J1 - Position Description SPO.pdf

Millennium Challenge Corporation

Position Description

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I certify that this is an accurate statement of the major duties and responsibilities of this job and its organizational relationships and that the job is necessary to carry out the functions of the Millennium Challenge Corporation for which I am responsible. This certification is made with the knowledge that this information is to be used for official purposes and that false and misleading statements may constitute a violation of the regulations of the Millennium Challenge Corporation and may subject the issuer of such false or misleading statements to disciplinary action.

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Millennium Challenge Corporation Position Description

Classification: Senior Program Officer, MC-301-4a

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 in the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Division of MCC’s Department of Policy and Evaluation (DPE). DPE’s mission is to provide management oversight for the development and implementation of policy and best practices related to country eligibility, economic analysis and monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management and policy reform. DPE manages MCC’s Threshold Program for countries not yet eligible for a Compact and formulates strategies that leverage MCC impact with foundations, international donors, and other U.S. Government agencies. 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.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

Provides technical support and guidance to country teams and partner countries throughout the program life cycle on the development and updating of logical frameworks (theories of change) and program M&E Plans to document performance indicators, data sources, and evaluation plans;

Reviews quarterly performance data for timeliness and accuracy, and supports the analysis and use of this data to inform decision-making;

Reviews program operational documents produced by MCC country teams and partner country entities to ensure alignment with the M&E Plan and adherence to the MCC M&E Policy;

Establishes and maintains close working relationships with the M&E officers in the partner country to assist them in implementing the program M&E Plan, including quarterly aggregation, verification, reporting, and analysis of monitoring data; support and oversight of evaluation-related data collection;

data quality reviews; review of evaluation deliverables; contract management; and management of the program M&E budget;

Supports effective reporting and dissemination of program results to internal and external stakeholders in accordance with relevant MCC policies and guidelines;

Develops the Terms of Reference for and manages independent evaluation contracts, which will include supporting the development and implementation of appropriate evaluation designs and the production of actionable evidence and learning related to program results;

Supports or leads efforts to improve M&E team practices, guidance, or policies;

Provides status reports and updates to M&E and DPE management on country programs and issues that may impact the Division or the Department;

Monitor trends in development research and practice and identify opportunities to apply this learning to MCC programs and evaluations;

Periodic international travel to support position duties; and

Performs other tasks as assigned

Factor 1 - Knowledge Required by the Position

Technical

Experience independently managing the M&E of a development program, including designing and implementing a monitoring framework and/or managing a program evaluation.

Experience with program evaluation, including impact and performance evaluation methodologies and

(i) data analysis and/or (ii) survey design and data collection methods, and/or (iii) results dissemination.

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

Knowledge of core principles, practices, and techniques for program evaluation, including impact and performance evaluation methodologies and data analysis, survey design and data collection methods, and results dissemination for policymakers in order to effectively manage and oversee independent evaluations of MCC-funded programs and produce relevant, timely, and actionable program results and learning.

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

Experience conducting analysis involving program/project design or implementation effectiveness and making recommendations.

Ability to interpret policies and best practices and their application to design, implementation, and results measurement issues related to large, complex, multi-year international development projects.

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

Ability to manage contracts.

Ability to manage databases.

Ability to use cooperative work sharing software, such as SharePoint.

Teamwork

Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams to resolve program design, implementation, and results measurement issues related to large, complex, multi-year international development projects.

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.

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.

Factor 2 - Supervisory Controls

The supervisor and/or higher graded staff work with the employee to develop a mutually acceptable performance plan which typically includes identification of performance goals, specific tasks, and associated deadlines for the performance year. 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. Work is reviewed in progress and upon completion for accuracy, completeness and compatibility with organizational goals, guidelines, and effectiveness in achieving intended objectives.

Factor 3 - Guidelines

Guidelines consist of general administrative and implementation policies and program management practices which require considerable adaptation and/or interpretation for application to issues and problems studied. The employee uses judgment and discretion in ensuring compliance with MCC policies and guidelines when analyzing and developing recommendations to a variety of implementation issues and concerns. Within the context of broad regulatory guidelines the employee refines or develops more specific guidelines, such as implementing regulations, methods and/or procedures.

Factor 4 - Complexity

The employee analyzes interrelated issues of effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of substantive mission-oriented programs. The incumbent develops detailed plans, goals, and objectives for the 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 analyze and evaluate aspects of substantive, mission-oriented programs. The employee resolves problems or copes with issues which directly affect the accomplishment of principal agency program goals and objectives. Study reports contain findings and recommendations of significance to management of the agency, and often serve as the basis for new administrative systems, policies or practices.

Factor 6 – Personal Contacts Personal contacts are with individuals at all levels of the Corporation as-well-as representatives from other government agencies, consultants, contractors, or business executives in a moderately unstructured setting.

Factor 7 - Purpose of Contacts The purpose of contacts is to influence managers or other officials to accept and implement findings and recommendations on concerning operational program effectiveness. The employee may encounter resistance due to such issues as organizational conflict, competing objectives, or resource problems.

Factor 8 - Physical Demands The work is primarily sedentary, although some walking, bending, or carrying of light items may be involved. Travel may be required.

Factor 9 - Work Environment Work is performed in an office setting.

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