**Overview** The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Advisorfocuses on strengthening the technical design, implementation, and standardization of robustMELsystems and approaches across Global Communities’projects **with an emphasis the technical areas of resilience, food security, and** **USDA-funded McGovern-Dole Food for Education (MGD-FFE)** programs.This positionprovides technical support to the design of newprojects during proposal development and provides technical direction to define and advance priorities that strengthen MEL systems, tools, approaches, and staff capacity in active awards. funded. The MEL Advisor also contributes to efforts to ensure the quality and rigor of monitoring, evaluation and learning that provide Global Communities with evidence on the effectiveness and impact of our programs while contributing to the organization’s visibility and competitiveness. **Responsibilities** **PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:** **Technical Support to New and Existing Projects (50%)** + Provide comprehensive MEL technical assistance to projects in the areas of resilience, food security and food for education and other projects as needed. + Develop and/or strengthen project-levelMELframeworks and plans, ensuring that systems and tools produce relevant, timely, quality data that are responsive to organizational and project-levellearning priorities, accountable toprogram participants and stakeholders, and align with donor policy and requirements. + Lead the design, implementation, and use of project- and portfolio-level learning agendas, special studies, and evaluations. Includes providing technical oversight of external evaluators. + Lead MEL plan and indicator adjustments if/when grant award amendments are necessary. + Develop and implement approaches and processes to ensure quality programmatic data are regularly analyzed and utilized to assess and improve program quality and project performance. This will include the use of MERL Technology, like project- and portfolio-level dashboards, for data visualization and analysis. + Develop and implement capacity strengthening activities for relevant internal and partner staff in data management, analysis, reporting and utilization of findings for data-driven decision making and learning and knowledge management. + Draft and/or strengthen technical documents, including MEL sections in donor reports, project or study briefs, or other dissemination products to ensure stakeholder accountability, promote learning, and enhance visibility efforts. + Lead and/or facilitate stocktaking exercises such as pause and reflect sessions, results utilization activities, before action reviews, after action reviews, critical reflection workshops and others to give and receive stakeholder feedback and identify lessons learned. **Technical Support to New Business Development (40%)** + As part of the MGD-FFE proposal team, lead writing, developing, and/or reviewing of all technical and MEL-related components of proposals; this will include Evaluation Plans, Theory of Change, Results Frameworks, Performance Indicator Reference Sheets, Learning or Research Agendas, Knowledge Management Plans, and staffing and resource needs. + Guidetechnical area specialists in determining indicator targets during the activity design process. + Lead MEL plan refinements during new award negation process. + As part of proposal teams, lead in the identification and/or formation of strategic partnerships to support rigorous performance monitoring, evaluation, research, and applied learning. + Support other business development opportunities as needed. **Technical Thought Leadership (10%)** + Provide specialized support and thought leadership in key technicalareas to strengthen Global Communities technical standards, tools, and approaches for existing and future programming in the following ways: + Develop and/or strengthen MEL-specific guidance, tools, and approaches forevidence-based design throughout the program design and proposal development phase and including ensuring theory of change is used in program design and management. + Strengthen capacity of relevant internal andimplementing partner staff in areas that include data management, analysis, reporting and utilization of findings for data driven decision making, knowledge management, and learning through one-on-one mentoring, virtual and in-person workshops/trainings, and/or the development of technical “how-to” guidance documents, tools, and templates. + Support the identification and optimization of use of internal program and data and knowledge across existing programs in the areas of resilience, food security or school feeding, with a focus on facilitating utilization of data and knowledge for technical learning, program improvement, and enhancing visibility of programs. + Facilitate organizational strategic coordination and learning around MEL, including related knowledge sharing between teams, departments, projects and countries through peer-to-peer networks and knowledge exchange activities such as a technical community of practice. **POSITION SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:** + Ability to travel, including to remote or resource-limited areas (up to 30%). + Support MEL-related mentoring, professional development, and technical capacity strengthening of project staff, implementing partners, headquarter staff, and other staff members. + Participate in Global Communities organizational initiatives. + Promote and advance a culture of learning within the organization through advancingpersonal learning and subject matter expertise in relevant areas. + Stay up to date on industry best practices and incorporate them in GC processes, guidance, and tools. + Other duties as assigned. **Knowledge, Skills and Abilities** + Knowledge of best practices and international standards in designing and implementing robust MEL systems. + Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative MEL methods, including quasi-experimental evaluation design and special studies rigorous sampling methodologies. + Demonstrated ability and experience supporting projects related to one or more areas including resilience, food security, and/or USDA Food for Education with a strong preference on the latter. Demonstrated use of tools and approaches for facilitating data utilization, including data visualization and presentation, and facilitating learning and reflection activities. + Strong writing skills to support proposal development, prepare and review reports and to contribute to publications and promotional materials. + Ability to communicate effectively and work with a diverse set of technical and non-technical counterparts and stakeholders, including global headquarter staff, country stakeholders, host government, non-governmental organizations, and community representatives. + Demonstrated skills to mentor staff with various levels of technical capacity and experience. + Highly motivated, organized, and able to produce results in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. + Familiarity with and sensitivity to diversity, equity, and inclusion and gender issues. + Ability to use statistical analysis software, such as STATA, SPSS, and MERL Tech software, such as CommCare and PowerBI, a plus. + Knowledge of USAID and/or and USDA requirements for monitoring, evaluation and learning required. + Direct knowledge of and experience with USDA Food for Education monitoring and evaluation frameworks and reporting a large plus. + Second language abilities in Spanish required, Frencha plus. **Qualifications** + Undergraduate degree in a related discipline and a minimum of four years of related work experience or a minimum of eight years of related work experience. + Minimum two years of demonstrated work experience leading technical support efforts to strengthen performance monitoring, evaluation, and applied learning to USG-funded programs with a technical focus in one or more technical areas related to school feeding, resilience, multi-sectoral agriculture food security programming with resilient market systems and food systems an added plus. + Demonstrated experience with USAID and/or USDA Results Frameworks and monitoring and evaluation systems for BHA, Feed the Future, Food for Education, and/or Food for Progress highly desired. + Ability to support new program design and proposal development in one or more of the program focus areas noted for this position. + Professional proficiency in Spanish is required, professional proficiency in French highly desired. + A passion for the mission and values of Global Communities. **Application Instructions** To be considered for this position, please apply (including your resume and cover letter) by **01/10/2025** **.** Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled. **Location and Work Schedule** This selected candidate can be based in San Diego, CA, and Bethesda, MD. Candidates must be authorized to work in their preferred country without any restriction. This role is on a hybrid/telework schedule. The selected candidate is expected to work at least twice as week (Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday) from either our San Diego or Bethesda office and the remainder of the week from an approved remote location. **Salary and Compensation** The estimated salary for this position is between $80,113 - $100,141. Final salary will be based on several factors including qualifications, geographic location, experience, and internal equity. Global Communities provides a comprehensive benefits package; please note that this position is not eligible for allowances. **Safeguarding Policy** Global Communities holds strict safeguarding principles and has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. In the process of recruitment, selection, and appointment, Global Communities will conduct robust reference and background screening checks, including international vetting as a signature of the Global Misconduct Disclosure Scheme to ensure children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded, and abuse is prevented. The incumbent is required to carry out their duties in accordance with Global Communities Safeguarding policy and the Standards of Conduct. **EEO/ADA** Global Communities is 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, or status as a protected veteran. Global Communities complies with all applicable provisions of the ADA and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities unless it provides undue hardship to the organization. If reasonable accommodation is necessary to participate in the recruitment process, please contact recruitment@globalcommunities.org. **Category** _SD - MELI_ **ID** _2024-2520_ **Location : Location** _US-CA-San Diego_ **_Additional Locations_** _US-MD-Bethesda_ **_Location : Country_** _US_