Technical specialist of the monitoring, assessment and training department in Mercy Corps

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps’ Ukraine response meets the humanitarian needs of people affected by the war in Ukraine. Since the escalation of the war in 2022, Mercy Corps has supported more than 750,000 conflict-affected people in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. In response to humanitarian needs, Mercy Corps has provided cash assistance, food and hygiene kits, and psychosocial support for people in emergency situations.

At the same time, Mercy Corps acknowledges that together with addressing humanitarian needs, it is also important to engage in recovery activities leading to resilience of communities. Therefore, alongside ongoing emergency activities, Mercy Corps is implementing a resilience program, that contributes to stabilization of livelihoods and improved resilience for IDPs and conflict-affected individuals. In line with direct investments to support self-employment opportunities, small to medium enterprise (SMEs) and agriculture sectors, this resilience program works as an adaptive response mechanism and will adjust programming according to ongoing analysis of the context and potentially changing needs. Notably, nearly all our programming is delivered in partnership with Ukrainian civil society organizations matching humanitarian and resiliency action with capacity strengthening and a real commitment to localization.

General Position Summary

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Tech Officer will join the Ukraine response MEL Team and will work to help set up and maintain data systems/structures and oversee data management processes - including data collection, data analysis, reporting, and visualization. This position will conduct capacity building on MEL technologies with our implementing partner teams in the Ukraine Response.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone with a passion for technology or data. (Preferably both!) You should be ready to help us develop and manage our data and tech systems that allow us to improve our programs - and the lives of others. You must be willing to learn from our team and develop skills in new technology tools, databases, and data visualization platforms and techniques.

Must have a personal commitment to data quality and security, an interest in quality improvement – and using data analysis to make decision-making easier, and more effective. Working collaboratively with our MEL/Tech team in Ukraine and around the world be a key part of this role so we’re looking for someone can be flexible, learn quickly and help adapt technology to make our programs better.

Any skills you have gained through education, volunteer, work, or life experience that are relevant for the position will be considered. Be sure to fully explain transferable skills and success factors and how they apply to this position in your cover letter and interview process.

Detailed Job Responsibilities

MEL Design & Planning:

• Support the MEL Manager and Senior MEL Officers in developing, rolling out and managing data collection applications.
• Support the MEL Data Management & Automation Lead on strategy, tools, deliverables and specific tasks as needed.
• Support reviews and updates of all MEL workplans, activities, and deliverables.
• Support the setup and refinement of the MEL tech system, including CommCare databases and Power BI. (We will train on all relevant platforms.)
• Support the development of the technical infrastructure for high quality qualitative and quantitative M&E indicators, tools, participatory and inclusive processes and protocols for data management, including data collection, analysis, reporting, storing, visualization.
• Contribute to setting up relevant MEL technology and information management platforms following Mercy Corps guidance and donor requirements.

MEL Implementation:

• Contribute to the setup and deployment of appropriate MEL Technologies in the Ukraine response.
• This may include: (a.) Developing MEL instruments including applications in CommCare, (b.) Testing MEL instruments, (c.) Conducting data visualization with technology platforms like Power BI, etc.
• Work with partner organizations who are engaged in data processes and management to ensure smooth and coordinated third party monitoring practices through CommCare.
• Ensure troubleshooting during intensive data collection processes on an ongoing basis by liaising with implementing partners and Mercy Corps field teams.
• Ensure coordination of technical areas across MEL staff and partner work.
• Conduct occasional trainings for implementing partners on data collection.
• Work closely with MEL and technical leads, conduct data analysis and help give feedback on data visualizations - and promote use of the data for program decision making.
• This may include participating in regional technical meetings to present data, assisting with learning sessions, and helping to conducting analysis of data with other MEL team members.
• Oversee the implementation of MEL Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) and tools to ensure quality and consistency throughout the MEL process.
• This may include helping to conduct Data Quality Assessments, validation checks, re-analysis, etc.
• Help facilitate learning activities with program, operations and other units involved in the emergency response, such as after-action review, performance reviews, etc.

Knowledge & Experience  

Required:

• Academic degree in any field.
• 1+ years of experience with one or more general purpose programming languages.
• Experience or interest in working with databases.
• Expertise in Excel, including using formulas and creating graphs.
• Experience using MEL technologies: Ona/ComCare for data collection, Tableau or PowerBI for data visualization and reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to critically evaluate data, identify errors and weaknesses, and conduct data cleaning and manipulation.

Preferred:

• Degree in computer science, technology, or related field.
• 1 year of experience in international relief and development programming or similar positions preferred; especially in MEL or program management functions.
• Experience with statistical packages including STATA, SPSS or R.
• Experience facilitating technical trainings and consultations strongly preferred.
• Experience in undertaking both quantitative and qualitative interviews is preferred.

Language Skills:

• Working knowledge of English is required.
• Fluency in Ukrainian or Russian is required.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong understanding of field data collection and analysis technologies, personal commitment to data quality and security, a strong interest in using data analysis to reduce the time and effort required for field staff to make strategic decisions, and an ability to work collaboratively with teams of varying technical capacities. They will be an independent problem solver while also ensuring that country/program needs drive the technologies chosen and the support work conducted.

They will further act in an ethical manner at all times regarding the privacy and security of program participant data, communicate ethical concerns up the chain of responsibility, and ensure the concerns are resolved appropriately. They will serve as an advocate for the data technology needs of response teams and will demonstrate an ability to build trust among country/program staff and balance the needs of multiple countries/programs.

Any skills you have gained through education, volunteer work, or life experience that are relevant for the position will be considered. Be sure to fully explain transferable skills and success factors and how they apply to this position in your cover letter.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination based on race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Only pre-selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.  

People with disabilities and veteran status are welcome to apply.