Programme Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Specialist at Tropical Health LLP

Contract type:  Fixed Term, 2 years with possible extension

Introduction

• Tropical Health is seeking an exceptional Programme Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Specialist to lead the programme Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Operations Research (OR) for a large donor malaria programme in Nigeria. 
• The position will be based in Abuja with extensive travel to support programme state M&E teams.
• The position is responsible for providing technical leadership to the strategy and implementation of M&E and Operational Research, managing the M&E and Operational Research team, and working in close collaboration with Government and other stakeholders at both federal and state levels.

Responsibilities
As a senior member of the management team in Nigeria, the Programme Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Specialist is responsible for:

Project Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Develop, revise, as required, and operationalise the programme M&E Strategy based on the programme theory of change to monitor and evaluate activities, outputs and outcomes across all programme objectives.
• Oversee technical implementation by the programme State M&E Officers.
• Lead national level programme M&E data collection and coordinate state level M&E data collection, ensuring consistency and quality across states.
• Collate, validate, triangulate, and analyse project M&E data, as well as track, collate and analyse data for project value for money assessments
• Provide the senior management team feedback on project performance against expected deliverables and results demonstrating the programme’s impact.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual M&E data summaries and narrative reports.
• Lead M&E responses to external information requests (e.g. donor and government), evaluations and audits.
• Lead compilation of M&E data for project learning and results dissemination.
• Mentor more junior M&E staff especially at State level.

Operational Research:

• Lead the development and delivery of the programme’s OR strategy, including the programme planned six-year longitudinal study.
• Lead the detailed design of OR activities and ethical clearance process as required.
• Ensure OR activities are successfully planned and delivered, with a focus on building local capacity of national consultants and OR partners such as academic institutions.
• Report and disseminate findings and results of OR across national and international fora.

Stakeholder coordination, support and capacity building:

• Support development and implementation of programme learning and knowledge management plan.
• Represent the programme in M&E related national meetings and technical fora.
• Support the Malaria Public Health and Data Specialist seconded to NMEP in targeted M&E and OR technical assistance and capacity building efforts as required.
• Provide support to other stakeholders in areas of key strengths.

Project Management:

• Lead the development and management of the programme M&E and OR annual budgets.
• In consultation with Tropical Health, coordinate and manage short term external technical assistance inputs to the programme in the area of M&E and OR.

Person Specification

• Master's Degree in Research Methods, Public Health, Epidemiology, M&E or other relevant qualification.
• Demonstrated experience of leading programme M&E and/or research, including design and strategic leadership of M&E and/or research activities and coordination of teams to deliver programme objectives.
• Deep understanding and knowledge of health systems dynamics and challenges in relation to Nigeria’s response to malaria.
• Demonstrated capabilities in management of M&E and/or research activities, including technical oversight of staff and developing and managing annual budgets.
• Experience building capacity, supervising and mentoring staff and partners, including facilitating training.
• Demonstrated experience along the whole continuum of research activities and widely published, with peer reviewed, evidence-based results.
• In-depth understanding of the health, political, social and cultural context of Nigeria (especially Northern States).
• Experience working effectively with Government and donors.
• Excellent computer skills, including in Excel and in Stata statistical software package knowledge of other data software an advantage (SPSS, R, mapping software, ODK etc.)
• Excellent level of spoken and written English; Hausa language skills an advantage.
• The PMERS should hold an MSc in public health, epidemiology, M&E or other relevant subjects and at least 10 year’s proven experience in a relevant context.  We are looking for someone with a successful record of achievement in the leadership of malaria M&E activities. 
• The right candidate will have a strong track record in design and delivery of programme M&E and research activities and a deep understanding and knowledge of health systems and challenges in Nigeria’s response to malaria elimination. 
• We require experience of capacity building and management/supervision of staff and partners, training design and delivery and demonstrated experience along the continuum of research. 
• The preferred candidate will have a good portfolio of peer reviewed, evidence based published articles and research.  This role requires an experienced budget manager.  We are looking for someone with excellent computer skills and a good level of written English and Hausa.

Salary
Negotiable and commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.