity-building of the MERL team; 3) Oversight of data analysis and reporting; and 4) Quality assurance and ethical oversight.

This position is a remote, work-from-home position, which is sensitive to the working hour time zone in Kenya. The MERL Lead will oversee a professional MERL Team which is based in Kenya.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and implement MERL strategy, frameworks, and objectives in alignment with project goals and priorities for a multi-year project.
• Provide strategic guidance and direction to the MERL team, ensuring that MERL activities contribute to evidence-based decision-making and program effectiveness.
• Drive innovation in MERL methodologies and approaches to enhance learning, accountability, and impact assessment.
• Hard deliverables include:
• MERL strategic plan and framework for this project (1 at program onset, plus annual review)
• MERL policy and procedure best practice documentation (1 at program onset, plus annual review)
• Annual review of all MERL strategies, frameworks, and policies.
• Soft deliverables include:
• Staying up to date on developments in similar gender empowerment programming to inform continual best-practice implementation.

2. Team Management and Capacity Building:

• Lead and direct MERL team.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, learning, and excellence within the MERL team, providing mentorship and coaching to increase MERL capacity within the team.
• Ensure that team members have the resources, support, and training needed to effectively carry out their roles and responsibilities.
• Hard deliverables include:
• Training(s) on: data safeguarding; research ethics; project-specific data processing; qualitative coding; documentation protocols; MERL policy and procedures (up to 8 annually)
• Creation of a MERL resource repository for team access
• Soft deliverables include:
• Ongoing oversight and mentorship of MERL team to build capacity and internal sustainability, including regular meetings and intervention as needed.

3. Data Analysis and Reporting:

• Oversee the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data collected through MERL activities associated with this project, ensuring that insights are extracted, synthesized, and communicated effectively.
• Collaborate with MERL Manager and Analysts to prepare high-quality reports, presentations, and data visualizations for program stakeholders, including quarterly reports to funders, presentations and data visualization for community convenings, and annual technical report.
• Use MERL findings to inform strategic decision-making, iterative program design, and performance improvement efforts.
• Oversee the following deliverables which will be fulfilled by a MERL Analyst based in Kenya.
• Quarterly reports on program progress, outcomes, and impact (4 annually);
• Annual technical impact reports (1 annually);
• Annual lay-audience impact report (1 annually)
• Impact briefs (up to 4 annually)
• Bi-annual MERL progress update presentations for Board of Directors (2 annually);
• Quarterly presentations for community convenings (4 annually)

4. Quality Assurance and Ethics:

• Establish and maintain rigorous standards for data quality, accuracy, and integrity throughout the MERL process.
• Ensure compliance with ethical research practices, participant safeguarding measures, and data privacy protocols.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of MERL activities, making adjustments as needed to improve efficiency and impact.
• Oversee the following deliverables which will be fulfilled by a MERL Analyst based in Kenya.
• IRB / NACOSTI application process.
• Development of protocols, processes, and documentation for informed consent, privacy and confidentiality, and data processing.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (Research and Development, Law etc) preferred.
• Proven experience in Research and Learning within the nonprofit sector.
• Strong project MERL skills, including complex Learning management and reporting.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and other best practices.
• Familiarity with relevant laws and regulations affecting nonprofit organizations.
• Ability to work collaboratively and build effective relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Attributes:

• Passion for the organization's mission and values.
• Self-motivated and ability to work effectively from remote.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic multi-cultural work environment.
• Strong leadership and team collaboration skills.
• Results-oriented with a focus on achieving measurable outcomes.

We’d love to hear from you.

If this sounds like the job for you, we would love to help make that happen. Please click “Apply” to submit your resume.

Know a friend who would be a great fit? Feel free to send us their resume to [jsetork@cnpstaffing.com].

Is this position not a great fit?

For more information about Careers in Nonprofits and our other available opportunities and workshops, please visit our website at www.careersinnonprofits.com.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regretfully can only respond to those candidates who best meet the requirements of a specific position or whose backgrounds are generally applicable to our client base. Please rest assured that we retain all candidate information for possible future matches, even if you do not hear from us in regard to your application in response to this ad.