Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

AMERICAN CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL LABOR SOLIDARITY
BARGAINING UNIT POSITION DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: MONITORING AND EVALUATION SPECIALIST
CLASSIFICATION: PROFESSIONAL IV
STATUS: EXEMPT

Summary of Position: The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist is a bargaining unit position housed in the Office of Program Reporting and Evaluation (OPRE) and supervised by the OPRE Director. For information pertaining to evaluation of SC programs, however, the M&E Specialist, like the internal auditor, reports directly to the Executive Director to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the evaluation process.

Working closely with the Deputy Executive Director and OPRE Director, the M&E specialist leads the evaluation work of the Solidarity Center. This includes the internal work of policy and systems development, and external work with partner organizations to advance the evaluation field for programs like ours.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist is responsible for developing and managing new monitoring and evaluation systems for the Solidarity Center in collaboration with the M&E consortium partner. The M&E Specialist will be the primary liaison with the consortium partner and funding agency monitoring and evaluation specialists and program/grants officers with respect to all monitoring and evaluation issues. S/he will coordinate the development and ongoing management of M&E systems which will be used to monitor and evaluate all SC programs.

The M&E Specialist will work closely with SC’s consortium partner and staff at USAID to develop a mutually agreeable approach to impact evaluation. S/he will have primary responsibility and be the main point of contact for SC staff on impact and other program evaluations.

The M&E Specialist will work with the consortium partner on evaluation methodology and design. This includes data collection tools, measurement instruments and sampling methods, as well as a strategy for gathering initial baseline data, and outcome data at midpoint and in the final year. The candidate will understand and provide suggestions for overcoming challenges to the integrity of the data such as attrition.

The M&E Specialist is responsible for providing funding agencies with well-written program evaluation proposals and reports. S/he prepares and exchanges information and coordinates monitoring and evaluation discussions with other sections of the Center, as required. S/he provides advice and guidance to Country Program Directors and program staff for the development and implementation of the M&E plans that ensure the collection of relevant and appropriate data and the ability to effectively monitor and document the results of SC programs.

The M&E Specialist assists and advises the Director for OPRE and the Executive Office on M&E issues. S/he represents the Center at monitoring and evaluation meetings and conferences. S/he cooperates with other labor practitioners and NGOs, particularly within the democracy community, on efforts to promote and improve program evaluation methodology. S/he has the experience and presence necessary to represent the Solidarity Center accurately and effectively in public fora and in private meetings with donor organizations, partner organizations, and national and international public and private organizations. S/he may be required to travel to the field for monitoring and evaluation assignments, including training of field staff in SC M&E systems and the performance of internal evaluations.

The M&E Specialist is thoroughly conversant with monitoring and evaluation processes and will become familiar with program activities and current events relevant to the implementation of those activities. S/he has working knowledge of and experience in USAID and other donor agency policies, procedures and regulations related to monitoring and evaluation.

Required Qualifications: The M&E Specialist must have the ability to work independently and without supervision and must have expert background in monitoring and evaluation theory and methodology, and knowledge of international relations and trade union and socio-economic and political developments in the U.S. and abroad. Previous trade union experience, and/or experience in the Center as a Program Officer III are highly desirable. S/he must be capable of managing multiple assignments simultaneously and of making substantive decisions that have major effects on costs and completion of projects. S/he must have a master’s degree from an accredited university in statistics, quantitative methods or mathematics – or at a minimum a master’s degree (Ph.D. preferred) in a relevant social science, such as international relations, labor relations or related fields, with a major or minor in research methodology. S/he must be familiar with social science research methods and reliable sources of social and economic statistics. Familiarity/experience in working with local research organizations in countries with donor-funded programs is highly desired. S/he must have a minimum of five years of experience developing and applying valid and reliable indicators of complex political, social and/or economic change; as well as experience designing and executing prospective experimental or quasi-experimental impact evaluations. Experience in monitoring and evaluation of donor-funded labor sector projects is desirable. Excellent communications and writing skills are a must. S/he must have the ability to work and interact easily with a wide variety of people. Persons considered for this position must agree to travel overseas on a temporary basis, based on the needs of the Center. Fluency in a foreign language is a plus.

Supervisor: Director, Office of Program Reporting and Evaluation

Specific Duties:
• Lead the development of SC M&E systems in coordination with M&E consortium partner and funding agencies, Deputy Executive Director and OPRE Director;
• Train Solidarity Center program staff in SC M&E systems and develop a broad understanding within the organization of the importance and value of M&E;
• Design and facilitate impact evaluations;
• Assist in the elaboration of performance management plans, including formulation of performance monitoring criteria and development of quantitative indicators;
• Monitor and evaluate labor sector programs;
• Submit data sets collected to appropriate funding agency;
• Facilitate exchange of evaluation models and results;
• Liaise with donor evaluation specialists and program/grant officers;
• Assist in the establishment and standardization of organizational impact indicators;
• Standardize organizational M&E concepts and terminology;
• Train SC staff in M&E theory and methods;
• Write/edit proposals and reports;
• Conduct research;
• Coordinate monitoring and evaluation activities with other SC offices;
• Develop coalition-building contacts with M&E Specialists in other labor and non-governmental organizations and work with them to advance M&E methodology, in close coordination with Deputy Executive Director and OPRE Director;
• Provide DC & field program offices with information required for the M&E process;
• Recruit outside evaluation specialists and other consultants and technical staff as needed;
• Conduct program evaluations; provide technical assistance and support to external evaluations and recruit evaluators;
• Represent the Solidarity Center as directed;
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

The duration of this position, as with all positions at the Solidarity Center, is contingent upon continued grant funding.

If interested, please send cover letter and résumé to:

Lisa Humphries
Human Resources Officer
Solidarity Center
888 16th Street, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20006

E-mail: lhumphries@solidaritycenter.org
Fax: (202) 974-8266

The Solidarity Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minority candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Only short listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Closing date of application: When filled.