J1 Position Description.pdf

MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE

CORPORATION POSITION

DESCRIPTION

Classification: Director (Monitoring & Evaluation), MC-0301-3a

Organizational Title:

Position Number:

Introduction:

MCC’s mission is to provide grant assistance to support economic growth and poverty reduction in select developing countries with a demonstrated commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizens. MCC’s partner countries enter into a five-year agreement (Compact) with MCC that includes a plan for achieving shared development objectives and the responsibilities of each country in achieving those objectives.

Our model is defined by core principles, of selectivity, country ownership, transparency, and a focus on results.

Our values identify who we are and what is important to us. Our Values are CLEAR: Embrace Collaboration, Always Learn, Practice Excellence, Be Accountable and Respect individuals and ideas. MCC’s values define how we behave on a daily basis, both as individuals and as an institution, in pursuit of our mission. They guide how we make decisions, set priorities, address challenges, manage tradeoffs, recruit and develop staff, and work together with our country partners and stakeholders.

This position is located within Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) in the Department of Policy and Evaluation (DPE. The M&E Division supports the design and implementation of results-focused development programs and leads the monitoring, independent evaluation, and reporting of program results.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

The primary purpose of this position is to assist MCC in ensuring accurate, timely and actionable monitoring and evaluation of MCC funded programs to support agency accountability and learning. This is done by engaging on program design to ensure the problem to be solved and the theory of change are clearly defined, supporting the establishment of M&E plans in coordination with partner country counterparts, working on country teams to ensure that program implementation and evaluation remains consistent with these plans, managing independent program evaluations, and effectively reporting and disseminating program results to internal and external audiences. The incumbent assumes full technical responsibility for conceptualization and implementation of MCC's monitoring and evaluation in assigned countries and provides quality control for all such work.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

Participating in country teams as the M&E subject matter expert throughout the program lifecycle. Reviewing and analyzing operational documents and preparing comments to ensure alignment with the M&E Plan and M&E Policy or to highlight concerns for senior staff.

Providing technical support to country teams on the development and updating of logical frameworks (theories of change) and issues related to the definition, measurement, and quality control of program performance indicators.

Providing independent analysis and interpretation of country performance data. Ensuring the quality and accuracy of data included in MCC communication and reporting materials, including MCC’s website and public reports.

Establishing and maintaining close working relationships with partner country counterparts to assist them in properly carrying out their M&E responsibilities, including:

o Providing technical guidance and support to host country counterparts to develop and implement M&E Plans, including budgeting and contracting tasks.

o Overseeing the implementation and monitoring of M&E systems and structures to support the generation, collection, analysis, and timely submission of performance reports and ensuring that these systems remain aligned with project implementation and inform decision-making.

o Conducting data quality reviews, remedying data weaknesses and ensuring the quality and reliability of M&E data.

o Effectively communicating program monitoring results.

Establishing the scope and overseeing the implementation of independent evaluations of MCC programs by independent contractors, including:

o Developing Terms of Reference and other contract documents for undertaking M&E activities. Leading Technical Evaluation Panels to select external resources acquired through contracts. Serving as COR/PM for M&E contracts to manage scope, quality, cost, and time. Developing, managing, and tracking evaluation budgets.

o Supporting the development and implementation of appropriate evaluation designs by advising on methodologies, sample sizes, data collection approaches, and other key parameters to ensure independent evaluations provide meaningful results that support MCC’s M&E goals of accountability, learning, and transparency.

o Engaging key stakeholders in MCC and partner countries in the decisions that guide the evaluation scope, design, and deliverables across evaluation lifecycle to ensure the accuracy and relevance of evaluation products.

o Effectively reporting and disseminating evaluation results to internal and external stakeholders in accordance with relevant MCC policies and guidelines.

Monitoring trends in development and M&E research and practice and identifying opportunities to apply this learning to MCC programs and evaluations. Developing internal and external policy or guidance.

Mentoring junior staff on the M&E team to introduce them to team policies, guidance, and processes, and orient them to country programs and teams.

Leading a practice area within the M&E team portfolio, e.g. overseeing evaluations within a sector and/or leading M&E practices in a functional area (e.g. gender, environment, or capacity building).

Performing other duties as assigned.

Factor 1 - Knowledge Required by the Position

Technical Experience independently managing the M&E of a complex, multi-year development program in line with organization policies and industry best practices, including designing and implementing a monitoring framework and/or managing a program evaluation to measure program results and make recommendations.

Expertise in program evaluation and mastery of core principles and practices, including impact and performance evaluation methodologies, data analysis, survey design and data collection methods, and results dissemination for policymakers to drive learning.

Expertise in and mastery of core principles, practices, and techniques for program results monitoring, including theory of change, indicator design, data quality, and reporting, to support results-focused design of MCC-funded programs and ensure relevant, timely, and actionable monitoring data and reports.

Experience with standard data collection and analysis systems, particularly statistical analysis software, such as STATA, SAS, SPSS, or R.

Experience developing procurement Terms of Reference in order to accurately communicate the scope and complexity of MCC’s independent evaluation (or similar) requirements to the market and procure well-qualified evaluation contractors with an appropriate technical plan and budget.

Experience managing contracts.

Ability to plan, organize, and implement programs, plans, and proposals involving substantial agency resources, or that require extensive changes in established procedures.

Teamwork Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams both in the US and in partner countries to resolve program design, implementation, and results measurement issues related to large, complex, multi-year international development projects and to coordinate across organizational entities.

Ability to collaborate with and build capacity with partner country M&E teams both remotely and in-person.

Skill in cross-cultural communication and collaboration.

Ability to prioritize and manage complex workload in matrixed team structure, with varied assignments and deadlines coming from different teams.

Ability to manage a specific thematic work portfolio, including prioritizing and ensuring progress on specific tasks and/or overseeing junior staff.

Communication Skills Ability to communicate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively, in writing and verbally, in order to draft documents and to present and explain findings and recommendations to parties inside and outside of the organization.

Professional experience guiding staff with authority and persuasiveness.

Factor 2 - Supervisory Controls

As the M&E subject matter expert throughout the program lifecycle, the employee is subject to administrative and policy direction concerning overall project priorities and objectives.

Within the parameters of the approved performance plan, the employee is responsible for carrying out work assignments and projects keeping the supervisor apprised of challenges or issues of relevance to M&E or DPE management. Analyses, evaluations, and recommendations developed are normally reviewed by management officials for potential influence on broad agency policy objectives and program goals. Performance is assessed through overall attainment of program/project objectives, timeliness, and effectiveness of work products. Findings and recommendations are normally accepted without significant change.

Factor 3 – Guidelines

Guidelines consist of broad administrative and program policy statements, and basic legislation.

Guidelines are of limited use in specific situations. The employee uses judgment and discretion in determining intent, and in interpreting and revising existing policy and regulatory guidance for use by others within or outside the employing organization. The employee is recognized as an expert in the development and/or interpretation of guidance on program planning and evaluation in a specialized area.

Factor 4 - Complexity

The employee analyzes interrelated issues of effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of substantive mission-oriented programs. Develops detailed plans, goals, and objectives for the long-range implementation and administration of programs, and/or develops criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the program. Decisions concerning planning, organizing, and conducting studies are complicated by conditions, such as conflicting program goals and objectives. Options, recommendations, and conclusions take into account and give appropriate weight to uncertainties about the data and other variables which affect long-range program performance.

Factor 5 - Scope and Effect

The purpose of the work is to monitor, analyze, and evaluate major aspects of substantive, mission-oriented programs. The work involves developing long-range program plans, goals, objectives, and milestones, or evaluating the effectiveness of programs. The work also involves resolving problems or issues which directly affect the accomplishment of principal agency program goals and objectives. Findings and recommendations are of major significance to top management of the agency; may serve as the basis for new administrative systems, legislative initiatives, regulations, or programs; or may have long-range and far-reaching effects.

Factor 6 - Personal Contacts

Personal contacts are with individuals outside the agency and may include consultants, contractors, or business executives in a moderately unstructured setting. Contacts may also include the head of the employing agency or program officials several managerial levels above the employee when such contacts occur on an ad-hoc basis.

Factor 7 - Purpose of Contacts

The purpose of contacts is to influence, motivate, persuade, or negotiate with others who may hold different points of views and to influence managers or other officials to accept recommendations or to obtain the desired effect.

Factor 8 - Physical Demands

The work is primarily sedentary, although some walking, bending, or carrying of light items may be involved. International travel is required.

Factor 9 - Work Environment

The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting rooms, training rooms, etc. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.