Job Opening: Mercy Corps Data and Learning Advisor - TOLA

[Alicia Imbody]

Description

ABOUT MERCY CORPS

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

 

BACKGROUND:

To ensure that we can anticipate and adapt to changes in the toughest challenges around the world, Mercy Corps must continue to seek ways to enhance our organization’s culture and functionality. This requires ensuring we have the right people, capacities and systems to not only implement programs but to ensure learning is used and leveraged to enable influence and impact throughout implementation. As part of the mission for Performance & Quality, Mercy Corps is undertaking the development and rollout of a software solution, called TolaData, to support adaptive program management by improving program M&E data.  This position will provide support for behavior change and rollout to the field, including leading both in-person and virtual trainings, as well as soliciting feedback from users.

 

PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

The Tola project reports in and is a key member of the newly formed Program Performance and Quality (PaQ) department which consists of functions for monitoring and evaluation (M&E), program management, and gender integration.  The team’s approach supports both foundational and cutting edge adaptive management approaches to program management, with design, monitoring, evaluation and learning functions as key processes and benchmarks to ensuring evidenced-based decision making for quality program implementation. The team works across a wide spectrum of stakeholders both internal and external to Mercy Corps, as well as diverse technical program approaches and sectors.

 

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

Tola is an open-source, web-based platform that has begun being rolled out to all Mercy Corps countries since January 2016. The mission of Tola is to transform a country team’s ability to create data-driven impact by improving data quality, supporting project management workflow, and tracking progress towards meeting indicators.  The Data and Learning Advisor is responsible for supporting a country’s rollout and adoption of Tola across Mercy Corps’ global portfolio. This position is a member of the global Performance & Quality Team and responsible for ensuring rollout supports PaQ best practices and standards. Tola is a project-based initiative and this position is funded through the duration of the project in June 2018.

 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Rollout / Implementation & Capacity Building

• Leads and collaborates with program, MEL, and leadership teams to support the rollout and adoption of Tola in a country through remote and in country support
• Provides clear, consistent tracking of country progress and updates back to country leadership teams, escalating issues and engaging key stakeholders when necessary
• Leads and facilitates key rollout events such as bootcamps, including content development ensuring quality and alignment to drive PaQ strategy
• Develops and executes training strategies for country and HQ teams to ensure uptake of system by the intended audience and training materials are being utilized to facilitate ongoing capacity building at scale
• Works closely with MEL stakeholders at HQ and field to advocate and support the uptake of M&E best practices, including mobile data collection support, use of standardized indicators and methods to ensure data protection and security

 

Data Discovery and Analysis

• Collaborates with country program teams to develop high-impact data visualizations to facilitate deeper analysis and real-time learning, using examples to build replicable prototypes that can be used by other countries.
• Collaborates with country teams to enable effective data usage through participatory reflective, analysis and learning approaches.

 

Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

 

Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

 

ACCOUNTABILITY:

Reports directly to: Senior Data & Learning Advisor, Tola

Works directly with: Tola Project Team, Country-level MEL and program teams, Country Leadership, Regional Program Performance Advisors, Performance & Quality team.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION:

• Postgraduate degree in data science, statistics, economics, or other social science, research, or data-related field.
• 2-3 years of M&E or research experience with the proven use of program technology.
• Passion for handling large amounts of data and transforming it into compelling visualizations that facilitate analysis and decision-making.
• Experience with theoretical and practical background in research or M&E and knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methodologies and techniques required.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of statistical techniques and the ability to summarize, generalize, and make predictions from large data sets.
• Experience leading trainings or workshops, preferably both in-person and virtual.

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATION:

• Experience with statistical/graphical software (R, iPython notebooks, Stata) or spatial software (QGIS, ArcGIS) preferred.
• Experience in developing data visualizations using interactive mapping software (Mapbox, CartoDB, Google Fusion Tables), visualization software/libraries R, iPython notebooks, Tableau, D3.js, Chart.js, preferred.
• Experience in using an agile approach for managing a program, human-centered design, or design thinking are strongly valued.
• Exemplary organizational, communication and presentation skills.
• Excellent writing skills – ability to write in a variety of styles for multiple audiences.
• Prior experience in rolling Tola out in a country and familiarity with the system.

 

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The post holder will aim to narrow the traditional gap between M&E and program management by striving to produce information and learning that is used by program teams to make strategic and operational decisions. S/he will see the value in quantitative data and be comfortable with collecting, analysing and presenting it, but will also be enthusiastic about conducting further qualitative research in order to attain greater meaning. The successful candidate will have proven experience working with a cross-cultural team and and make effective communication a priority in all situations. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering quality products and building great teams.

 

LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The position will be based in Portland, OR, but an alternative location may possibly be negotiated for the right candidate, for Mercy Corps’ office in Washington, DC.  This role will include regular travel to country offices across the agency up to 30-40% of the time. Travel may be to insecure and/or austere locations.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Apply here!