Strategic Leadership and Partnership

• Establish and drive common strategies and approaches to the country’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Accountability processes that reflect and contextualize IRC’S global and Syria Country Strategic Action Plan and ensure that the MEAL structure is fit for this purpose.
• Lead all aspects of MEAL functions (including client feedback mechanisms and Information Management) across IRC Syria sectors (Health, Economic Recovery and Development, Protection, Education, and Governance) and geographical areas, including a large portfolio and a sophisticated environment.
• Develop, coordinate, and strengthen capacity-sharing partnerships with MEAL counterparts of partner agencies, local organizations, and the government.
• Represent the IRC on MEAL at meetings, forums, and other events in coordination with field management
• Champion design, access, and use of data by leaders and partners for shared learning and evidence-based decision-making.
• Shape and implement MEAL systems and approaches that meet IRC standards and practices, that meet project and program needs, enable accountability to clients, partners, and donors, and foster program learning.
• Work closely with RMA and other Regional and global Measurement Team (RMT) members to ensure alignment with IRC global MEAL priorities and innovative approaches, policies, processes, and technologies.
• Reinforce integration of cross-sectoral priorities in MEAL, including gender, protection, safeguarding, disaster risk reduction, and Do No Harm.
• Conduct at least one annual review of the Country Clients Responsiveness SOP and MEAL SOP to ensure it reflects any contextual changes

Technical Oversight

• Offer technical guidance for a strong MEAL system and processes throughout the project cycle from the design, start up/Planning, implementation to close-out and learning including;
• Drive the use of learning and evidence from internal and external sources, including previous projects to advise innovative proposal designs, Theory of Change (ToC), and program adaptation.
• Co-develop logical frameworks, MEAL plans, data collection tools, processes for data management, client feedback approaches, quality checks and audits, and data visualization. - Developing and advocating for adequate MEAL budget and staffing structure for all projects as per the guided standards.
• Producing high-quality data, analysis, reports, presentations, and dashboards of key findings that foster learning and decision-making and share in key meetings such as project cycle meetings and strategic senior management team meetings.
• Reviewing donor reporting in advance of submission to ensure quality and accuracy and working closely with MEAL teams in field sites to ensure proper reporting of data.
• Supporting Project Closeout and Learning Meetings to ensure the sharing and capturing of lessons learnt. Work with the MEAL in the country and the Measurement Unit team to ensure Syria’s annual statistics data is aggregated and uploaded with IRC’s systems.
• Overall responsibility to ensure MEAL data collected is accurate, reliable, valid, and timely.
• Provide technical leadership for the design, methodology, and conduct of surveys such as baseline and endline, and the commission of evaluations and any other assessments as required in coordination with program coordinators, technical advisors, and external partners where applicable.
• Co-develop and maintain an assessment calendar with Program Coordinators to ensure regular assessments occur ahead of planned proposals to ensure availability of needed data.
• Work closely with the grants team to keep track of the donors reporting schedule as well as donors MEAL related requirements, and ensure quality reporting of data in donor regular reporting
• Lead client accountability efforts and ensure Client Centrality by organizing the execution of client-responsive programming. Participate in internal discussions for priority areas of investment in research and engage with local and international partners and consultants on collaborations for research projects.
• Ensure continuous technical supervision of and support to research teams and provide technical direction to the teams of consultants in charge of conducting field studies.
• Lead and advocate for the expansion of technology use within MEAL to enhance timeliness and quality of data management.
• Provide technical proficiency to IRC’s effort in meeting its accountability commitments through carrying out sound accountability, client feedback, and response mechanisms.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• Develop and implement remote management and capacity-building approaches to the teams in Syria.
• Coach, train, supervise, and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Approve and manage time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, minimally on a monthly basis.
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.
• As required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicate through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.
• Conduct regular reflection or program review meetings with field-based staff to assess the level of achievement and draw on learning and data trends (including client feedback) to further inform program design and management decisions.