Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning and Adapting (MERLA) Director - USAID LAC Regional Fund for Basic Education

For nearly four decades, Research Triangle Institute International (RTI) has worked to improve education globally. From addressing education delivery in historically underserved areas of post-apartheid South Africa, to expanding disability-inclusive education in Cambodia, to raising reading scores nationwide in Kenya and elsewhere around the world, RTI seeks to ensure that all children fulfill their potential. Working with and in support of local partners (government and non-governmental), we employ evidence-based approaches to strengthen education practice, management, and policy at every level-from classrooms to ministries, to improve education outcomes.

Project Description:

Through the LAC Regional Fund for Basic Education, USAID intends to transfer money and services to an implementing partner or consortium of partners to address barriers to access and increase the quality of basic education for marginalized groups in selected countries of the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. The total funding provided by USAID is expected to be between USD 25M and 50M. USAID anticipates this will be done through the financial and technical support of a new or existing LAC-focused regional fund or platform that will provide grants and technical support to local entities in select LAC countries that are currently engaged in or have ideas for innovative and/or scalable activities that aim to address existing systemic barriers and improve access and foundational learning outcomes specifically for marginalized and vulnerable groups. USAID also anticipates this activity will include rigorous measurement to inform the adaptation and scaling of such interventions in the future. USAID is open to working jointly with other donor organizations on a new or existing regional funding platform, both in terms of catalyzing additional funding as well as technical collaboration for knowledge sharing and implementation. They also encourage implementing partners to be thinking about ways of mobilizing other donor and private sector investments and cost sharing as part of this activity.

Position Description:

RTI seeks a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning and Adapting (MERLA) Director for the LAC Regional Fund for Basic Education. The MERLA Director will lead and guide the LAC Regional Fund for Basic Education team on MERLA and Collaboration related activities and ensure responsive reporting, and ongoing learning and adapting across the project. The MERLA Director will directly report to the Chief of Party.

• Responsible for the development, implementation, refinement, and harmonization of the project's MERLA system.
• Develops and operationalizes indicators, sets targets, and monitors progress; ensures they are informed by and feeds into program decisions.
• Establishes systems for gathering, reporting, and analyzing performance data in compliance with USAID guidelines and best practices.
• Assesses data quality through (1) system validation rules and checks in the activity database, and (2) periodic data quality assessments (DQAs).
• Designs data collection processes adhering to data quality.
• Monitors progress against targets and prepares quality reports; contributes to other project reports such as annual work plans.
• Leads and proactively reviews/analyzes project activities and their outputs and outcomes to continuously learn from and adapt ongoing project implementation; provides feedback to the technical team on where to improve.
• Documents best practices and lessons learned and uses data and regular learning sessions to drive program design, adaptation, and decision-making.
• Integrates data collection and learning throughout all project activities.
• Build capacity of partners and stakeholders for data collection and data use for learning.

• Bachelor's Degree and 12 years of experience, Master's degree and 10 years of experience, PhD and 6 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in MERLA and data analysis in international development programs.
• Knowledge of reporting procedures, best practices, guidelines, methods, and approaches for MERLA.
• Excellent management, communication, and organizational skills (attention to detail is required); flexibility and capacity to multi-task.
• Demonstrated ability to lead design and implementation of monitoring systems, databases, and data collection tools.
• Demonstrated experience using data and learning to inform program decision-making.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Demonstrated experience with MEL that measures and promotes gender and social inclusion.
• Experience working in Latin America and Caribbean contexts highly preferred
• Experience working in multicounty and/or regional contexts highly preferred
• Experience working on complex Education-related projects preferred.
• Professional fluency in Spanish is required; additional fluency in English preferred

As a global employer of choice, RTI is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging in the workplace and the communities and markets where we serve our mission. We value diversity of thought, culture, background and perspective and welcome applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, creed, citizenship status, disability, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable discrimination laws or RTI policy.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Further information is available here.

RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach and one that integrates expertise across the social and laboratory sciences, engineering, and international development. We believe in the promise of science, and we are inspired every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses around the world. For more information, visit www.rti.org.