MERL Specialist/Senior MERL Specialist

DevTech Systems, Inc. (DevTech) is an international consulting firm dedicated to development, with 40 years of experience providing advisory services and technical assistance to government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders in more than 100 countries. DevTech core practice areas include: Monitoring Evaluation, Research and Learning; Data Solutions; Public Financial Management and Fiscal Sustainability; and Education, Gender, and Youth.

At DevTech, we care deeply about doing work that leads to positive change in the world. We value diverse perspectives and are committed to an inclusive work environment. We encourage each person to learn, develop, and meet their professional potential. We rethink and evolve how we do things to grow and improve our company.

The MERL Specialist will help lead evaluations of projects funded by USAID, DoS, and other USG agencies; will provide technical guidance to MERL teams; and will take the lead on business development opportunities as needed. The position is located at DevTech Systems' home office in Arlington, VA, but travel to project sites around the world is expected.

• The MERL Specialist will provide support, leadership and technical expertise to the overall development and operationalization of DevTech’s approach to designing, developing, and implementing MEL strategies across programs and activities.
• Lead and manage the technical work related to performance monitoring, operational research, and learning, among other analytical and research activities. Tasks may include but are not limited to: 
  • • designing and implementing performance management frameworks including theories of change, results and logical frameworks, indicators, qualitative and quantitative data collection, data management solutions, and data quality assurance;
      • identifying pivotal points throughout the implementation of projects to assess progress and to take stock of performance including operational research activities and internal assessments and/or evaluations.
      • developing and overseeing processes to operationalize USAID’s Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) framework including communication and coordination strategies, pause and reflect sessions, learning agendas and roadmaps, scenario planning, and adaptation trackers.
• Liaise the clients, such as USAID, DOS, and ILAB.
• In coordination with the Contracts Office, oversee the mobilization of awarded evaluation and research contracts.
• Recruit and mobilize short‐term technical experts and evaluation team members, ensuring experts are of a high caliber and possess the required technical expertise.
• Support the continued improvement of M&E resources and templates, such as training and facilitation handbooks, learning agenda and roadmaps, and indicator tracking tools among others.
• Lead budget development and financial monitoring of projects by assisting with budget and contract modifications as well as monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting.
• Review and approve client invoices and conduct monthly expenditure analyses of project budgets against expenditures.
• Conduct research on early stage evaluation opportunities to understand competitive landscape, funding environment, and client priorities and lead the development of evaluation proposals.
• Lead external communications efforts including development and review of success stories, newsletter articles, blog posts, website updates, or other external communications products.
• Manage organizational deadlines and responsibilities such as quarterly reporting and corporate budget projections.
• Supervise junior staff members, providing guidance and mentorship in subjects areas including (but not limited to): program management, budgeting, proposal writing, evaluation design, development of monitoring systems, and developing MERL practice area systems.
• Represent DevTech, as needed, at seminars, conferences, meetings, professional events to strengthen networks and contribute to the M&E business development strategy of DevTech.
• Travel abroad for project and/or new business assignments.

• Master's degree in international relations or similar discipline plus a minimum of five years of experience in international development related to M&E, program support, and business development.
• An advanced university degree in international relations, economics, statistics, public policy, research methods, program assessment, evaluation/measurement, or another relevant field.
• Five - seven years of experience in international development, preferably in measuring performance and impact of USG-funded programs in the areas of democracy, human rights, and governance, economic growth, education, and gender and youth.
• Demonstrated experience in international donor program performance, monitoring and design and implementation of evaluations both (performance and impact evaluations) of development interventions including the use of complexity aware, systems-based, and participatory research approaches.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitation and training, with strong interpersonal skills for coaching and mentoring.
• Demonstrated experience in design and field testing of surveys, questionnaires, and/or other data collection instruments.
• Demonstrated experience in statistical analysis, experimental design and/or data collection analysis, indicator development, data quality assessments.
• Knowledge and familiarity of USAID policies, procedures, and regulations, including USAID’s Evaluation Policy.
• Experience with leading and developing successful evaluation proposal for donors, especially USAID, DOS, and ILAB donors.
• Exceptional organization, personal communication, and writing skills.
• Proficiency with Office tools - must be a power user and show deep proficiency in Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel as well as Adobe Acrobat.
• Proficiency with statistical software packages like R, Stata, and/or SPSS, qualitative software packages like Dedoose and NVivo, and data visualization tools.
• Fluency in English and Spanish
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to travel 10 – 15%

NOTE: This job posting should not be construed to imply that the requirements are the exclusive standards of the position nor will it be the sole basis for any subsequent employee evaluations. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as may be required by their supervisor. 
 
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), age (40 and older), physical and mental disability, genetic information (including family medical history) or characteristics, military status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship or alienage, or any other protected status as established by applicable federal, state, or local law.