Head of MEAL

The role

The Country Head of MEAL is a key position within the Country Office. S/he oversees the design and implementation of a quality, comprehensive and integrated MEAL System that meets SCI standards; MEAL staff management, mentorship, and development; strategic and annual planning, internal reporting, as well as programme development, Accountability and MEAL resources.

S/he directly supervises [inset which staff roles and how many]. The overall CO MEAL team consists of approximately [inset how many] staff, mostly based in field offices.

S/he is a member of the Program Development and Quality (PDQ) Senior Leadership Team and the CO National Management Team (ESMT).

Qualifications and experience

Essentials

• Minimum of 7 years of programming experience within the aid sector, preferably linked to one of Save the Children’s priority technical sectors (Child Poverty, Child Protection, Child Rights Governance, Education, Health & Nutrition), and with the majority of that time focused on overseeing comprehensive MEAL systems that ensure programme effectiveness and quality;
• Understanding of both emergency and development contexts, with a preference for experience in both contexts;
• Experience adhering to international quality standards (Red Cross Code of Conduct, Sphere, CHS) or equivalent;
• Experience and knowledge of monitoring systems, including robust and responsible data collection and use;
• Experience and knowledge of evidence generation and learning on what works (and doesn’t work) for children, including designing/commissioning, implementing and applying: needs assessments, baseline studies, evaluations and research, learning workshops and learning agendas;
• Experience and knowledge of systems for accountability to children and communities, including information sharing, participation of adults and children, and feedback and reporting mechanisms. Ability to prepare and facilitate technical MEAL trainings and workshops across countries in the region (including remotely). Direct experience working with communities in participatory activities;
• Proven success in building and managing a team and dedication to developing staff capacity through training, supervising, coaching and mentoring;
• Skilled at communicating and influencing across relevant teams and offices;
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets;
• Demonstrable analytical and problem solving skills;
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, defining and planning a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in;
• Ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner;
• Ability and willingness to be flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure contexts, including flexibility to work with incoming emergency response teams;
• Proficiency in relevant data collection and analysis software;
• Strong remote-working abilities and self-motivated;
• Willingness to travel to field sites;
• Proficient in speaking and writing English.

Desirables

• Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant region/context;
• Experience of promoting quality and impact through at least one cross-cutting area: gender equality and inclusion, adaptive and safer programming; child rights; disability; migration and displacement;
• Experience and knowledge of Save the Children’s structure, mandate and child focus.