Senior Associate - Reporting, Data and Analytics at Acumen Academy

Acumen was incorporated on April 1, 2001, with seed capital from the Rockefeller Foundation, Cisco Systems Foundation and three individual philanthropists. Our desire was to transform the world of philanthropy by looking at all human beings as members of a single, global community where everyone had the opportunity to build a life of dignity.

Acumen is changing the way the world tackles poverty by investing in companies, leaders, and ideas. We invest patient capital in businesses whose products and services help people living in poverty to transform their lives.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Associate - Reporting, Data and Analytics

Location: Lagos

About the role

• Reporting to the Impact Manager: Data, Systems and Reporting, the Senior Associate will play a hands-on role in implementing and maintaining the technology solutions that underpin the programme & the MEL framework.
• This includes maintaining data collection and management systems, producing routine reports and dashboards, and building the data capacity of partners and team members across the region.
• The ideal candidate will have at least five years of experience in MEL data systems in an international development context, strong technical skills across data management and visualisation platforms, and a growing interest in AI-powered solutions.

Accountabilities include
MEL Technology and Reporting:

• Support the implementation and ongoing maintenance of the programmatic MEL technology platform (including Salesforce, Power BI, Airtable, or equivalent tools) to enable efficient data collection, management and reporting
• Contribute to the development of quarterly reporting processes and produce routine reports and dashboards on key metrics and KPIs, including financial KPIs, for a range of stakeholders
• Carry out data analysis to support insight generation, working closely with the Impact Manager: MEL
• Develop infographics and data visualisations using appropriate software and tools
• Support close collaboration with Finance to quality assure and integrate financial data with impact data, including reporting on Impact Linked Finance initiatives
• Advise on AI solutions to support MEL activities.

Programme Data Management:

• Ensure data is collected, stored and managed in line with best practices and programme standards
• Liaise with the Compliance and Legal team to ensure adherence to data consent, use, retention, protection and security requirements
• Integrate data from multiple sources to produce consolidated reports (e.g. through Power BI or similar)
• Support the Impact Manager as a point of contact for impact data requests from internal and external stakeholders

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Support the set-up and maintenance of the programmes internal knowledge management system
• Work closely with the Programme Insights team to ensure lessons are captured and qualitative data is managed in line with best practices
• Support programmatic evaluations by ensuring all data needs are met in a timely manner.

Capacity Building — Team and Partners:

• Build the capacity of team members to use technology for MEL implementation
• Support partners to engage with programme technology and reporting systems, including developing training materials and delivering training sessions
• Assist lower-capacity partner organisations to develop their own internal reporting systems in line with programmatic requirements
• Conduct site visits to monitor partner data management and reporting systems
• Contribute to quarterly reporting on data quality from partners

Essential Criteria
Candidates must be able to demonstrate at least five years of relevant experience, including:

• Practical experience in project or programme monitoring and evaluation
• Experience working across multiple countries in an international development context
• Knowledge of and experience with a range of MEL database tools and systems
• Experience using IT to support MEL objectives in country and field locations
• Experience developing or maintaining IT products or tools to support data collection, management, analysis and reporting
• Experience building and using Salesforce for data management and reporting
• Experience in data analysis, analytics and data visualisation
• Experience with mobile data collection approaches
• Experience setting up routine reporting (actuals vs. targets) for quarterly and annual reporting cycles
• Experience advising organisations or teams on best practices in data management and reporting
• Experience working with Compliance teams on data management best practices
• Understanding of AI tools, agents and solutions

Desirable Criteria:

• Formal training in MEL methodologies, data analysis or project evaluation
• Experience on Impact Linked Finance initiatives, Value for Money approaches, SROI or benefit-cost analyses
• Project management qualification
• Experience working in a multi-country programme
• Experience working in gender and youth-inclusive programmes, or with private sector businesses seeking to grow and scale
• Experience working in a matrix-managed environment with multiple reporting lines and cross-functional teams
• Familiarity with Power BI, Airtable, Salesforce or similar platforms.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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