Back Evaluation Specialists - USAID Indonesia MEL (Dec 2019)

EnCompass LLC is actively seeking Evaluation Specialist candidates at multiple levels for an anticipated United States Agency for International Development (USAID) monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) program in Indonesia. This anticipated 5 year project will provide USAID/Indonesia with a central platform for the procurement of support services that will strengthen, support, and facilitate USAID’s capacity for using MEL approaches that will improve development outcomes and enhance the capacity of USAID/Indonesia’s strategic partners. It is also anticipated that this project will seek to improve USAID’s ability to monitor and track the performance of their in-country portfolio, along with the Mission’s ability to collaborate, learn, and adapt (CLA) across this portfolio.

The (Senior) Evaluation Specialist should possess expertise designing and executing quantitative and qualitative data collection and analytical methods to support evaluation design and implementation, ideally in complex environments. S/he will lead the design and implementation of performance and impact evaluations, as well as all assessment activities, along with the required analysis therefrom. The (Senior) Evaluation Specialist will finalize evaluation reports and facilitate presentations and briefings to disseminate learning among project stakeholders. S/he may be responsible for leading and/or directing evaluation teams and conducting field research.

The position will be full-time and be based in Jakarta with travel throughout the country.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

The (Senior) Evaluation Specialist will have had prior experience as Team Lead for evaluations in Indonesia and/or within the region, as well as experience managing a portfolio of simultaneous evaluative activities and management experience ensuring quality of evaluation team members and subcontracting partners.

S/he will lead the design and implementation of performance and impact evaluations, as well as all assessment activities, along with the resulting required analysis therefrom, as well as manage the dissemination of learning from these evaluation and assessment activities. The (Senior) Evaluation Specialist will ensure that evaluation team members recruited are of a high caliber and possess the required technical expertise. S/he will work with the Chief of Party and other team members to ensure that learning from evaluations and assessments are shared and fully utilized to speed innovation and improve impact and investments of USAID’s work in country.

Essential functions include:

• Lead/manage evaluation, analysis, and assessment activities, including coordination and oversight of local partners engaged in these activities
• Design quantitative and/or qualitative data collection and analytical methods and tools to support evaluation design and implementation
• Liaise with the Chief of Party to inform the design of each study/evaluative activity and support quality assurance activities throughout each study, including the review of milestone deliverables and final reports prior to submission to USAID
• Support the selection and engagement of local partners and experts for activities, and support team development, training, and execution of activities
• Employ strong collaboration, learning, and adapting (CLA) practices throughout the work, with an understanding of the USAID Program Cycle

Position Requirements

Qualifications

• A graduate degree in a social science, organizational development, development studies or a related field highly preferred
• Minimum of six (6) years of demonstrated experience leading complex portfolios of evaluative and learning activities for improved development outcomes

Experience and Skills

• Experience designing and implementing various types of mixed-methods evaluations (impact, performance, meta, etc.), analyses, and assessments required
• Significant data analysis skills including command of statistics, sampling methodologies, statistical analysis software, and data validation techniques
• Extensive experience drafting and finalizing evaluation reports
• Experience applying systems thinking in evaluation design, participatory data collection methods and protocols, and facilitating participatory data validation and analysis exercises
• Experience in designing and training on Theory of change / logical frameworks
• Experience building evaluative and learning capacities of USAID staff, implementing partners, and government counterparts highly preferred
• Experience managing complex relationships with a variety of stakeholders
• Strong familiarity with USAID’s Evaluation Policy and CLA practices
• Understanding of knowledge management as it relates to USAID programs an asset
• Ability to work with host-country governments at different levels
• Strong communication, supervision, and management skills required
• Working knowledge of and experience with USG-funded program management, policies, regulations and procedures
• Previous work experience in Indonesia required
• Familiarity with USAID/Indonesia Mission is preferred
• Superior skills in written and verbal English required
• Proficiency in Bahasa greatly preferred
• Indonesian citizens are strongly encouraged to apply

The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.

The incumbent must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and have demonstrated ability to juggle and prioritize multiple, competing tasks and demands, and seek supervisory assistance as appropriate.