FHI 360 is seeking a qualified candidate who will serve as the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Technical Director for a potential US CDC-funded work that seeks to reduce tuberculosis (TB) burden and mortality in countries and settings with high TB burden in Southeast Asia by strengthening the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of TB through the adoption and expansion of innovative approaches. Activities will focus on: (1) Expanding early TB diagnosis by implementing active case finding using advanced and innovative screening methods and scale-up of novel TB diagnostic approaches, (2) Advancing TB prevention interventions including expansion of TB preventive treatment to at risk populations, conducting readiness assessments and introduction of new TB vaccines, and increasing infection prevention and control capacity and support. (3) Improving TB and drug-resistant TB treatment outcomes for all individuals affected by TB by implementation of novel and shorter TB treatment regimens.

Job Summary:

If the prospective project is awarded to FHI 360, the position provides MERL technical guidance to the US CDC- funded Southeast Asia Tuberculosis (TB) project. Provides final authorization and approval of the MERL portions of the project design, based on the design and direction set by technical leadership. May manage other professional staff members. Leads project MERL activities+sub activities and assists with project implementation. Ensures project MERL activities are on track withwork plans, with technical expertise informing project implementation. Oversees MERL activities timelines and budgets. Assists in the development of donor reports and presentations. Successfully contributes to project design, budgeting, and recruitment efforts. Develops project indicators for use by the project team.

Accountabilities:

Technical Requirements:

• Provide technical leadership in MERL across the project.

• Demonstrates good judgment in selecting MERL methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining solutions, with some supervision.

• Networks with key internal MERL personnel, including country-based team.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Project Design Implementation:

• Provides technical leadership of design, development, planning, implementation; and capacity- building of MERL aspects of the project

• Creates MERL project plan, within the given resource and financial constraints

• Leads the day-to-day MERL activities of the project and tracks delivery of projected outputs.

• Maintains constructive dialogue and MERL technical exchange with field counterparts and MEL staff members.

• Develops project MERL tools, standard methods, techniques, and systems for both qualitative and quantitative analysis.

• Participate in funder meetings and provide MERL technical input.

Capacity Building, Training and Supervision:

• Develops and implements MERL capacity building interventions for the project.

• Identifies MERL strategies to address training gaps.

• May supervise or provide technical guidance to other project MERL staff members.

Project/Program Reporting:

• Collates and uploads MERL output and deliverables data to sponsor data systems.

• Contributes to preparing and delivering presentations to the donor on project progress.

• Helps in the development and review of work plans.

• Serves as the primary author for MERL deliverables (e.g., reports, presentations, technical manuscripts).

• Gathers and aggregates data to provide a summary / high level overview for decision making.

Quality Assurance:

• Ensures MERL technical deliverables are consistent with best practices in the industry / subject and meet funder contractual obligations

• Identifies areas for improved efficiency or effectiveness within prescribed MERL parameters, and institutes enhancements to procedures.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• Ensures appropriate and timely technical support for field projects.

• Ensures the quality of implemented MEL activities and systems at all levels.

• Conducts routine coordination with employees and consultants, on-site and in the field.

• Strong MERL knowledge and skills and solid understanding of MERL concepts, principles and procedures.

• Previous experience with TB-specific MERL is preferred.

• Has the ability to manage MERL aspects of projects, set realistic priorities, and plan for the successful implementation of activities.

• Proficient writing and verbal communication skills.

• Relevant computer software skills (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office).

• Ability to manage their own work to job and performance standards.

• Must be able to read, write and speak fluent English.

Problem Solving & Impact:

• Demonstrates the ability to assess needs within agreed upon duties and considers the best course of action to meet those needs.

• Effectively applies knowledge of MERL concepts to solve problems.

• Demonstrates the ability to develop solutions to problems that cannot be solved using existing methods or approaches.

• Understands that faulty decisions/recommendations/failures to complete assignments will normally result inserious delays to assigned projects resulting in considerable expenditure of additional time, resources, and funds and proactively plans to avoid this.

• Decisions and actions impact primarily workflow, project processes and timeframes.

• Possesses problem solving skills to handle varied issues requiring review of practices and precedents to resolve.

• Capable of evaluating and resolving discrepancies with data, analyses, processes, etc.

• Understands MERL policies or guidelines relevant to the project and when referral to a supervisor or more senior professional is required.

Supervision Given/Received:

• Supervises junior MERL staff members.

• Coordinates own MERL workflow and sets individual MERL priorities.

• Works under general guidelines for completion and accuracy as determined by the supervisor.

• Accomplishes results through lower-level staff managers or through experienced staff who exercise independence in their assignments.

• Serves as mentor to country-level and more inexperienced MERL staff.

• Reports to the Principal Investigator

Education: ** **

• Master’s Degree or its International Equivalent in Knowledge/Information Sciences, Public Health, Epidemiology, Statics, Behavioral, Life/Social Sciences, International Development, Human Development or Related Field.

• Project Management (PM) Certification preferred.

Experience: ** **

• 8+ years of relevant experience in implementation of MERL components of large projects and/or programs – may manage activities of lower-level staff, however, main function is individual contributor.

• Documented experience providing technical assistance, capacity building and business development in MERL.

• Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private organization.

• Experience working with tuberculosis programs preferred.