[Hiring] Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning @World Vision

Role Description

VisionFund takes a distinct approach to inclusive financial services, providing impact-first financial products with layered training and delivery through the World Vision partnership, in order to improve outcomes for children in the poorest households. The credibility of our ability to improve household and child well-being rests on the quality of our evidence, which this role directly drives.

The Director, MERL leads the design and delivery of VisionFund’s measurement, evaluation, research and learning function:

• Monitoring architecture across the network
• Client voice instruments that tell us what clients actually experience
• External research partnerships that test our assumptions independently
• Internal impact evaluations using quasi-experimental or experimental designs
• Capability of impact staff across the MFI network

This role also carries responsibility for enhancing fundraising capabilities, leading MERL design for fundraising proposals and building joint measurement capability with World Vision.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitoring & Evaluation, Client Voice and Measurement Standards
  • Own the design and delivery of VisionFund’s network monitoring & evaluation approach
  • Lead the design, implementation and interpretation of client voice surveys
  • Design technical standards and methods for impact measurement
• Measurement for Funding
  • Lead MERL design for institutional, philanthropic and blended-finance funding proposals
  • Advise on go/no-go decisions where measurement obligations cannot credibly be delivered
  • Build joint measurement capability with World Vision support and field offices
  • Ensure measurement commitments made at proposal stage are resourced and tracked
• Research, evidence and theory of change
  • Own and maintain VisionFund’s theory of change
  • Set and manage the organisational research agenda
  • Manage VisionFund’s flagship academic research partnership
  • Build the evidence base supporting child-level results
  • Contribute technically to sector method development
• Impact staff capacity building
  • Design and deliver the capability-building approach for impact measurement staff
  • Manage the measurement consequences of network changes
• Team Leadership and Departmental Contribution
  • Lead the MERL team, including performance management and capability development
  • Foster a Christ-centred, high-performing culture
  • Establish routines through which evidence reaches and changes decisions
  • Contribute to departmental and organisational strategy

Qualifications

• Graduate-level degree in Economics, Development Economics, Statistics, Public Policy, Evaluation, or a related quantitative discipline
• Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience
• At least 5 years in a senior leadership role leading MERL, evaluation, research, or impact functions
• Demonstrated experience leading the design and implementation of measurement frameworks
• Minimum 5 years of experience designing and overseeing MERL components of proposals
• Experience serving as a technical counterpart to academic institutions and research organizations
• Proven experience strengthening technical capability and performance of dispersed teams
• Experience influencing and maintaining quality standards across teams and stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational change
• Evidence of external technical contribution through publications and conference presentations
• Proven experience leading and developing diverse professional teams
• Fluent in English; working French or Spanish desirable

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience of inclusive finance, microfinance or financial services measurement
• Familiarity with social performance and client protection frameworks
• Familiarity with climate adaptation results frameworks
• Experience designing MEL for adaptation or resilience programming
• Experience with World Vision International or another large, federated INGO

Travel and/or Work Environment Requirement

• Home based role with 20% travel

Salary Information

For positions filled in the United States, the typical salary range for this role is $102,000 to $140,000 USD. Exact salary offers will be determined by factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, experience and geographic location.

Applicant Types Accepted

• Local Applicants Only