Director, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL)
AboutPalladium:
Palladiumis a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact onthe lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health,water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, andtransformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges;and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have aworkforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions,races, languages, and gender identities.
ThisOpportunity:
TheDirector, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) will serve threeprimary functions: 1) ensure MERL support across Palladium's business cycle forboth proposal and implementation support; 2) foster learning and thoughtleadership in MERL across the Americas Region Business Partnership (ARBP) andcollaborate with other Palladium regions on sharing state-of-the-art MERLapproaches; and 3) work with the Senior Director, Center of TechnicalExcellence (CoTE) to grow new business development opportunities in the MERLsector.
Locationand Compensation:
Theposition is based in Palladium's Washington D.C. Office.
Forour prospective employees in the United States, please note that the full-timeequivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to range from$116,000 to $174,000, and successful candidates may also be eligible foradditional, variable incentive compensation dependent on the role. Forpart-time employees, the salary will be prorated based on the actual number ofhours worked.
Pleasebe advised that a final salary offer will be based on various factors,including but not limited to your qualifications, education, experience,skills, seniority, performance, and Palladium's business or organizationalneeds.
Ifyou have any questions or concerns regarding the compensation for thisposition, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We value your interest inour company and appreciate the opportunity to discuss this opportunity withyou.
You and Your Career:
If you are a problem-solver, collaborator, and doer,and you have expertise in MERL, team management, and internationaldevelopment, we are interested in hearing from you.
We are a learning organization and provide growthopportunities from the start. We pride ourselves on giving you thefreedom, resources, and guidance to chart a fulfilling career!
Reportingand Supervision:
- The role reports to the Senior Director, Center of Technical Excellence (CoTE)
- This role could have an anticipated 5 direct reports, with larger oversight of other staff as MERL projects are awarded
PrimaryDuties and Responsibilities:
EnsureMonitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Across Palladium's Business Cycle
- Establish and maintain relationships with all practice area/portfolio leads to understand proposal and project needs (start-up, implementation, close-out) for MERL support. This includes theory of change, AMELP, CLA plans, support on research and evaluation, etc.
- Manage MERL team workflow ensuring that the right staff are resourced to the right opportunities and that MERL works in as part of a multi-disciplinary team to design appropriate proposals and projects, identify and address challenges, and deliver high quality MERL work to the client. This involves leveraging MERL expertise from across the ARBP
- Successfully manage a multi-sectoral MERL team - this includes setting/monitoring service standards, implementing Palladium's Performance Excellence processes, providing oversight on certain tasks, managing staff utilization, recruiting new top talent, and orienting new staff
- Collaborate with other CoTE staff, leveraging their expertise where/when appropriate - e.g., capacity development, data science, inclusive development
- Ensure SOPs, tools, guidance, trainings, templates, and examples, are created, disseminated and easily accessible by Palladium proposal and project staff
FosterLearning and Thought Leadership
- Monitor donor MERL trends, priorities, and guidance and ensure MERL staff are up to date on changes and developments in the space to ensure cutting edge MERL support to proposals and projects
- Manage knowledge around core MERL areas by updating capabilities, documenting resources, adapting/maintaining SharePoint sites, and communicating updates proactively
- Producing an annual set of MERL related thought leadership pieces based on Palladium project work, ensuring Palladium is known by priority clients for our cutting-edge MERL work
- Collaborate with the to-be-hired Learning Manager in the CoTE on developing internal and external learning events
- Maintain the MERL Community of Practice, CLA and other MERL initiatives (in collaboration with other staff in the Center) and the Palladium Research Determination Committee and identify new opportunities for sharing/learning in MERL. Ensure learning is supported across projects, both within and between portfolios/practice areas
GrowBusiness Development Opportunities
- Work with the Sr. Director, CoTE and other technical teams to contribute to the development of a pipeline of opportunities
- Take both proactive and responsive roles depending on need, e.g., step reviews, capture management, proposal writing, proposal review, capture manager support, to include all support activities through to timely submission of high-quality corporate offers
- Ensure MERL team contributes to CoTE proposal development, in addition to other sector specific proposals
Leadershipand Staff Management
- Build effective relationships with colleagues at all levels and across all practice areas through open communications and constructive feedback.
- Implement Palladium's Process Excellence framework with direct reports - this includes bi-monthly meetings with staff, providing constructive feedback, monitoring performance, holding staff accountable for their KRAs, including improvement of predetermined capabilities
- Cultivate a positive and supportive, yet accountability-focused, team culture
- Empower staff in decision-making and leadership opportunities. Actively mentor and develop staff to the next career level
- Model Palladium's Guiding Principles and leadership behaviors
KeyCompetencies Required:
- In-depth demonstrated experience living or working in international settings providing technical assistance in the MERL sector
- Candidate must have demonstrated successful field-based implementation experience, including development and implementation of theories of change, AMELPs, evidence-based target setting, CLA plans, and evaluations
- Strong ability to solve problems logically, plan and strategize
- Proven experience in adapting approaches for different clients and contexts.
- Expertise and proven success in implementing client-centered approaches
- Excellent communicator - is confident in initiating, leading and managing discussions (and potential conflicts) that explore difference. Ability to successfully work in many settings.
- Proven ability to lead effective teams, including building consensus and addressing discontent
- Experience in proposal development as capture manager, lead writer, reviewer, and strategy development
- Strong management skills with ability to mentor, coach, lead, develop and evaluate staff.
- Financial acumen and the ability to interpret and analyze financial reports for direct bill and indirect funding
- Exceptional verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills in English; high comfort level writing and presenting data and information in a compelling way to different audiences. Working proficiency in at least one other language (e.g., French, Spanish, Kiswahili).
- Proven experience in working with MIS and project staff to set up project MEL systems
- Proven expertise in at least three of five sectors (health, humanitarian response, finance and investment, environment, economic growth)
- Ability to work effectively and thrive in a fast-paced environment
- Strong time management and organizational skills; demonstrated ability to work well independently and in teams
- Ability and willingness to travel internationally about 25% of the time
Equity,Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embeddingequity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcomeapplications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity todrive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcomeand seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all jobapplicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of theirbackground 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 orIndigenous status.
Shouldyou require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability oryou are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please emailour team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch todiscuss.
Safeguarding - We define Safeguardingas "the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clientsand the communities we work with from harm". We are committed to ensuring thatall children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated withrespect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will besubject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focusedinterviews and a rigorous due diligence process.
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