Director for Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) at the Management Sciences for Health (MSH)

The Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a global health nonprofit organization, uses proven approaches developed over 40 years to help leaders, health managers, and communities in developing nations build stronger health systems for greater health impact. We work to save lives by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Director for Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL)

Job ID: R4840
Location: Abuja

Job Summary

• We are seeking a Director for Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) in Nigeria. The MERL Director will contribute to the strategic M&E goals of the project in Nigeria, working in close collaboration with stakeholders including Government of Nigeria (and its agencies) at national and sub-national levels, development partners, professional associations and civil society.
• The MERL Director will be responsible for the monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning components of this project.
• The MERL Director will develop monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) systems and design research.
• The MERL Director will be responsible for the overall management of the monitoring, evaluation, and research system for the project. 
• The MERL Director will ensure smooth operation and quality performance of technical efforts and field activities by coordinating and overseeing quality programmatic reporting, quality of data management, and strategic information.
• The MERL Director is responsible for leading the development and implementation of a plan to monitor progress, evaluate effectiveness, and disseminate results, as well as overseeing operations, research, and other data analysis to facilitate evidence-based improvements in project performance and expand understanding and lessons learned.
• The MERL Director will ensure adherence to the monitoring of project activities using developed tools and indicators. 
• The MERL Director reports to the Project Director, participates in the project leadership team, collaborates with the Technical Directors and provides direct supervision to other technical staff.   

Main Duities and Responsibilities

• Provide in-country technical leadership, and support for monitoring, evaluation, and knowledge management. These tasks include, among others: 
• Ensure the integration of M&E activities into all project components.  
• Collect, report and analyze information on project activities.  
• Ensure timely and complete reporting from in-country executing partners by approved MSH and MSH reporting formats.  
• Monitor and evaluate progress towards annual work plans, expected outputs, including selecting and monitoring progress in meeting indicators.  
• Support the development and regularly update detailed annual work plans and selection of indicators and annual implementation plans with a view toward the project’s M&E requirements.  
• Coordinate the preparation of all quarterly progress reports, annual project reports, inception reports, ad-hoc technical reports, and success stories for donor funding in line with the required formats.  
• Collect data for the annual M&E plan and use those data to improve project performance.  
• Adapt and implement tools and techniques to improve the quality and use of data for decision making.  
• Compile information on lessons learned and expertise within and outside the project.  
• Provide capacity-building activities on M&E to selected stakeholders and sub-contractors participating in project activities, including Federal and State Governments, Local Government Authorities, Ward Development Council, etc.: 
• Provide capacity building, including reporting and management use of periodically collected health information, Data Quality Assurance, DHIS2, and LQAS through monthly seminars, hands-on training, mentoring, and coaching.  
• Lead the design and implementation of operational research. 

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in management, M&E, health sciences, public health, or related subject with at least 10 years of relevant work experience in M&E donor-funded public health programs in Nigeria or West Africa: donor experience required, and M&E training and capacity-building experience required.  
• Proven experience establishing data quality assurance systems with software applications related to project planning and monitoring. 
• Experience designing and conducting operations research. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead M&E staff and consultants within a consortium of international and local sub-contractors to achieve measurable results within an integrated health program
• Proven experience in engaging M&E staff of the host country government, civil society organizations, international development organizations, and NGOs to support project implementation and/or to provide complementary resources.
• High levels of diplomacy, conflict management, team building, written and oral communication, and negotiation skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English, and demonstrated capacity to effectively communicate and document, including the writing of quality reports and detailed analysis of strategic information. Fluency in a local language is a distinct advantage.

Application Closing Date
31st July, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online