MSH is seeking a Director for Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) in Nigeria. The MERL Director will contribute to the strategic M&E goals of the project in Nigeria, working in close collaboration with stakeholders including Government of Nigeria (and its agencies) at national and sub-national levels, development partners, professional associations and civil society. The MERL Director will be responsible for the monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning components of this project. The MERL Director will develop monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) systems and design research. The MERL Director will be responsible for the overall management of the monitoring, evaluation, and research system for the project.

The MERL Director will ensure smooth operation and quality performance of technical efforts and field activities by coordinating and overseeing quality programmatic reporting, quality of data management, and strategic information. The MERL Director is responsible for leading the development and implementation of a plan to monitor progress, evaluate effectiveness, and disseminate results, as well as overseeing operations, research, and other data analysis to facilitate evidence-based improvements in project performance and expand understanding and lessons learned. The MERL Director will ensure adherence to the monitoring of project activities using developed tools and indicators.

The MERL Director reports to the Project Director, participates in the project leadership team, collaborates with the Technical Directors and provides direct supervision to other technical staff.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide in-country technical leadership, and support for monitoring, evaluation, and knowledge management. These tasks include, among others:
• Ensure the integration of M&E activities into all project components.
• Collect, report and analyze information on project activities.
• Ensure timely and complete reporting from in-country executing partners by approved MSH and MSH reporting formats.
• Monitor and evaluate progress towards annual work plans, expected outputs, including selecting and monitoring progress in meeting indicators.
• Support the development and regularly update detailed annual work plans and selection of indicators and annual implementation plans with a view toward the project’s M&E requirements.
• Coordinate the preparation of all quarterly progress reports, annual project reports, inception reports, ad-hoc technical reports, and success stories for donor funding in line with the required formats.
• Collect data for the annual M&E plan and use those data to improve project performance.
• Adapt and implement tools and techniques to improve the quality and use of data for decision making.
• Compile information on lessons learned and expertise within and outside the project.
• Provide capacity-building activities on M&E to selected stakeholders and sub-contractors participating in project activities, including Federal and State Governments, Local Government Authorities, Ward Development Council, etc.:
• Provide capacity building, including reporting and management use of periodically collected health information, Data Quality Assurance, DHIS2, and LQAS through monthly seminars, hands-on training, mentoring, and coaching.
• Lead the design and implementation of operational research.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in management, M&E, health sciences, public health, or related subject with at least 10 years of relevant work experience in M&E donor-funded public health programs in Nigeria or West Africa: donor experience required, and M&E training and capacity-building experience required.
• Proven experience establishing data quality assurance systems with software applications related to project planning and monitoring.
• Experience designing and conducting operations research.
• Demonstrated ability to lead M&E staff and consultants within a consortium of international and local sub-contractors to achieve measurable results within an integrated health program.
• Proven experience in engaging M&E staff of the host country government, civil society organizations, international development organizations, and NGOs to support project implementation and/or to provide complementary resources.
• High levels of diplomacy, conflict management, team building, written and oral communication, and negotiation skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English, and demonstrated capacity to effectively communicate and document, including the writing of quality reports and detailed analysis of strategic information. Fluency in a local language is a distinct advantage.

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The M&E Manager will be supervised by and report to the MERL Director. S/he will provide technical leadership of Project’s surveillance, monitoring and evaluation (SME) and health systems strengthening (HSS) interventions. generating strategic data for program management, reporting, and documentation of best practices. S/he will supervise and build the capacity of M& E Officers.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide technical guidance in the planning and implementation of all state and LGA level M&E activities.
• Develop and implement an M&E plan for the program in the state, in collaboration with the MERL Director and M&E Officers
• Take a lead in the implementation of M&E plans and state work plan and report on donor indicators and targets in collaboration with the MERL team.
• Establish a system for the flow of information from service-delivery points to the central database and ensure timely M&E technical support to all implement health facilities.
• Build capacity of M&E officers in monitoring and evaluation, data management and data use
• Support the team to analyze and use data to inform decisions and guide malaria interventions
• Participate in data quality review meetings at the state and LGA levels
• Work with MERL team and train health workers in the use of HMIS tools
• Support monitoring of quality of service at health facilities
• Take lead in implementation of selected health systems interventions.
• Provide analytics to inform state HRH deployment and management practices
• Provide TA in analysis and management of Data Repository drawing from the federal MDR instance; and promote dissemination of information to policy and decision makers through bulletins and policy briefs
• Any other task assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• A postgraduate first degree in statistics, mathematics, computer science or any related field of study and at least 7+ years of progressive experience in Monitoring and Evaluation of health programs; or a postgraduate degree in Social Sciences, Statistics, Epidemiology or related field with at least 3 years field experience in monitoring and evaluation of health programs is required.
• Experience in developing monitoring plans and/or management information systems, generating, triangulating and using health data to inform State health systems strengthening is required.
• NGO experience is an added advantage
• Familiarity with any donor M&E and reporting systems is highly desirable
• Excellent data quality assurance, analysis, presentation and reporting skills.
• Strong computer skills particularly in spreadsheets, databases and statistical applications, including DHIS 2 for data management
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to foresee problems and initiate appropriate action
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and fluency in English
• Strong report writing skills
• Excellent organizational, inter-personal, multi-cultural and team building skills