Pathfinder International Hiring For MEL Lead -USAID/India FIRE-UP Activity at New Delhi, Delhi, India Full Time

Pathfinder International is driven by the conviction that all people, regardless of where they live, have the right to decide whether and when to have children, to exist free from fear and stigma, and to lead the lives they choose. Since 1957, we have partnered with local governments, communities, and health systems in developing countries to remove barriers to critical sexual and reproductive health services. Together, we expand access to contraception, promote healthy pregnancies, save women’s lives, and stop the spread of new HIV infections, wherever the need is most urgent. Our work ensures millions of women, men, and young people are able to choose their own paths forward.

Project Overview:

The USAID/India FIRE-UP Activity aims to improve availability and demand for voluntary FP/RH services/products by ensuring equitable access, empowerment, fostering engagement and creating an enabling environment, in alignment with India’s FP2030 vision of providing universal access to FP/RH services, with a strong focus on youth, marginalized and vulnerable populations.

Pathfinder is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Lead for the USAID/India FIRE-UP Activity. The primary purpose of the Activity is to improve availability and demand for voluntary FP/RH services/products by ensuring equitable access, empowerment, fostering engagement and creating an enabling environment, in alignment with India’s FP2030 vision of providing universal access to FP/RH services, with a strong focus on youth, marginalized and vulnerable populations. The MEL Lead will be responsible for developing and managing the monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan to inform program and adaptive management and strategic direction. They will ensure a robust CLA approach and contributions to national level learning platforms and exchanges.

Key Job Outcomes:

Strategic Technical Leadership:

• Develops and implements a project MEL system according to Pathfinder standards and practices.
• Consults with USAID and other stakeholders to establish a transparent, reliable, and valid MEL system that can easily be tracked and verified.
• Ensures that the MEL system is a cost-effective, results-orientated system that provides USAID and the program with necessary information to assess the progress, effectiveness, and outcome of activities.
• Facilitates data use among project staff and key stakeholders through key analyses and established feedback loops which support activity adaptation in coordination with program and technical teams.
• Collaborates with partners to develop MEL and training plans as appropriate.
• Develops/adapts tools for data collection; designs and implements surveys and other data collection tasks in coordination with partner MEL teams.
• Designs/adapts a project performance monitoring database to report national and global indicator and performance indicator data quarterly to senior managers, COP, and Pathfinder headquarters.
• Provides technical support to strengthening MEL systems at national and community level.
• Directly contributes and provides leadership to national learning platforms and exchanges.

Program Management:

• Oversees implementation of the project’s baseline and end-of-project surveys.
• Documents project achievements against targets using monitoring data and works with project staff to identify and document challenges/gaps.
• Institutes regular use of performance monitoring data among project managers, Country Offices, and other relevant Pathfinder staff.
• Identifies best practices and state-of-the art approaches to the program activities and evaluates them.
• Disseminates information on project evaluations through written reports, conference presentations, and publications.
• Uses data to document achievements, success stories, and best practices systematically and consistently.
• Supervises MEL team members to: manage production of data to meet all reporting requirements including quarterly and annual reports, research, technical reports, presentations, etc.; ensure that all data is up to date and ready for immediate use; review quarterly reports prior to submission to donors; assist project staff with preparation of reports as appropriate.
• Strengthens capacity of project staff, on the use of data for decision making and performance improvement.

Organizational Representation and Collaboration:

• Provides overall guidance and manages all the MEL related efforts, communicating and coordinating as needed with global MEL staff.
• Liaise with donors, partners, host government agencies, and other key stakeholders to share progress, accomplishments, and challenges to ensure dissemination and incorporation of best practices.
• Cultivate strong relations with headquarters to achieve organizational goals and provide periodic updates to staff worldwide on the progress, challenges, successes, and lessons learned in managing the project.

Required Education, Training and Experience:

• Master’s degree in epidemiology, statistics, or health related field.
• Minimum of five years of relevant experience in MEL of large-scale health programs of similar size and scope.
• Experience leading MEL for FP/RH projects preferred.

Required Job-Specific Competencies:

• Technical Leadership: Demonstrated research experience and skills; experience working with DHIS2, and relevant data system/platforms.
• Leadership: Demonstrated leadership skills in working collaboratively with donors, host country institutions, and international organizations. Experience leading learning workshops and exchanges.
• Relationship Building: Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to maintain professional relationships. Ability to create and maintain effective working relations with senior Government personnel, INGOs, and USG.
• Management and Supervision: Proven ability to lead, manage, and develop direct reports within a matrix culture. Demonstrated competence in assessing priorities and in managing a variety of activities in a time-sensitive environment, and in meeting deadlines with attention to detail and quality. 
• Operations and Financial Management: Deep knowledge of operations and financial management on a donor funded project.

Required Organizational Competencies:

• Languages: Proven writing and speaking skills using local languages and English.
• Communication and Influencing Skills: Proven ability to influence others through diplomacy and proven oral and written communication skills.
• Passion for SRH: Demonstrated commitment to FP, RH services, gender, maternal, child health services, and eradication of harmful traditional practices.
• Software Applications: Advanced knowledge of MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook.
• Self-Management and Teamwork: Ability to work independently or as a member of the team, ability to thrive in a matrix organization, ability to be detailed-oriented, and ability to manage stress effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Matrix Management: Ability to thrive in a matrixed organization.
• Confidentiality: Ability to maintain confidentiality on work-related matters.

Other Information:

• This position will be based in India.
• Ability to travel throughout country to project sites (up to 40%)
• Uses cellular and desk phone, laptop or desktop computer.

Please note: This position is contingent upon project award and funding.

Application procedure /How to apply:

• Interested applicants are requested to include the contact details for at least 3 references in their resume.
• Please submit your application via this website no later than April 25th, 2023

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals With Disabilities

Pathfinder International provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Safeguarding and Protection

Pathfinder is committed to the safeguarding and protection of the people we serve and our staff. We have zero tolerance for any type of behavior that inflicts harm on children, young people, adults, our staff, and partners including sexual abuse, harassment, bullying, and exploitation. We do everything possible to ensure that we recruit only those who are suitable to work with for us and expect that everyone we hire will abide by our safeguarding and related policies and will report any suspected or known violations. This job is subject to a range of vetting checks as legally permitted in the country where they are being hired. By applying, the job applicant acknowledges they understand our intent to verify suitability to work with us.