Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager, USAID Caribbean Sustainable Ecosystems Activity, Dominican Republic

Position Description

About PADF

The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) believes in creating a hemisphere of opportunity, for all. We work across Latin America and the Caribbean to make our region stronger—more healthy, peaceful, just, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable for current and future generations. For over 60 years, we have served the most vulnerable communities, investing resources throughout the hemisphere. We partner with and enable civil society, governments, and the private sector for the greater good of the region.

Position Overview

PADF is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager for a 5-year USAID-funded program to reduce threats to coastal and marine biodiversity in priority areas in the Caribbean. The activity will enhance climate resilience and human well-being of local communities, women, youth, and other marginalized groups while supporting the sustainability goals of large-scale tourism actors. The MEL Manager will be responsible for overseeing a comprehensive MEL framework to accurately measure the effectiveness and impact of the project’s interventions. This will include the creation and implementation of monitoring systems, conducting evaluations and assessments, and using the insights gained to continuously refine and improve project strategies. The MEL Manager’s work will be vital in ensuring that the project’s approach is data-driven, allowing for informed decision-making and adjustments to maximize impact on environmental sustainability and community resilience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead development of the MEL plan and relevant capacities across a team of experts, advisors, partners, and staff.
• Design, develop and deploy tools, protocols, and procedures for data collection and performance monitoring, as well as the baseline, midline, and end-line assessments, as needed.
• Develop systems to establish, document, and monitor benchmarks, performance goals, and indicators across program activities.
• Coordinate MEL activities according to the approved plan and in consultation with USAID and key stakeholders, including data quality assessments and mid-term and final assessments.
• Oversee an iterative cycle of learning practices, including multiple feedback loops, modules, pause and reflect sessions, and collaborative learning.
• Lead high-quality report preparation, capturing results of key activities and indicators to ensure that information is complete and verified for timely submission to the donor.
• Maintain up-to-date supporting documentation and data for indicators to comply with USAID Data Quality Assessments (DQA) and regularly conduct internal DQA processes.
• Conduct and oversee monitoring visits, including influencing the framework, observation guides, and data collection strategies employed during monitoring activities by other staff members.
• Perform other duties as required.

Competencies

• Analysis/Problem Solving – Identifies and separates out the key components of problems and situations. Able to manipulate and interpret a variety of information for patterns and trends and to deduce cause and effect. Can generate a range of creative solutions, evaluate them, and choose the most appropriate option.
• Planning and organizing – Achieves results in a quality, timely, and cost-effective way. Sees priorities, plans the efficient use of resources, and monitors progress against objectives. Anticipates crucial stages in projects. Formulates alternative means of achieving objectives. Responds effectively to unforeseen events.
• Interpersonal Effectiveness – Influences the views and behaviors of others through persuasion and encouragement. Manages conflict or other sensitive issues tactfully and effectively.
• Communication – Communicates information and ideas clearly and articulately both in oral and written form both to experts and non-experts. Uses appropriate language, style, and methods depending on audience and the purpose of communication. Able to convey complex information clearly. Anticipates the information that others will need.

Personal Characteristics

• Superior interpersonal skills and ability to interact with staff in Washington D.C. and in the Caribbean region, especially government-level stakeholders, civil society, and other stakeholders, as needed.
• Ability to work on teams and with partners in the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
• Flexible in a fast-paced environment.
• A team player with the ability to work with a multi-disciplinary team.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s (with 7+ years of experience) or Master’s degree (with 5+ years of experience) in statistics, demographics, public policy, international development, economics, or related field. Advanced certificate in M&E, data management, statistics, or economics preferred.
• Experience in a senior M&E position responsible for implementing M&E activities of an international development project.
• Ability to determine the necessity of a unique beneficiary count per location and establish the method for counting beneficiaries, incorporating strategies to mitigate double counting.
• Demonstrated experience in effectively designing, implementing, and operating project M&E systems from project initiation to closeout stages.
• Experience developing and refining data collection tools and analyzing data. Experience analyzing GIS data related to hectares demonstrating improved natural resource management is preferred.
• Experience managing performance indicator tracking tables, writing reports, and documenting lessons learned.
• Experience deploying MEL tools and providing training and technical assistance to program staff and local organizations.
• Skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods, MS Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, experience with data analysis program, such as SPSS or SAS, preferred.
• Experience integrating cross-cutting considerations, such as gender and marginalized groups, into MEL systems preferred.
• Fluency in English and Spanish are required. Fluency includes speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Knowledge of French is preferred.

More About PADF

PADF is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established by the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1962. www.padf.org

PADF’s core values. “H-E-A-R-T” = Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork.

Diversity. PADF is strong because we are diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. PADF does not discriminate based on ability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal record. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span of cultures, languages, socio-economic backgrounds, and perspectives on the world.

PADF is committed to safeguarding employees and those we serve, addressing inappropriate behavior, discrimination, and harassment. We take an intersectional approach, promote gender equality, and follow our Global Code of Conduct emphasizing our H.E.A.R.T. values. The code covers various aspects, including anti-trafficking, PSEAH (Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment), whistleblowing, and online safety. 

PADF is an Equal Opportunity Employer