Manager of MEAL

Job Description
10466 – Manager of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

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Washington, DC, USA OR Boston, MA, USA OR Remote in US

• Full-time
• Department: Learning, Evaluation and Accountability Department (LEAD)
• Exempt Status: exempt

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Company Description*
Oxfam is a global organization working to end the injustice of poverty. We help people build better futures for themselves, hold the powerful accountable, and save lives in disasters.
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Job Description*
DATE: July 2021
TITLE: Head of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)
LOCATION: Washington, DC OR Boston, MA OR Remote
DEPARTMENT: Learning, Evaluation and Accountability Department (LEAD)
REPORTS TO: Director, Knowledge for Impact
DIRECT REPORTS: 2 direct and 5+ matrixed reports
COORDINATES WITH: other Knowledge for Impact Teams (Digital in Programs and Research), OUS Program Teams, OUS Resource Development Team, Oxfam International MEL and knowledge networks, including but not limited to: confederation-wide and regional MEL networks, Oxfam Research Network (ORN), and Oxfam Knowledge Hubs.

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PURPOSE OF THE POSITION: *
The position provides strategic direction and technical MEAL expertise in developing and implementing an institutional Oxfam America (OUS) adaptive MEAL system in relation to OUS’ strategic framework and strategic plans and the organization’s positioning within the Oxfam Confederation. The purpose of the MEAL system is to provide evidence and interpretation of outcomes and impact of the organization’s programs for learning, decision-making, and adaptation, as well as for accountability with supporters, partners, and the people closest to impact. This includes co-leading and supporting the democratization of evidence and knowledge generated by Oxfam evaluation activities, and ensuring diverse knowledges are valued, created, and used across OUS. This role establishes MEAL and knowledge processes that center voices traditionally excluded from MEAL. It also builds strong, collaborative, working relationships with OUS global programs and alliances, advocacy, and policy teams; Oxfam International (OI) MEL Networks; various Oxfam Country and Regional Offices; and OUS Knowledge for Impact staff to generate, document, use, and learn from Oxfam’s evidence base and knowledge. A core focus will be facilitating of learning and translating results and findings from evaluation and learning processes across Oxfam for use in the work of OUS.

This role drives the creation of a learning culture and enabling environment while ensuring integrity and rigor in the MEAL system. The position ensures high quality standards and feminist principles are met by OUS’ MEAL system, using a collaborative, humble, and curious approach. This position practices feminist leadership skills as both an evaluator and manager.

The position is a key member of Knowledge for Impact (K4I) leadership. Knowledge for Impact consists of the Digital in Programs Department, Research Department, and LEAD. As part of the K4I leadership, the position collaborates to develop and implement shared goals and responsibilities. The role will also represent the MEL function within the Global Programs Management group.

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PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: *
In collaboration with the Director of Knowledge for Impact, Manager of Influencing MEL, and MEL Advisors, the Head of MEAL will:

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Co-Creation and Implementation of a Strategic, Institutional MEAL System*

• Co-create and implement a MEAL system that institutionalizes organization-wide assessment of outcomes, measurement of impact, learning loops and adaptation.
• Connect evaluation and learning products to organizational planning, learning, decision-making, and strategy development processes.
• Facilitate a learning culture and create an enabling environment for high-quality, feminist, MEAL activities to occur across OUS.

• Drive use of evaluation and learning products relevant to understanding program and campaign outcomes for adaptation. This includes the translation and use of relevant MEAL results and findings from throughout Oxfam confederation.

• Align and simplify OUS’ knowledge production processes across organizational knowledge and data systems.
• Frame and oversee OUS’s external engagement on MEAL.

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Oversight of Integrity in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Processes*

• Ensure peer review and approval processes for program evaluation and learning products are completed by MEAL staff and consultants.
• Ensure rigor in program evaluation and learning processes to include conducting periodic assessments on evaluation and learning processes across OUS, ensuring high quality standards and feminist principles are met.
• Convene ongoing reflection spaces to make sense of, learn from, and improve organizational performance.
• Create, design, and facilitate an annual space to engage the organization in taking stock of, reflecting on, and learning from Oxfam’s work and outcomes for purposes of adapting ongoing strategy and programming and accountability.
• Ensure and support program and donor budgets to adequately fund MEAL activities, meeting and/or exceeding organizational minimums.
• Support teams in their efforts to improve their feminist MEAL practice and decolonize knowledge at OUS.

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Feminist Team Management and Mentorship*

• Create a feminist, diverse, inclusive, and equitable team culture, which values staff and promotes autonomy.
• Facilitate effective MEAL community spaces that enable MEAL staff to share and learn.
• Lead on OUS MEAL engagement in restricted fund pipeline proposal development.
• Administer the centralized MEL budget in a feminist, transparent, and democratic way.
• Manage and mentor direct reports, providing timely, constructive feedback and supporting their career growth, professional development, and healthy work/life balance.
• Mentor and support indirect reports in the performance of their responsibilities, and on their career growth and professional development.
• Oversee safety and security protocols for MEAL staff and consultants, ensuring robust risk management and adherence to organizational policies and norms.

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Knowledge Management and Communication of Impact*

• Connect MEL staff with Public Engagement and Resource Development to translate results and findings on outcomes and impact of Oxfam’s programs for communication with donors, supporters, and the US public more broadly.
• Partner with Technology and Information Management (TIM), Research, Digital in Programs, MEAL staff, and the Executive Office to develop a digitally enabled knowledge management strategy and system.
• Partner with Executive Office, TIM, data analysts, Digital in Programs, Research, and other relevant teams to establish a feminist data culture.

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EXPECTATIONS FOR THE POSITION: *

• Perform all duties appropriately for a multi-cultural environment, treating all persons with dignity and respect.
• Be familiar with and committed to Oxfam America’s mission and values.
• Adopt a multi-disciplinary approach to MEAL, using both qualitative and quantitative methods adapted to rights-based development programs.
• Proactively identify potential solutions to challenges.
• Work humbly, collaboratively, and creatively.
• Possess strong understanding of and commitment to applying decolonial, feminist, and anti-racist theories and approaches to MEAL.
• Cultivate a safe work environment and promote safeguarding in our workplace, programs, and the communities Oxfam works in.
• Stay abreast of professional standards, trends, and issues relevant to MEAL and commit to continuous learning.
• International travel up to 25% of the time, when it is safe to do so.

Qualifications*
Qualifications*
Education: Master’s degree in relevant social science discipline with strong evaluation and applied research component.

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Experience and Core Competencies: *

• Seven to ten years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning in the public sector, donor, social justice, or international development agencies.
• Strong management experience in a supervisory role and team leadership position.
• Experience managing and working with a diverse team of individuals.
• Able to work effectively in a networked and matrixed structure, demonstrating good leadership and strong ability to collaborate.
• Robust experience utilizing different evaluation and measurement frameworks, including rights- and results-based.
• Demonstrated experience in the use of digital technology for MEAL.
• Strong understanding of feminist MEAL and experience with participatory approaches.
• Experience with MEAL for public policy, advocacy, and campaigning purposes.

• Professional experience in multi-national, multi-cultural, and multi-functional organizational contexts.
• Experience and training working in areas relevant to Oxfam global portfolios, such as food security and agricultural livelihoods, gender justice, natural resource justice, fiscal justice, inequality, climate justice, land rights, humanitarian assistance, disaster risk reduction and preparedness.
• Strong facilitation skills and sense-making skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex issues to a wide range of audiences and stakeholders.

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PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (GENERAL): *

• Ph.D. in relevant social science discipline with concentration in program evaluation.
• Fluency in Spanish, French, or Arabic.
• Experience carrying out gender-focused and developmental evaluation studies in cross-cultural settings.
• Experience working in Latin America, West Africa, East Africa, Middle East, North Africa and/or Asia.

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Additional Information*
Salary Band USNU-J-USD-S

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Oxfam America is a Gender Just organization and an equal opportunity employer. We have a zero tolerance policy for any sexual harassment, exploitation, and/or abuse. We welcome all persons to apply and do not discriminate. We take measures to prevent discrimination against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
We are an E-Verify employer.
For more information, please click on the following links:
E-Verify Participation Poster: English / Spanish
E-Verify Right to Work Poster: English | Spanish

Additional Information

Oxfam America is a Gender Just organization and an equal opportunity employer. We have a zero tolerance policy for any sexual harassment, exploitation, and/or abuse. We welcome all persons to apply and do not discriminate. We take measures to prevent discrimination against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
We are an E-Verify employer.
For more information, please click on the following links:
E-Verify Participation Poster: English / Spanish
E-Verify Right to Work Poster: English | Spanish

Job Type: Full-time