USAID Tanzania Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Support Platform – Chief of Party at NORC

Background

NORC at the University of Chicago is one of the largest and most highly respected social research organizations pursuing high quality social science research both in the U.S. and internationally.

NORC is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) for the anticipated USAID Tanzania MEL Support Platform. The COP will work full-time over a 5-year period based in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.  The MEL Support Platform activity aims to assist the USAID mission with strategy- and activity-level performance monitoring, evaluation, and learning, including conducting data gathering and verification, data visualization (including Geographic Information Systems), data quality assessments, impact and performance evaluations, assessments, organizational learning, and collaboration among USAID’s implementing partners and Development Objectives teams. The MEL Support Platform will also implement a capacity building agenda for the mission, developing a baseline of M&E knowledge within the mission and tailoring a curriculum to provide skills
development to mission staff. All individuals should have strong English reading and writing skills. Tanzanian nationals are preferred. These are full-time positions contingent on funding.

Responsibilities

The COP will provide guidance, leadership and oversight for a team of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) professionals in Tanzania. The COP will be the primary liaison with the USAID Tanzania Mission and will be the authority on the implementation of the contract. The COP will provide technical oversight on all types of MEL deliverables and also manage personnel, a multi-million dollar budget, and the safety and security of staff. They are equally comfortable with
qualitative and quantitative data and have an interest in or talent for technology. They will have high political acumen and strong conflict prevention and management skills. The COP must be an inclusive leader, who can navigate change with flexibility and emotional resilience.

Technical Oversight (80%)

• Lead all MEL project planning, implementation, and evaluation;

• Serve as the primary point of contact with and represent the project to USAID, implementing partners, host country officials, and other relevant stakeholders;

• Facilitate communication between USAID PO, its technical teams and our projects component teams;

• Provide leadership in performance and impact evaluations, sector assessments, baseline
  assessment, evaluation design and methodology, research and analysis, performance monitoring and evaluation capacity building, and collaborating, learning, and adapting; and

• Works with team to strategically deploy staff and consultants.

Budget and Personnel Management (20%)

• Responsible for the budget, ensuring cost effective management, financial projections and
  systems to ensure proper use of funds;

• Ensure the quality and timeliness of all contract deliverables and work products;

• Directly or indirectly supervise all project staff and consultants;

• Mentor and support the professional development of all staff and consultants;

• Ensure adherence to all relevant USG, NORC, and host country rules, regulations, and
  laws, including those related to procurement and labor and employment; and

• Other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a master’s degree in international development/studies, social sciences,
  business, statistics, or a related field;

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in managing complex projects with one or more of the
  following technical components: developing performance monitoring systems; research, design, and data collection; and capacity building of USAID mission staff and local partner organizations;

• Strongly familiarity with USAID CLA practices, M&E design, and principles;

• Working knowledge of and experience with USG-funded program management, policies,
  regulations, and procedures;

• Demonstrated familiarity with ADS 201;

• Excellent team leadership, management, and communication skills; and

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous Chief of Party experience or equivalent (e.g., Team Leader, Country Director)
  on a USAID-funded award;

• Experience in Collaboration, Learning and Adapting (CLA), capacity development and
  training, performance measurement, data quality assurance (DQA), systems
  strengthening, GIS, evaluation and assessments;

• Professional experience working in Tanzania;

• Technical expertise in one or more thematic sectors (such as health, economic growth,
  education; democracy, rights and governance);

• Tanzanians strongly encouraged to apply. 

How to Apply

If interested, please send your CV to TanzaniaMEL@norc.org with Chief of Party in the subject line.