Director – Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning & Adaptation (MERLA)

DT Global • Ottawa, ON

5d

About The Position

The Director – Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning and Adaptation (MERLA) provides strategic leadership and oversight of APLJ’s MERLA systems, processes, reporting, learning agenda, and evidence generation. The Director will oversee the development and implementation of fit-for-purpose MERLA frameworks that support: performance monitoring, adaptive management, strategic learning, evidence-based decision-making, accountability to GoPNG partners, and demonstration of development effectiveness. The Director will champion a culture of learning, reflection, and continuous improvement across the program and support high-quality reporting against APLJ’s Program Logic, End-of-Program Outcomes (EOPOs), and annual work plans. The role will also oversee program research activities, knowledge management systems, data quality assurance, and results communication. The Director will be a member of the APLJ Senior management team and will work with all program teams to ensure MERLA is embedded across APLJ.

Requirements

• Tertiary qualifications in monitoring and evaluation, international development, statistics, social sciences, law, governance, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in senior roles in monitoring, evaluation, research, learning, or adaptive management roles within complex donor-funded programs, preferably DFAT-funded investments.
• Strong understanding of DFAT and other international MEL Standards, program logic, adaptive management, and results-based management approaches.
• Experience managing capacity development initiatives with a commitment to strengthening capabilities of MERLA staff, local counterparts and institutions.
• Demonstrated experience of building program management and quality systems, preferably for adaptive management programs.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills in cross-cultural environments.

Nice To Haves

• Strong analytical and report-writing skills, including preparation of high-quality reports for senior government and donor audiences.
• Experience implementing MERLA in low-data environments; creating baselines and innovative data collection methods; supporting development of new or improved systems with partner organisations.
• Experience working in GEDSI with a strong understanding of gender equality concepts and issues in PNG; and incorporation of GEDSI into MERLA systems.
• Experience working in Papua New Guinea or the Pacific.
• Experience in governance, justice, anti-corruption, community justice, or public sector reform programming.
• Familiarity with political economy analysis and adaptive programming approaches.
• Experience using Power BI, Kobo, DHIS2, Excel, SPSS, STATA, R, or similar analytical platforms.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of APLJ’s MERLA systems, processes, reporting, learning agenda, and evidence generation.
• Oversee the development and implementation of fit-for-purpose MERLA frameworks that support performance monitoring, adaptive management, strategic learning, evidence-based decision-making, accountability to GoPNG partners, and demonstration of development effectiveness.
• Champion a culture of learning, reflection, and continuous improvement across the program.
• Support high-quality reporting against APLJ’s Program Logic, End-of-Program Outcomes (EOPOs), and annual work plans.
• Oversee program research activities, knowledge management systems, data quality assurance, and results communication.
• Be a member of the APLJ Senior management team.
• Work with all program teams to ensure MERLA is embedded across APLJ.

Benefits

• Access to development programs to achieve your career goals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director