Senior Manager, MLE Strategy

Evidence Action•Washington, DC

9d•$98,700 - $110,000•Remote

About The Position

The Senior Manager will join at a pivotal moment for the nutrition portfolio. Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) is in an active scale-up phase, with MLE focused on generating evidence to support scale-up decisions, refining the program model for new contexts, and building the learning agenda that will guide further expansion. Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) Supplementation is an established program with a growing multi-country footprint. The MLE focus is on consistent measurement across countries, supporting expansion decisions, and translating cross-country learning into program adaptation. The Senior Manager will contribute MLE leadership at the strategic level for both programs — shaping how evidence informs scale-up, where the program model adapts, and how learning gets generated and used. The MLE Strategy team optimizes Evidence Action's programming through versatile and right-fit monitoring and evaluation solutions and insights. Working with other global and regional teams, we develop MLE frameworks and strategies that improve programs and further our understanding of programmatic impact. With the work our team does, Evidence Action is uniquely able to strengthen its programs based on the evidence we produce and share. We aim to be cost-efficient and rigorous when answering programmatic learning goals and aim to deliver high-quality services that meet programs' needs. Although the team works across the organization, the MLE Strategy staff are committed to promoting a team culture that values connectedness and continuous growth and learning. You will contribute by being the MLE Strategy lead for Evidence Action's MMS and IFA programs, including technical leadership, design oversight, and cross-program oversight. You will report to the Associate Director, MLE Strategy, and will start with one direct report, our Manager, MLE Strategy.

Requirements

At least 5 years of demonstrated experience developing M&E frameworks and plans, conducting implementation research, and designing M&E activities including sampling design, survey protocols, data collection tools, and conducting global and country data analysis.
Advanced degree (Master's required) with significant coursework in quantitative fields (e.g., economics, statistics, epidemiology, or public health).
Demonstrated experience leading large-scale primary data collection, including survey instrument design, enumerator training, and data quality protocols.
Strong knowledge of M&E design methodologies, including sampling strategies, power calculations, and quasi-experimental and experimental designs.
High proficiency in Stata (required) and/or R, with experience independently managing, cleaning, and analyzing large quantitative datasets.
Demonstrated ability to provide senior-level technical leadership on complex MLE design and implementation, including the ability to make and defend judgment calls outside of standard SOPs.
Appreciate that MLE can move beyond compliance and reporting and have an eagerness to further program learning and impact through effective MLE plans.
Demonstrated experience managing and developing direct reports, including technical coaching, performance management, and supporting career growth.
Demonstrated ability to lead MLE work across internal teams and with external partners (implementation partners, government counterparts, donors) without direct authority.
Willing to work hours that overlap with colleagues in India and across Africa.

Responsibilities

Lead the design, development, and maintenance of MMS's global MLE framework and country MLE strategies to support scale-up decision-making, and provide senior technical oversight to IFA's multi-country MLE strategy, including indicator standardization across geographies, through the MLE Strategy Manager.
Be the technical owner for MMS analysis plans, sampling methodologies, data collection tools, and analysis outputs, including manuscripts, abstracts, and reports; oversee large-scale primary data collection for MMS, including survey design, enumerator training, and data quality protocols, and provide senior oversight of IFA primary data collection through the MLE Strategy Manager.
Lead implementation research for IFA and MMS, including process evaluations, pilot studies, and assessments of acceptability and feasibility for new program features or geographies.
Identify the need for and develop MLE best practices that strengthen the broader nutrition portfolio.
Identify MLE design strengths, limitations and risks against the outcomes of interest, justify design choices against the proposed activity scope, available budget, and planned use of the data; ensure MLE plans are right fit for the phase of programs (testing, pilot, scale-up, expansion) and ensure a learning orientation in the work you do.
Assess the validity and reliability of program data collection by identifying measurement error, data quality issues, and limitations in administrative or monitoring data; communicate these limitations clearly to programs and donors.
Make and defend complex, judgment-based MLE decisions, including those that fall outside of standard SOPs, to support program scaling and expansion.
Partner with Program leadership on program strategy and expansion planning, including identifying MLE evidence needs for new country contexts, contributing to theory of change updates as programs evolve, and helping translate evidence into scale-up and adaptation decisions.
Provide thought partnership to regional MLE teams on MLE planning and implementation for MMS and IFA, ensuring quality of data collection and analysis.
Lead cross-country analysis and synthesis of MLE results to inform MMS scale-up decisions, and provide senior oversight of IFA results interpretation and application across countries; translate complex MLE findings into clear, decision-relevant insights for program leadership, donors, and external audiences
Support engagement with donors on the proposed scope of MLE activities, ensuring alignment with program goals, and provide inputs on donor reports and fundraising proposals.
Accountable for MLE scopes of work, budgets, and work plans for MMS, and oversee the IFA MLE scopes of work, budget, and work plan through the MLE Strategy Manager.
Prioritize multiple work streams, mitigate risks, resolve challenges, and communicate expectations; use tactical planning tools to forecast inputs, outputs, and resourcing needs for MMS and IFA MLE activities on a one-year horizon.
Manage the Manager, MLE Strategy initially, with potential for additional people management and consultant oversight in the future; develop direct reports to handle challenging opportunities independently, plan out career trajectories, and address underperformance when needed.