MEAL Manager at Save the Children

Save the Children

Position: MEAL Manager

Deadline: November, 29/2023

Child Safeguarding:

Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

ROLE PURPOSE:

The MEAL Manager role will provide essential support to Save the Children’s programmes by supporting leadership and management, the roll-out of the MEAL system and building capacity for SCI and partners against SCI’s Minimum Operating Standards. He/She will build systems and staff capacity to ensure that SCI programs are of high quality to beneficiaries and donors and that learning is institutionalized for program improvements. This position will be responsible for ECHO-funded projects and will support other SCI programs at the country office.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Consortium Director and Director of MEAL (in dotted line management)

Dimensions: Save the Children works in 9 regions in Ethiopia with a current staff complement of approximately 1,800 staff and a current expenditure of approximately $90+ million each year.

Staff directly reporting to this post: None

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Management and Leadership

• Provide overall supervision and leadership on the MEAL functions and strategy delivery at the Consortium level

• Prove supervision, and support to MEAL staff for consortium members.

• Provide oversight of the MEAL budget and ensure effective and timely utilization for the appropriate MEAL activities

• Lead the MEAL technical working group meetings and activities including developing SOPs,

• Ensure MEAL evidence (IPTT, project performance/action trackers, etc) is used for management decision-making and continuous performance improvement and be part of the Hub-level management team members/

MEAL System Development and Management

• Undertake responsibility for the roll-out of the MEAL system for the ECHO-funded consortia.

• Ensure that the MEAL Team and partner staff understand the various steps and tools for the MEAL system and that this is used consistently across projects/areas

• Ensure programs/projects are using Quality Benchmarks as part of their day-to-day implementation and quality monitoring practices

• Support on the design and roll-out of standardized monitoring tools and methodologies as required by the consortium and in line with SCI minimum standards.

• Ensure functional accountability mechanisms are in place as the four pillars of accountability (Information sharing, participation, establishing and implementing Compliant and Feedback Mechanisms (CFM), and staff capacity building.

• Ensure that regular monitoring/MEAL reports are received and communicated effectively to the MEAL Head, Consortium leads and partner staff.

• Ensure periodic reports are as per the standard quality, standard template, and time frame and communicated accordingly

• Ensure communities and children know their rights and entitlements, have access to project information and participate in decisions that affect them

• Ensure communities and children have access to safe and responsive mechanisms to handle their complaints and feedback

Learning and Knowledge Management

• Support programs in the identification of learning objectives and evidence gaps.

• In close collaboration with the program team facilitate in generating, storing and sharing knowledge (most significant change story, meta-analysis, research/evaluation summary reports, etc).

• Ensure utilization of learning and knowledge generated in decision-making and program improvement

Technical Support and Capacity Building

• Undertake continuous staff capacity assessment and develop capacity-building plans

• Provide training and capacity building for partner staff as required

• Ensure relevant staff received proper orientations, inductions, and training to help them deliver their MEAL responsibilities

Program design, research, evaluations, assessments and other studies

• Participate in the program designing process and ensure MEAL components (monitoring, evaluation, assessment/baseline, accountability and learning) are appropriately planned for and adequately budgeted in the program design.

• Ensure projects/programs have SMART objectives & indicators, MEAL plan and are inconsistent to each other

• Ensure evaluations are undertaken as per the threshold and ECC maintains up-to-date evaluation trackers to monitor delivery and action planning

• Lead/participate in project/program baseline, evaluations, research and assessment activities in his/her areas of jurisdiction

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modeling Save the Children values

• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), take responsibility for their own personal development and encourage others to do the same

• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others

• Future-orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters

• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength

• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions

• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

KEY COMPETENCIES (Save the Children competency framework – to Skilled level)

• Leading and inspiring others

• Delivering Results

• Developing Self and Others

• Problem Solving and decision making

• Innovating and adapting

• Applying Technical & Professional Expertise

• Working effectively with others

• Communicating with Impact

• Networking

Job requirements

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• BSc/BA/ MSc/MA degree in an area of social development or equivalent.

• Recommended a minimum of 8 years, three NGO management experience in an M&E role in both emergency and development contexts, preferably with solid experience in MPCA.

• Direct experience of rolling out and managing M&E systems and of working on all aspects of MEAL for a consortium.

• Demonstrated commitment to building staff capacity, skills in training and capacity building

• Experience in solving complex issues through analysis, the definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability and willingness to travel to field sites and work in remote locations, often for prolonged periods of time

• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching

• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures

• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets

• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner

• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies

• Fluency in English, and other national/local languages both verbal and written essential

• Commitment to Save the Children values

How to Apply

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.