Hours: Full-time
Location: Washington, DC area preferred (including Northern Virginia and Maryland), but remote eligible.
Salary: Actual salary will be determined based on a variety of factors including years of experience and expertise
Anticipated Travel: Up to 20%
About WI-HER WI-HER is a woman-owned small business based in Northern Virginia. Our diverse global team is committed to delivering effective and equitable change through innovative solutions that are human-centered, sustainably delivered, transparently managed, and consistently documented. Our focus on tailored capacity development and rigorous monitoring and evaluation processes ensures excellence and impact in all of our programs across various sectors— while our small size brings flexibility and speed in response to our client needs.
Project Overview The U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) Bureau for Policy, Learning, and Resource Management (PLR), Office of Learning, Evaluation and Research (LER) is seeking consortiums to provide technical and advisory services for monitoring, evaluation, and collaborating, learning, and adapting (MECLA) activities under the EVAL-ME III IDIQ contract. The EVAL-ME III IDIQ aims to support USAID in building and using evidence for decision-making, making evidence more accessible, broadening and testing new MECLA approaches, developing MECLA capacity, strengthening organizational learning and knowledge management, and learning and adapting efforts as the organizational and programmatic context changes.
Background Automated Directives System (ADS) Chapter 201, Program Cycle Operational Policy defines USAID policies and practices for MECLA throughout the Program Cycle. The purpose of monitoring, evaluation and learning practices is to apply knowledge gained from evidence and analysis to improve development outcomes and ensure accountability for the resources used to achieve them. USAID relies on the best available information to rigorously and credibly make choices, plan effectively, manage adaptively, and learn systematically. This contract is a continuance to the EVAL- ME II IDIQ that has been in operation since September 2020 Relevant USAID Objectives This activity will support USAID objectives to:
Build and use evidence for decision-making;Make evidence more accessible and timely for internal and external users;Broaden and test new and promising approaches for monitoring, evaluation andcollaborating, learning and adapting (MECLA) in international development programs;Develop MECLA capacity of USAID staff, partners, and local organizations;Strengthen organizational learning and knowledge management processes and practice; and;Learn and adapt efforts as the organizational and programmatic context changes Position Objectives The Project Director will lead and manage all aspects of the EVAL-ME III IDIQ, providing strategic leadership and operational oversight. This position requires expertise in MECLA methodologies, stakeholder collaboration, and organizational learning. The Project Director will ensure the technical quality and timeliness of all deliverables while fostering an adaptive, learning-driven approach.
This position is part of an anticipated project and is contingent upon WI-HER being awarded the funding. The final hiring decision is subject to confirmation of funding and donor approval of the selected candidate. Key Responsibilities Provide strategic leadership and management oversight for contract implementation, including technical, operational, and financial management.Lead, supervise, and coordinate the work of a multidisciplinary team of experts.Ensure timely and high-quality delivery of all contract outputs, including evaluations, monitoring support, and capacity-building initiatives.Oversee compliance with USAID and WI-HER policies and regulations.Collaborate with USAID Missions, implementing partners, host governments, and local stakeholders to co-create solutions and drive utilization of evidence-based learning.Facilitate performance information use, evaluation findings, and knowledge products to inform decision-making and adaptive management.Promote the integration of innovative approaches, including AI, participatory methods, and advanced analytics, into MECLA activities.Build relationships with USAID, local partners, and other stakeholders to align priorities and ensure contract success.Minimum Qualifications Master's degree or higher in international development, social sciences, economics, public policy, or a related field.A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in monitoring, evaluation, learning, or program management, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing USAID or similar international development projects.Demonstrated expertise in MECLA methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative evaluation designs, data analysis, and utilization.Experience managing large, complex USAID IDIQs or contracts with multiple task orders and teams.Strong knowledge of USAID operational policies, including the Program Cycle and ADS 201.Proven ability to oversee and coordinate multidisciplinary teams and subcontractors.Experience engaging with high-level stakeholders, including USAID, host-country governments, and donors.Strong writing, communication, and presentation skills.Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and data visualization tools. Preferred Qualifications: U.S. Government/USAID experience or knowledge of how USAID worksExperience synthesizing evidence from evaluations to inform policy and programming.Familiarity with emerging technologies and innovative approaches in MECLA, such as AI and geospatial data analysis.Knowledge of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) integration in international development programs.Proficiency in one or more languages spoken in USAID partner countries.Experience working in diverse geographic and cultural contexts, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings. If interested, please submit your application by March 22, 2024. Applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis, so we encourage interested applicants to apply as soon as possible. WI-HER is committed to fostering a diverse, multicultural work environment and welcomes a range of backgrounds, life experiences, perspectives, and opinions. WI-HER provides equal employment to all and has zero tolerance towards discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, national origin, citizenship, age, marital status, disability,
medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal laws.