Senior Advisor, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) (P4)

Save the Children•Washington, DC

18h•$96,050 - $133,475•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Advisor, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) leads the monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning systems for Save the Children’s workforce development and strengthening portfolio. The role builds indicator frameworks, data standards, reporting processes, and learning systems to assess program results for families and communities. It designs and manages rigorous mixed-methods evaluations, leads federal performance reporting, and advises program teams and senior leadership by translating evidence into practical decisions. The position is hybrid, with a Washington, DC office location. Responsibilities span MERL systems and dashboards; grant and performance reporting; evaluation, research, and learning; and strategic partnership, program development, and team leadership. The role also supports new grant proposals and initiatives, advises on AI-enabled tools and community finance, and supervises and develops staff. Domestic travel of up to 5% is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, plus at least 7 years of relevant experience.
Advanced logic model and evaluation design skills.
Experience in data collection, program monitoring, analysis, reporting, and visualization.
Strong quantitative and qualitative skills, including data analysis, synthesis, and recommendations.
Experience developing data collection instruments, including surveys, interview protocols, and tools for program monitoring and evaluation.
Experience drafting institutional review board (IRB) protocol submissions.
Attention to detail and ability to prioritize work amid competing deadlines.
Professional proficiency in the MS Office suite.
Professional proficiency in spoken and written English.
Willingness and ability to travel domestically up to 5%.

Nice To Haves

Experience with R, STATA, Power BI, and/or Tableau.
Experience with U.S. Department of Labor grant performance reporting systems, such as WIPS and RAPIDS.
Familiarity with data privacy and protection practices, including Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA).
Familiarity with Salesforce-based systems.
Experience with childcare or early childcare workforce development in the United States, including workforce credentialing, apprenticeship pathways, or career development programs for the childcare sector.

Responsibilities

Own MERL infrastructure for workforce development and strengthening, including indicator frameworks, data standards, reporting processes, and learning systems across multiple initiatives.
Coordinate with workforce and state teams to verify data reporting accuracy.
Build and maintain the portfolio dashboard and program-year results reporting, generating actionable insights for program teams, implementation teams, leadership, and fundraising.
Manage program data systems and collection tools, including Caspio, SurveyMonkey, and Microsoft Forms, and transfer program data into federal reporting systems.
Document and store data sources, dashboards, and update processes in shared, accessible locations.
Lead federal performance reporting, including quarterly WORC reporting through the U.S. Department of Labor’s WIPS system and similar grants, ensuring accurate, timely submissions that meet requirements.
Ensure registered apprenticeship reporting requirements (RAPIDS) are understood, processes are properly set up, and data quality is monitored.
Manage grantee and funder reporting processes, including final reports, reach numbers, indicator definitions, and measurement reviews across grants.
Serve as the MERL reviewer for new grants, including setting up opportunities in Impact Hub and providing data trends and research to strengthen reporting narratives.
Design and manage mixed-methods evaluations using quantitative and qualitative approaches to address program and funder questions.
Develop and maintain logic models and results frameworks to guide program design, indicator selection, and evaluation planning.
Support the design and lead analysis of participant and network surveys, translating results into actionable findings.
Manage research protocols and submissions to Save the Children’s Ethics Review Board (IRB), and support data privacy and Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) processes when programs change or new funding sources are added.
Advise program teams and senior leadership, present evidence, and help translate findings into practical program decisions.
Support grant proposals and new program development through MERL frameworks, theory of change design, indicator definition, and data architecture planning.
Advise on the design and evaluation of AI-enabled tools and emerging initiatives, including community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and community finance.
Train, develop, coach, lead, and supervise staff, communicating organizational, divisional, and departmental priorities and how staff work contributes to the mission and values.

Benefits

Flexible schedules and generous paid time off (PTO).
11 paid holidays plus 2 floating holidays.
Hybrid working opportunities.
Competitive health care, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families.
Paid caregiver, parental/adoption, critical child illness, and fertility-related leaves and benefits.
Annual merit increases and/or additional incentives for eligible employees.
Retirement savings plan with employer contributions after one year.
15 safety and wellness days annually; for employees hired on or after July 1, days are prorated to 8.
Mental health benefits and support through Calm and company-hosted events.
Employee Assistance Program with free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services.
Access to internal and external learning and development opportunities and mentorships.