Senior MEAL Advisor (WCA)

Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Senior MEAL Advisor (WCA) to join our global team.

The Senior MEAL Advisor will oversee support and capacity-strengthening across a set of Save the Children offices in WCA region to drive up and assure the quality of the data and evidence produced from our work, with a particular emphasis on data and evidence relating to results and impact for children.

Job Title: Senior MEAL Advisor (WCA)
Reports To: Head of MEAL
Work Pattern: Hybrid/Remote with flexible working options available  
Contract Length: Permanent
Grade: P4   
Location: Any approved Save the Children International office location in the WCA Region. For a full list of locations that Save the Children International can hire in, please visit: Hiring Locations 

Time Zone (that the role holder must be available to work in): WCA Region time zones   

Right to Work: The successful candidate must possess the unrestricted right to work in their current or preferred location for the duration of employment  

International Travel Requirements: up to 30% 

  

Principle Accountabilities   

• Provide the first line of support to country teams on monitoring and accountability, including support or signposting on relevant SC E&L procedures and standards, indicator choice/ logframe development, use of digital tools for data collection and analysis, maintaining IPTTs for effective project management, and on related work with partners.
• Collaborate with global Save the Children networks, SCI Centre Evidence and Learning team to review and improve SCI MEAL processes and procedures, training and capacity building
• Develop, pilot and scale new and innovative MEAL initiatives, such as the Learning Organisation initiative and Learning Agenda, that facilitate learning and impact in the regional COs
• Support the head of MEAL with regional analysis and communications demonstrating the quality and impact of our work across the region, drawing on a variety of evidence sources including the Global Results Framework, PRIME, program evaluations, and Projects on Track (PoT).
• Act as focal point for two-way communications between country and global teams on data and evidence, including on new initiatives, emerging needs, challenges and opportunities
• Provide support to regional teams on effective approaches to using quality data and evidence in routine
• Work with country PDQ Directors to ensure adequate MEAL resourcing, staffing structure and capacity strengthening mechanisms are in place to ensure the institutionalisation, quality and sustainability of MEAL systems
• Work with colleagues across Save the Children to identify MEAL capacity building needs, and to develop and deliver the MEAL capacity strengthening plans 
• Provide remote and face-to-face training to groups and coaching/mentoring to individuals on SCI’s MEAL systems, tools and processes in accordance with the Quality Framework. 
• Support Country Office MEAL staff to understand global guidance, procedures and reporting requirements, learning and evidence, ensure that learning from the region informs our global evidence and strategic direction, and staff at all levels understand that their roles all contribute to our global objectives.
• Quality assure monitoring and accountability data and evidence used for global reporting and insights (including relevant Program KPIs, ‘Projects on Track’ and Strategy Monitoring)
• Identify, develop and/ or deliver capacity-strengthening initiatives to ensure MEAL staff in country offices and our partners have the necessary competencies to generate and analyse quality monitoring and accountability data and evidence, use appropriate digital solutions in support of this.
• Support strategic workforce planning, professional development and talent management of MEAL staff in country offices, maintaining strong working relationships with country teams
• Provide technical support to country offices to generate and use reliable feedback from children and communities as part of broader work on Accountability to Children and Communities with colleagues focused on Child Participation and Child Rights programming 
• Help position SCI as a thought leader by supporting development and delivery of written and oral communications in key internal and external forums, by self and other SC leaders. Serve as a credible, influential voice on technical and policy issues, ensuring alignment with other thematic areas, and positioning Save the Children as a leader in the sector.       
• Work closely with the wider Evidence & Learning team to achieve the objective of strengthening our culture of impact and learning, taking shared responsibility for ensuring that quality data and evidence is used in Research and Evaluations, and for insights and learning.

  

Experience and Skills   

Essential   

• MEAL experience, with experience of working within a complex and matrix organisation structure and in both development and emergency contexts
• Experience in International development or Save the Children’s thematic areas (e.g. education, public health, nutrition, child protection, child rights and emergency response)
• Proven track record in putting quality data and evidence from monitoring and accountability to use for continuous improvement in programming, and understanding of reporting. 
• Strong knowledge of digital tools for monitoring and accountability and ability to interface effectively with IT/ digital specialists
• Successful track record of implementing effective MEAL systems, including experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection and management.
• Strong experience of providing effective technical support to others, and of influencing effective practice in staff who you do not line manage
• Track record of leading or delivering capacity-strengthening initiatives. MEAL training and capacity building experience preferably in large transition environments and with varied audiences
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in French, and ability to ensure messages and communication channels are adapted to different audience/ user needs. Culturally sensitive, with highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• A flexible and initiative-taking, proactive, inspiring attitude with the ability to manage and prioritise an unpredictable workload, including the ability and willingness to change work practices and hours in the event of major emergencies

 

Education and Qualifications

• Essential:  Postgraduate degree in a relevant field such as evaluation, monitoring, knowledge management, economics, statistics or social sciences or extensive working knowledge in specialized field 

 

Working at Save the Children International  

Save the Children is the world's leading organisation for children, employing ~25,000 staff. We save children's lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Through our work in 116 countries, we put the most deprived and marginalised children first.   

We know that great people make a great organisation, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.   

The work here is challenging but is also immensely rewarding. At Save the Children, you will be in good company, working with talented, like-minded individuals who are determined to ensure that all children survive, learn, and are protected. Your contribution will help ensure children's voices are heard at the highest levels, and that we achieve our global strategy, Ambition for Children 2030, and reach every last child.    

  

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Equal Opportunities   

DEI is core to our vision, values and global strategy. Save the Children is committed to creating a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation, and one which will support us in our vision to ensure every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation.     

We are committed to equal employment opportunities, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, disability, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, caring or parental responsibilities, age, or beliefs and religion. We are committed to diversifying our staff to better represent the communities we serve and actively welcome underrepresented groups to apply.    

Reasonable adjustments will be made should any candidate invited to interview require this.  

  

Application Information   

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application. A full copy of the role profile can be found here via the job listing. It is recommended that you save a copy of the role profile as it will no longer be available after the advert closes.  

  
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the job advert may be closed earlier than advertised subject to the volume of suitable applicants. Please submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.  

Our recruitment process:  

1. Application review by our recruiting team based on your CV and cover letter  
2. Two-stage competency-based interviews with the hiring team  
3. Some recruitment may include an additional assessment or case study stage, or a third stage interview  
4. If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment, followed by your contract subject to passing background checks  

We need to keep children and adults safe so our selection process includes rigorous background checks and reflects our commitment to the protection of children and adults from abuse. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our Code of Conduct and all policies and procedures relating to Anti-harassment, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, and DEI and Equal Opportunities.  

  

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.