Job Description
FCDO awarded Mott MacDonald to lead the implementation of the Sierra Leone Secondary Education Improvement Programme (SS
EIP) 2, which builds on the work of the first phase: Sierra Leone Secondary Education Improvement Programme (SSEIP), also called Leh Wi Lan (Krio for “Let’s Learn”). The programme will support the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) to improve learning outcomes for boys and girls at the secondary level and to increase the enrolment, retention and well-being of girls and children with disabilities in school.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are at the heart of our organization. We promote equal opportunities and have initiatives to create an inclusive workplace culture. WE ARE ESPECIALLY KEEN TO HEAR FROM FEMALE APPLICANTS TO CREATE A GENDER-BALANCED TEAM. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format or would like us to make any adjustments to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can assist.
| Job description |
| Job title | Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Officer |
| Salary range | Negotiable, contract position |
| Time commitment | Full-time, contract position |
| Location | Freetown |
| Travel | The position requires regular travel nationwide to the district and school level. |
| Start date | May 2025 |
| Report to | Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Lead |
| Example duties and responsibilities | - Data Collection Tools: Develop paper-based and electronic data collection tools in Kobo and Tangerine.
- Quality Control: Provide quality control for all monitoring, survey, EMIS and other data used for internal learning and external reporting.
- Data Analysis: Conduct descriptive and statistical analysis of monitoring, survey, EMIS and other data as instructed by the MERL Lead.
- Field Visits: Conduct and supervise field visits to monitor programme activities, support project implementation, data collection and other MERL activities and maintain regular communication with the District Programme Officers (DPOs).
- Support Technical Leads: Assist technical leads in collecting monitoring data related to their activities and measuring the outcomes achieved by those activities.
- Management Information System: Assist the MERL Lead in the management of the programme management information system and dashboards, ensuring data is kept up to date, captured comprehensively and routinely, and accessible for colleagues to use.
- Collaboration and Adaptive Management: Support the MERL Lead to ensure MEL data and findings inform project planning and decision-making and contribute to the programme’s adaptive management approach.
- Annual and Quarterly Reporting: Assist the MERL Lead to provide timely and appropriate reporting to FCDO against logframe indicators, VFM indicators, key MERL activities, and learning emerging from the programme.
- Budget Development: Assist the MERL Lead to develop budgets for the delivery of the MERL workplan and for specific MERL activities.
- Flexibility: Adapt to changes in the scope and needs of the wider programme.
- Additional Duties: Perform other duties as assigned by the MERL Lead, Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader, Technical Director and the IDS Impact Measurement and Evaluation Lead.
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| Closing date | Applications must be received by CLOSE OF BUSINESS 7th April 2025 |
| How to submit | Please click on the link and follow the instructions. https://apply.mottmac.com/job-invite/7909/ NO HARD COPIES ACCEPTED |
| What to submit | Completed cover letter AND Curriculum Vitae, including 3 referees preferably HRs of your former and current employers. |
| Candidate profile |
| Experience/skills | - Good understanding of the educational context in Sierra Leone
- In-depth knowledge of MEL and minimum 2 years of experience
- Demonstrated data analysis experience, including ability to handle and process large datasets
- Previous experience of working with the government systems in Sierra Leone
- Ability to multi-task, prioritise and manage own time for maximum efficiency
- Excellent strategic thinking, planning and communication skills
- Excellent spoken and written English and Krio
- Willingness to be pro-active, responsive and flexible to the changing requirements of the project
- Excellent IT skills and confidence in Outlook, MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint, databases (e.g. Access) and statistical packages (e.g. SPSS, STATA or R)
- A team player with experience of working within team hierarchies and towards a common vision and to achieve a team goal
- Strong ability to foster and build networks and maintain diplomatic relations with different stakeholders.
- Hardworking with capacity to work independently with minimum supervision
- Working with the project team and ensure project results are achieved timely without compromising with quality
- Operate in a high-pressure deadline-driven environment with professionalism
- Ability to use cost effective and online applications for mobile data collection and data management
| Mindset | - Independent and proactive.
- Keenness to bring about positive change.
- Collaborative and respectful of others.
- Problem solving and troubleshooting.
- Willingness to travel regularly to remote schools.
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| Commitment | - Any MEL certification such as SAP/ HINTEL or Sigma highly appreciated
- Higher (postgraduate) degree in a relevant area desirable
- Experience managing consultants and leading a small team of education professionals
- At least 5 years’ experience of monitoring and evaluation roles in development programming.
- At least 5 years’ practical experience overseeing delivery of front-line programmes (ideally but not necessarily education) in Sierra Leone or similar environments
- Some education specific experience, either as a teacher, through relevant degree studies, or through work with NGO or government run programmes
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| Qualifications | - At least a bachelor’s degree in project management, Information Technology, statistics, education, gender, international development or related subject
- Formal training in data analysis or project management
| Language | - English (professional proficiency)
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