MEAL Manager for Inclusion IIIb (CRS)

Job Title: MEAL Manager
Department: MEAL
Reports to: MEAL & PQ Lead
Salary Grade: 9

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS/Vietnam Background

CRS has been operating in Vietnam since 1994. In partnership with Government and other organizations, CRS implements programs in 10 provinces/cities in Vietnam. The Vietnam Program has a diverse funding base in the sectors of Disabilities, Mine Action, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, and Community-based Climate Change Adaptation.

Project Summary

CRS is going to implement the Inclusion IIIb project to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities, including persons with severe physical mobility, cognitive, or developmental disabilities that may be related to the use of Agent Orange and exposure to dioxin in the three provinces: Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Dong Nai. In this USAID-funded proposal, CRS, as a prime, partners with implementing sub-recipients.

Job Summary

You will manage, coordinate, and monitor project monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) activities and relationship with sub-recipients and other project stakeholders to assist the achivement of the INCLUSION IIIB’s Project’s Objectives advancing CRS’s work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your MEAL-related management skills and knowledge will ensure that the Country Program delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of the project.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

Lead MEAL-related technical, monitoring and reporting activities through most of the project cycles - start-up, implementation and close-out –In line with CRS program quality principles and standards, MEAL policies, procedures and practices, donor MEAL guidelines, and industry good practices. Ensure project team and partner staff use the appropriate systems and tools.
Lead the development and roll-out of project-level MEAL system during start-up, including Performance Monitoring Plans or Performance Indicator Reference Sheets, Indicator Performance Tracking Tables, data collection instruments, and Detailed Implementation Plans which are appropriate to the scope and context of the project.
Working closely with sub-awardees’s MEAL staffs and coordinate the implementation of monitoring activities and processes (including ICT4MEAL) according to the project Detailed Implementation Plan and MEAL system . Support the analysis of project performance data using differential and inferential statistics (quantitative data), and content and trends analysis (qualitative data). Ensure the quality of monitoring data through annual data quality assessments.
Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assuring the quality of evaluation data through good data management as per MEAL Policy. Develop evaluation terms of reference (ToR) for the project. Proactively identify issues, report them to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
Coordinate the roll-out and implementation of the FCRM and other accountability activities for the project. Support active seeking and responding to feedback from all members of targeted communities and other stakeholders.
Engage and strengthen partnerships relevant to MEAL in the project, appropriately applying partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
Identify MEAL-related capacity needs and technical assistance needs of sub-rs’ organizations and contribute to capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation. Optimize partner participation and capacity development in the implementation of MEAL systems.
Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and disseminate results. Review the project documentation to ensure the project file is complete with all required MEAL documentation and is filed per agency and donor requirements.

Basic Qualifications

Master's Degree in Social Science, Public Health or a related field.
At least eight years of M&E experience, and knowledge on disability programs would be a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

Experiences in coordinating or managing moderately projects involved by many different sub-recipients.
Project grant management experience, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID
MEAL skills and experience with USAID funded projects.
Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), software platforms for data capture such as CommCare, data visualization platform such as PowerBI or Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports
Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented

Required Languages - English

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 35 %.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

Personal Accountability – consistently takes responsibilities for one’s own actions.
Acts with Integrity - consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
Builds and Maintains Trust - shows consistency between words and actions.
Collaborates with Others – works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
Open to Learn – seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

Lead Change – continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
Develops and Recognizes Others – builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
Strategic Mindset – understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team principles.

Supervisory Responsibilities (if none, state none): None

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Country Manager, COP, Program Managers, Project staff.
External: Donor, Subrecipients, community members, consultants.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.