MEL & CLA Specialist, USAID/Advancing Digital Democracy

About Palladium:

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.  

This Opportunity:

The Digital Solutions and Transformation Portfolio within the Data Informatics and Analytical Solutions (DIAS) Community of Practice is seeking a CLA & Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Specialist to lead MERL and adaptive management activities in an upcoming global project to support USAID’s Advancing Digital Democracy Activity. The project aims to engage a variety of stakeholders including government counterparts, civil society, media, private sector, academia, think tanks, and regional and multilateral organizations in building a comprehensive approach to supporting digital democracy that centers on deepening democratic values and human rights into the digital ecosystem. The DIAS Practice is a dynamic and innovative group with talented and passionate members, working together to strengthen and harness digital and data ecosystems to accelerate development investments and outcomes and create positive impact. 

The CLA & MERL Specialist is a data-driven adaptive management leader, with experience infusing MEL approaches on large global development projects to drive program results and learning.  The CLA & MERL Specialist will be responsible for designing and implementing research and incorporating the collaborating, learning and adapting (CLA) agenda in support of establishing a robust evidence base to measure outcomes and impact associated with implementation of USAID’s Advancing Digital Democracy activity, project activities and digital development broadly. The Specialist will also serve as a catalyst for how digital technologies and evidence-based approaches can be used as an enabler for adaptative change management and propelling democratic outcomes.

This is a full-time position based in Washington, DC and is contingent upon award.

You and Your Career:

If you are a problem-solver, collaborator, and doer, and you have expertise in MEL, CLA and designing evidenced-based approached of digitally-enabled activities, we are interested in hearing from you. We are a learning organization and provide growth opportunities from the start.  We pride ourselves on giving you the freedom, resources, and guidance to chart a fulfilling career!

Reporting and Supervision:

The CLA&MEL specialist will report to the Project Director.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

The CLA & MERL Specialist will have the following roles and responsibilities:
Develop a monitoring, evaluation, research and learning strategy for the project, in alignment with buy-in client objectives and USAID’s broader research and CLA agenda for digital development activities
Advise USAID and buy-in clients on research and measurement activities that establish the evidence base for quantifying outcomes and impact associated with the implementation of digital democracy and rights activities.
Work with USAID and network partners to lead the design of buy-in research activities and oversee network partners to ensure successful implementation of research activities
Design and operationalize a project CLA approach by leading its implementation as per the M&E plan and regularly share the same with the donor as part of progress reporting, leveraging digital technologies as appropriate
Lead and oversee the project’s digital democracy and rights research and learning agenda, developing partnerships, and translating evidence into actionable learning and guidance products
Manage the program MEL plan including development of key program indicators, data collection processes, data analysis, reporting and development of key project deliverables such as the Performance Plan and Report
Oversee tracking and implementation of the approved work plan and MEL plan ensuring compliance in project contractual reporting on a quarterly and annual basis through submission of quality quarterly progress, program specific and annual reports
Provide technical assistance on buy-in activities to collect data or conduct research as required

Key Competencies Required:

At least ten (10) years of experience leading MEL and adaptively managing USAID programs
Experience collecting, analyzing, and reporting key reporting data, including Performance Plan and Report (PPR), context indicators, and other key annual foreign assistance programming and budgeting reporting requirements.
Experience designing and implementing research, establishing research partnerships, and translating evidence into program action.
Experience in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methods and analysis, using a wide variety of analytical tools
Experience conducting program evaluations
Experience in developing and implementing capacity strengthening approaches that leverage multiple learning approaches and media
Experience leveraging digital technologies and information systems to adaptively manage programs and drive results
The ability to work well under pressure and skilled in change management, crisis management, and problem solving
Excellent written and spoken English and ability to communicate across technical disciplines and non-technical audiences, leveraging a variety of multimedia

Professional Expertise/Competencies Preferred:

Professional fluency in additional languages preferred (e.g., French, Spanish, Portuguese)
Experience working in the democracy, human rights and governance sector

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.  

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss. 

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.