Program Manager I, MEAL - Heath Systems Strengthening Project

CRS•Baltimore, MD

11d•Onsite

About The Position

CRS is recruiting for an anticipated five-year multi-country project funded by the Department of State. The project's objective is to deliver cost-effective, high-quality integrated HIV, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, malaria, and nutrition health services through government and strengthened community and facility-based health worker networks. This will be achieved using faith and community-based platforms, with a plan to sustainably transition program activities to national and sub-national government and stakeholders. The MEAL PM will serve as the technical advisor and process lead for quality Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) for the Project. They will manage tools, recommend appropriate methods, coordinate MEAL activities, maintain relationships with partners and stakeholders, and utilize MEAL skills to manage and analyze data, ensure donor compliance, and support learning initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in international development, International Relations, Sociology, Statistics or in a related field is required.
Minimum 5 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects required, preferably with an international NGO.
Experience communicating with communities and implementing accountability mechanisms.
Fluency in English.

Nice To Haves

Leadership experience in MEAL is highly desirable.
Experience engaging with partner organizations.
Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), standard statistical data analysis packages (SPSS, Stata or R), web conferencing applications, and information management systems.
Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with local stakeholders.
Data analysis (quantitative and qualitative) and database management skills.
Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting in English.
Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented mindset.
Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.

Responsibilities

Develop MEAL system and manage MEAL implementation activities through the project cycle - co-design, start-up, implementation and close-out - in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and best practices.
Provide technical support for quality MEAL system design and implementation, including tools and methods appropriate to scope, context, and technical requirements of a project.
Lead planning for and analysis of qualitative and quantitative MEAL data, while ensuring data quality and data management practices.
Integrate data analysis and reflection to drive improvements in ongoing project activities to strengthen evidence-based and high-quality programming.
Ensure compliance with donor and agency MEAL requirements by consistently applying established standards and monitoring adherence across activities.
Maintain collaborative relationships with community members and key stakeholders by engaging regularly, fostering open communication, and supporting meaningful participation in program activities.
Identify staff capacity needs and technical MEAL assistance needs of partner organizations.
Contribute to capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation.
Train project stakeholders in the MEAL system and donor requirements.
Support the production of donor reports and organize quarterly partner meetings.
Report annual Global Results in the CRS system and ensure all the reports are uploaded to centralized systems.
Communicate agency approach to MEAL and key findings to CP colleagues and partners.
Share MEAL learning and experiences in broader regional discussions.