Monitoring Evaluation Research & Learning (MERL) Manager

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Plan International Ghana is looking to hire a dynamic, experienced and qualified professional to join our team as a Country Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) Manager.

This position forms part of our Country Management Team will require you to work closely with our program teams, partners, donors, and beneficiaries to ensure that our MERL systems and processes are robust, effective, and aligned with our strategic objectives and quality standards. You will also lead and support the generation and dissemination of evidence and learning that will inform our program design, implementation, and advocacy.

ABOUT YOU

The MERL Manager will be required to demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt that they are passionate about monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) in the international development sector and must have experience in designing and implementing MERL systems and frameworks for complex and multi-country programs. They must also posses the ability to work withn a dynamic and innovative INGO that works to advance the rights of millions of children and equality for girls around the globe

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Qualification and Experience

• A master’s degree in Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation, Development Studies, Social Sciences or another relevant field or equivalent
• At least 8 years of progressive experience in program design, monitoring and evaluation, learning and research position in international development, preferably in education, health, child protection, household economic security, DRM, gender and inclusion etc
• At least 5 years in working with INGOs

Demonstrated behaviours needed by the postholder to successfully perform the role:

• Coaches and builds capacity of staff in Cos, Grants and PUs
• Promotes innovation and learning across CO
• Communicates clearly and effectively
• Strong team building and motivational skills
• Demonstrates clear respect to all and especially children and women without discrimination
• Involves others in setting and achieving goals
• Demonstrates honesty and transparency in holding self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and Plan’s standards of behaviour
• Balances future vision with practical delivery
• Acts as a team player, willing to get the best outcome overall, adjusting own priorities if necessary
• Promotes a strong learning culture in the organisation
• Remains calm and positive under pressure and in difficult situations
• Research team management capacity
• Committed to respecting deadline;
• Good listening capacity
• Able to make effort for adaptability
• Team spirit;
• Be proactive and being able to anticipate
• Capacity to work under pressure
• Good capacity to communicate

Skills Specific to the post needed to put knowledge into practice.

• Good knowledge of monitoring, research and evaluation using quantitative and qualitative principles-
• Good knowledge of data management software ( (SPSS, Epi Info, EXCEL, World, Power Point, Access, MAXQDA,, CSPro or similar) ;
• Excellent report writing skills
• Excellent written and verbal skills in English;
• Good analytical skills
• Good communication skills appropriate to the audience.
• Strong team-building and motivational skills.
• Strong negotiating, facilitating and influencing skills as well as active listening skills
• Proficient in Microsoft applications and use of relevant software and other applications, (e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, database, internet)
• Strong planning and organizational skills
• Skills in managing decentralized teams
• Skills in managing qualitative and quantitative data collections
• Working experience in community participation in development/programming
• Skills for data base management (design, entry, analysis)
• Ability to deliver to tight deadlines
• Strong facilitation and coaching skills

Please click on the link for the full job description and job profile: Full Job Description - MERL Manager 2024.docx

Location: Counry Office

Type of Role: Monitoring & Evaluation

Reports to: Head of Programs & Influencing

Job Type: Fixed -Term

Closing Date: 9th February, 2024

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.