Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and Knowledge Management (KM) Specialist

Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and Knowledge Management (KM) Specialist

Project Title: USAID Partnership for Higher Education Reform (PHER)

Institution: Indiana University (IU)

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

Position Description

Indiana University (IU) seeks applicants for the position of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and Knowledge Management (KM) Specialist ((MEL/KM Specialist) to provide leadership and support for a five-year USAID project to build on effective models, introduce innovative approaches, and develop new partnerships to assist the Vietnam National University- Hanoi (VNU-HN), Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh (VNU-HCM), and the University of Danang to become more independent, sustainable, and high-quality higher education institutions.  (Project Fact Sheet (English) / Project Fact Sheet (Vietnamese)) This is a full-time, fixed-term position based in Vietnam.

The MEL/KM Specialist will serve as a vital member of the project team, reporting directly to the Chief of Party (COP). The Specialist will specifically support Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) and KM to ensure responsive, adaptive management of the project. The Specialist will support all data collection and reporting requirements, including the annual USAID Performance Plan and Report (PPR), quarterly progress reports, and other reporting requirements. The Specialist will serve as a technical advisor and capacity-builder on MEL issues to the PHER team. In addition, the Specialist is involved in building upon, reinforcing and enhancing a KM system that includes but is not limited to, organizing and curating tools and resources related to MEL, establishing processes to share lessons learned and best practices, communicating strategic performance information and success stories to stakeholders, and building the team’s capacity to make data-driven management decisions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Specialist will support the leadership of the Chief of Party (COP) to manage implementation and guide the technical direction of the project. These responsibilities include:

• Lead the monitoring, evaluating and learning plan (MELP); includes developing data collection tools and templates, conducting data collection and documentation, and leading data analyses and reporting.
• Coordinate MEL/CLA efforts, communicate short and long-term results, ensure progress, plan and problem solve for emerging issues, and respond to inquiries from COP and the PHER team.
• Conduct data analysis in support of periodic progress reporting, performance review report, and success stories; and work closely with beneficiary universities of the project in Vietnam and the PHER core team to ensure timely collection of data collection and supporting documents.
• Develop and disseminate lessons learned and best practice materials based on evaluations and performance reports.
• Develop the project database system including trainee and beneficiary databases, and coordinate with project staff to ensure the flow of reporting data from the 3 beneficiary universities of the project in Vietnam.
• Design and conduct baseline and end-line surveys with the stakeholders and beneficiaries, as required by certain performance indicators.
• Conduct periodic internal data quality assessment; collect and review evidence for indicator reporting data.
• Coordinate learning events and manage the knowledge sharing resources in the Project system.
• Update MELP, data collection forms, and guidelines; provide training for project staff and partners.
• Support/contribute to regular and ad hoc reporting, including the annual Performance Plan and Report (PPR), portfolio reviews, quarterly progress reports, and others as may be required.
• Support the collection, synthesis, analysis, and reporting of data to inform performance management.
• Support the development and application of standard templates and other communication tools/products for presenting strategic performance information to USAID and other key stakeholders.
• Other appropriate tasks assigned by COP.

Applicant Requirements:

The Specialist should be a Vietnamese national who has at least 5 years of relevant working experience in MEL/CLA in donor-funded project management (particularly with USAID). The Specialist should also have at least 3 years of demonstrated significant, relevant, progressively increasing responsibility in managing MEL/CLA activities of similar scope as this project. In addition to technical experience, the Specialist should have excellent organizational and management skills, proven leadership abilities within a multi-partner initiative, and experience representing projects at high levels of policy engagement. 

Desired skills and expertise:

• Bachelor’s degree (minimum) in Education, Management or any other related field. 
• Expertise in MEL and CLA for US Government and/or USAID projects, with a focus on adaptive management and using project and activity MEL data to adapt programming.
• Working knowledge of USAID policies and guidelines, particularly related to designing and implementing CLA and KM activities within the USG.
• Experience in higher education institutional capacity development, including in governance and/or implementing education technology and digitalization.
• Knowledge of and experience with the public university management system in Vietnam. 
• Strong network with higher education institutions and experts in the field in Vietnam
• Experience with planning for and resourcing learning activities and processes appropriately.
• Experience and expertise in facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration
• Strong interpersonal, team building and management skills
• Fluency in English; excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Vietnamese
• Gender integration and/or social inclusion expertise

To Apply:

Submit cover letter and CV to [email protected] no later than December 20, 2021

Please use email subject: “[Your Name]_MEL-KM Specialist_USAID Partnership for Higher Education Reform”

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Indiana University is an equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, marital status, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.