Senior MEL Specialist at Mercy Corps Tanzania

The Senior MEL Specialist is responsible for supporting Mercy Corps staff and partners MEL Focal Points to regularly collect, enter, verify, and analyze data and work with the MEL team to make timely adjustments to measure the impact of the DREAMS program and to ensure MEL data is accurately incorporated into all organizational reports and information products. S/he will ensure the collection and analysis of useful, timely and actionable information for managers and decision-makers, and contribute to the frequent review, reflection, and key learning processes to improve performance. S/he will ensure Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism (CARM) system is operating and feedback is used for program adaptive management.

Essential Responsibilities

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND OVERSIGHT

• Provide strategic direction and oversight of the MEL function for the DREAMS program, ensuring alignment with program objectives and donor expectations.
• Lead the periodic refinement of the MEL Plan, results framework, and program indicators.
• Ensure that the MEL system supports adaptive management, quality assurance, and learning across all program components.
• Embed MEL into program planning, design, and implementation, working in collaboration with implementing partners and private sector.

MONITORING, REPORTING AND EVIDENCE GENERATION

• Design and implement an effective monitoring system, including tools and templates to ensure timely, accurate and consistent data collection and reporting.
• Oversee the collection, validation, and reporting of program performance data against output, outcome, and impact indicators.
• Lead routine data quality assessments (DQAs), quarterly program review sessions, and field monitoring visits across all project locations, and that monitoring reports are shared with the program

Qualifications

Behaviors

Preferred

• Functional Expert - Considered a thought leader on a subject
• Innovative- Consistently introduces new ideas and demonstrates original thinking
• Detail Oriented - Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
• Leader - Inspires teammates to follow them
• Team Player - Works well as a member of a group
• Dedicated - Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity

Motivations

Preferred

Ability to Make an Impact - Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization

Goal Completion - Inspired to perform well by the completion of tasks