Senior Monitoring Specialist

Senior Monitoring Specialist

USAID/Vietnam Learns

Hanoi, Vietnam

Apply here:

https://phg.tbe.taleo.net/phg02/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=SOCIIMPA2&cws=1&rid=4012

About Social Impact:

Social Impact (SI) is a global development management consulting firm. We provide monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, and capacity building services to advance development effectiveness. We work across all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth. Since 1997 we have worked in over 100 countries for clients such as US government agencies, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and nonprofits. 

Project Objective:

SI is implementing the USAID/Vietnam Learns Contract (Learns). The scope of the five-year project is to support USAID/Vietnam staff and its implementing partners (IPs) to implement more efficient, effective, and transparent programs by: (1) improving IP knowledge and skills in Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) and Collaborating, Learning & Adapting (CLA); (2) advancing evidence-informed decision-making; and (3) strengthening strategic collaboration between staff and local stakeholders. 

Position Description: 

SI seeks to hire a full-time Senior Monitoring Specialist to support the deeper use of monitoring, evaluation, and other types of data for learning, decision-making, and improved performance across the implementation portfolio of USAID/Vietnam. The Senior Monitoring Specialist will work closely with USAID-funded IPs, offering ongoing technical capacity building support and advisory services; lead on the review of partner Activity Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plans (AMELPs); and conduct ongoing Data Quality Assessments (DQAs).  The Senior Specialist will work closely with Learns’ Monitoring team members as well as the Capacity Building (CB) Team to achieve more strategic engagements and sustainable results.  

**Please note: This is a local position. Only Vietnamese citizens are eligible to apply**

Responsibilities:  

The Senior Monitoring Specialist will be expected to carry out both standard and senior monitoring responsibilities.  Please see responsibilities for each below.

Standard Monitoring Specialist responsibilities

• Building on existing Learns technical tools/processes and USAID guidelines (*), provide MEL technical assistance to USAID and IP staff, including, but not limited to:
  
  • Conduct DQAs and offer related technical support to help IPs strengthen any identified areas of weakness (and highlight strength areas)
  • Review new AMELPs submitted to USAID, and offer related technical support to help IPs improve the quality of their plans and associated tools and processes
  • Offer ongoing technical advice to IPs and USAID on improving data quality, data use, and monitoring practices that are evidence-based, collaborative, and adaptive
  • Support IPs on the deeper use of monitoring, evaluation, and other types of data to support learning and improve performance
  • Provide or actively support on-demand technical assistance to USAID and IPs in complementary areas such as: USAID regulation compliance; design of information systems including databases, data flow and analysis; promoting a data use culture; data visualization; and knowledge management in support of data-use
• When applicable, contribute to the development of training materials, guidance materials, and platforms or tools supporting Learns’ overall project goals
• When applicable, design, support, or lead training sessions on topics which may include: designing data collection forms; developing Activity indicators; developing AMELPs; and designing program dashboards.
  (*) Note that the Senior Monitoring Specialist may naturally be learning-on-the-job how to use and apply Learns-specific tools/systems/procedures during the first few months of his/her assignment, but should early on demonstrate the ability to quickly learn and effectively apply these processes and associated approaches.
• Senior Monitoring Specialist Responsibilities Actively lead and role-model opportunities to practice, promote, and inspire strategic analysis that uses data and compelling visuals, and is guided by the active engagement of all relevant decision-makers, resting on CLA best-practices
• Actively support - or lead when relevant - efforts related to the coherent rollout of the sound design and delivery of both the Specialist and Strategic Learning Dojos (6 to 9 months-long capacity building courses for IPs) which may include: communicating with participants; developing / updating and delivering training modules, in close collaboration with relevant Capacity-Building and Monitoring team members.
• Actively contribute to and help foster team-wide strategic discussions toward the ongoing review, fine-tuning, and ownership of the Monitoring Team Milestones to achieve core targets and associated behavior changes at both the IP and USAID staff level.
• Actively contribute to the identification of capacity gaps, new ideas/initiatives, and learning opportunities to actively engage and inspire USAID, IPs or other external actors towards higher quality and more evidence-driven decision-making – while working closely with both Learns CLA and CB team members to achieve these goals.
• Under the overall direction of the Monitoring Director, may be brought to actively support the supervision and guidance of Monitoring specialists on technical issues, and – when relevant - lead on control quality of Monitoring team’s services and products;
• Carry out other responsibilities in support of the Monitoring Director, as may apply.

The Senior specialist will be expected to plan and manage deliverables and ongoing assignments in a timely and compliant manner and ensure that all expected tasks and deliverables are of high quality and done in highly collaborative manner.

Qualifications:  

• Education: Masters’ degree is required  
• At least 10 years of relevant working experience
• Experience working with USAID-funded activities preferred
• Strong communications skills in both English and Vietnamese, required (both verbal and written)
• Strong analytical and presentation skills required
• Experience and evidence of having the ability to work in a highly adaptive and collaborative manner required
• Experience in designing and leading training sessions and/or facilitating events, desirable  
• Proactive mindset, inquisitive and solutions-focused, required
• Strong interest in evidence-based adaptive management, required
• Exceptional inter-personal, organizational, analytical, communication skills (both written and presentation/verbal); ability to organize, collaborate, prioritize, and follow through on multiple tasks, completing them in a qualitative and timely manner.
• Technical monitoring experience and skills:
  
  • Monitoring methods and approaches and their practical applications, including M&E tool development
  • Data analysis, data visualization techniques, and overall data use
  • Core data management software (e.g., Excel, Power BI, Tableau, SAS, SPSS, Stata and/or other relevant platforms); GIS experience preferred
• Knowledge of economic growth, economic/trade competitiveness, higher education, and/or health preferred but not required

The closing date for application: March 15, 2022. Selection and interview will be performed constantly and interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.  

To apply, please merge both your CV and a cover letter (one-page briefly outlining your qualifications and motivations for applying) into one pdf file and submit it through the online portal.

To learn more about Social Impact, please visit our website: http://www.socialimpact.com

SI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please, no phone calls.