Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist - Bilingual

The MEL Specialist is responsible for designing and implementing systems to track key indicators, assess impact, manage data, and facilitate learning related to Unbound’s global programs. The work of the MEL Specialist will support the International Program Evaluation Strategy, program decision-making, and specific program evaluation designs under the leadership of the Senior Program Evaluator.
 
As the organization continues to work with local teams to grow data/information collected on program outcomes, the MEL Specialist works to improve upon the data collection, curation, data management and analysis for the organization’s global monitoring and evaluation initiatives under the 2030 Strategic Plan. The role will coordinate with headquarters staff, affiliate project staff, and sponsored families to measure progress towards the organization’s desired outcomes and goals. Key to the position is the ability to help a wide variety of stakeholders generate actionable insights and conclusions from datasets, define desired program outcomes, and regularly measure progress against those indicators. 
 
Key Accountabilities

1. Develop and maintain systems to track program data and key indicators.
2. Manage a program monitoring dashboard in Power BI to increase and strengthen the quality and availability of program data.    
3. Provide distance and on-site technical support for program evaluations that extend to multiple projects or countries and contribute to the effective implementation of those evaluations.
4. Collaborate with the evaluation team on MEL frameworks, theories of change, results frameworks, and logical models for Unbound’s programs.
5. Prepare reports or other materials to communicate program insights to internal and external stakeholders.

• Responsible for designing and implementing a monitoring system to track key program indicators according to the 2030 Strategic Plan, generating and reporting on trends to the organization.

• Ensure data quality, consistency, and timely reporting across projects.
• Play a key role as an expert who knows the ins-and-outs of the data by collaborating with our program teams and local partners in its collection, design, and analysis. Serve as the internal “go-to” corresponding with local teams and responsible for providing accurate and complete data reports to internal teams.  
• Support program evaluations using a variety of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques, including designing surveys, creating and testing instruments, assisting with data collection, and analyzing data.
• Fulfill evaluation and data collection requirements for grant-funded projects and ensure MEL strategies align with donor requirements.
• Produce analytical and technical reports that effectively communicate results and programmatic impact for board members, grant reporting requirements, regulatory filings, and other internal or external audiences.
• Develop vision, plans for, and eventually support in implementing baseline, midline and endline studies using the specific datasets related to monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• Collaborate with Senior Program Evaluator to cast vision and set goals that guideMEL practice and use within Unbound’s three-tiered evaluation framework in ways that exemplify credibility, simplicity, utility, and participation.

• Demonstrate diversity by recognizing the dignity of each person reflected in the structure and activities of Unbound which include relationships of mutual respect, teamwork, and commitment to Unbound’s core values.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills include the ability to synthesize information into clear, concise messages in a compelling manner to internal stakeholders.
• Displays intellectual curiosity, problem solving skills, and determination.
• Ability to build trusting, collaborative relationships within the projects, Unbound Kansas and cross-functional partners.
• Adapts readily to changing work demands and works cooperatively with a wide variety of people; shifts focus smoothly and quickly among competing activities; maintains composure under pressure.
• Using data-driven decision making to execute on business/management strategy.
• Self-motivated and goal driven.
• Ability to demonstrate poise, tact, and diplomacy.  Strong teamwork aptitude required.
• Strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships and the ability to model our core values.

• Bachelor’s Degree in monitoring and evaluation, data science, mathematics, statistics, econometrics or another related field preferred (Graduate degree preferred). Background in international studies, development or other social science field or equivalent combination of education and work experience in program evaluation.
• Minimum of five years of direct hands-on experience in monitoring systems, data management, or evaluation methodologies, with experience in retrieval, analysis, simplification, and representation of program data.
• Proficiency in statistical software platforms and packages such as R, Power BI, Tableau, Qualtrics, SPSS, R, Python, SQL.
• Regularly synthesize and present results and findings into a variety of products and developing effective data visualization strategies in products.

• Outstanding interpersonal skills in a diverse, multi-cultural environment.  
• Excellent analytical skills, allied with clarity of thought and expression.   
• Experience setting up, cleaning, and configuring data sets.  

• Experience conducting qualitative analysis and ability to summarize analysis results.  
• Experience in design, modification, and administration of measurement instruments (e.g., surveys, interview protocols).  
• Ability to formulate long-range goals and detailed implementation plans for concurrent projects.  
• Exceptional interest in learning and ability to learn quickly.  

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.  
• Ability to inspire trust and confidence among co-workers.  
• Heartfelt interest in helping others.  
• Fluency (both written and spoken) in English and Spanish required. Preference also given for skills in one or more of the following languages: French, Hindi, Swahili, Tagalog, Tamil, Telegu.  

• Required to sit, stand and walk.
• Use hands to operate and feel objects, tools or controls.
• Reach with hands and arms.
• Required to talk and hear consistently.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry and/or drag up to twenty-five (25) pounds if necessary.
• Availability for domestic and international travel, negotiating diverse environments and modes of transport (approx. 30-40 days per yr.) 
• Specific vision abilities required by the role include the ability to distinguish the nature of objects by using the eye.

• Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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