Managing Director, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning

Position Title: Managing Director Monitoring Evaluation Research & Learning

Position Type: Regular Full-Time

Department: Office of the COO

Location: Washington DC - Hybrid

Contact: Corus International

Salary Range: $148000 - $185000 - $222000

Corus International provides a competitive growth-oriented yet fiscally responsible compensation program. When determining an offer for employment multiple factors are considered including relevant years of experience education skills internal equity and budget. Our overall approach is to target the minimum to midpoint for starting salaries based on these factors.

Additionally Corus provides a comprehensive and competitive employee benefit package to protect our valued and dedicated staff and their families. Our benefits include three medical plan options with comprehensive prescription drug coverage low-cost dental coverage with 100% paid vision insurance. Corus also provides a generous retirement plan and PTO to include vacation sick holiday parental jury international travel and bereavement leave; employer-sponsored basic life/AD&D insurance; employee wellness incentives and employee work/life balance and assistance programs.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Senior Managing Director in the Office of the COO the Managing Director Monitoring Evaluation Research and Learning (MD MERL) serves as both a hands-on leader and strategic visionary integrating best practices in monitoring evaluation research and learning. The MD MERL assumes full responsibility and authority in all aspects of the portfolio and with limited oversight from the Senior Managing Director works independently to achieve a defined set of qualitative and quantitative objectives and targets for their area. As a member of the Corus Leadership Team the MD MERL directly contributes to the organizations ability to demonstrate impact of its diversified revenue models types of programs business-minded solutions and public and private partnerships.

Additionally the MD serves as Corus chief quality control officer for MERL partnering with Managing Directors from other business units to uphold program quality. This role collaborates with colleagues across the organization to ensure Corus is measuring what matters and enabling the organization and its supporters to understand and communicate its impact with clarity and confidence.

Responsibilities:

Capturing the Impact of Corus Program Growth and Impact Strategy

In close collaboration with business units the MD MERL:

• Drives the execution of an organization-wide program impact measurement framework aligned to Corus Strategy ensuring alignment and clarity for data collection and analysis systems roles and tools to effectively capture and report on key metrics.
• Promotes the organizations growth strategy ensuring that programs include clear MERL goals targets and metrics to measure the success and impact of Corus programs and initiatives.
• Strengthens MERL and digital data management and guides change management processes related to MERL and data use including harmonization of technical strategies across business units and alignment with country and global policies.
• Establishes and maintains strong relationships with partner governments donors private sector partners and other external stakeholders to enhance Corus visibility and engagement in the MERL space.
• Regularly attends key meetings conferences and events promoting the organizations mission and building partnerships.
• Fosters active engagement and inspires the enthusiastic participation of country teams in the organizations external media relations initiatives encompassing diverse platforms such as media interviews writing and external speaking engagements.
• Supports business development efforts identifying and pursuing new funding opportunities partnerships and revenue streams to support Corus growth and sustainability.
• Contributes to consistent and impactful messaging across all communication channels and materials.
• Monitors and evaluates progress against targets for their specific portfolio regularly making necessary adjustments to ensure alignment with the organizational strategy.
• Manages MERL level of effort allocations across projects ensuring assistance costs are appropriately charged to project or MD budgets to optimize cost recovery and the use of unrestricted funds.

Leadership

• As a member of the Corus Leadership Team contributes to the overall strategic direction high-level decision making growth and success of the organization.
• Collaborates with other leaders to promote a cohesive and collaborative culture to drive the organization forward.

Risk and Resource Management

• Implements a comprehensive risk management framework address programmatic legal and compliance health safety security and reputational risks as relevant.
• Develops mitigation strategies and ensures effective risk monitoring and reporting systems are in place.
• Optimizes the allocation of human resources financial resources and assets across programs and projects and maximizes efficiency and impact.
• Identifies opportunity for cost savings resource rationalization and process improvement.

Staff Management and Development

• Provides effective leadership and management to staff ensuring clear communication goal setting and performance management.
• Organize and assign MERL technical advisors to support existing and new programs ensuring high-quality donor responsive delivery.
• Fosters a culture of learning mentorship and career growth providing coaching and professional development opportunities.
• Stays updated on industry trends best practices and technological advancements relevant to Corus programs and initiative and/or technical areas.

Learning and Knowledge Management

• Leads a culture of learning and knowledge management for programs setting strategic level learning agendas and facilitating the sharing of best practices and lessons learned.
• Fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing across different departments and teams within Corus promoting cross-functional cooperation and synergy.
• Takes ownership and accountability for achieving the strategic and operational goals of Corus ensuring adherence to ethical standards and organizational values.
• Fosters a culture of accountability across the organization setting clear expectations and empowering teams to deliver results.

Supervisory:

The MD MERL will supervise the following positions:

• Senior Director Technical Services MERL(2)
• Senior Regional Technical Advisor MERL
• Director Technical Services MERL
• Other MERL positions as required

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in a relevant field such as international development social sciences public policy or statistics; or the equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Masters degree preferred.
• A minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in strategy development business development project management or a related field to include monitoring evaluation research learning preferably in the non-profit or international development sector.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with donors private sector partners and other external stakeholders.
• Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and driving staff development and growth and proven ability leading and motivating teams fostering collaboration and developing staff.
• Experience developing innovative and program-centered digital data management approaches to MERL and leading change management for capturing the impact of public health economic growth livelihoods agriculture education and/or humanitarian assistance programming.
• Experience serving as a member of a leadership team.
• Experience in cross-organizational collaboration and knowledge management.
• Knowledge of branding and marketing strategies to enhance organizational reputation and visibility.
• Understanding of program evaluation and impact assessment methodologies.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills with the ability to identify growth opportunities set goals and develop actionable plans to include problem-solving and decision-making abilities with a focus on achieving organizational objectives.
• Proficiency in project management methodologies ensuring project delivery on time within scope and with budget with ability to independently deliver on clear targets.
• Ability to make informed decisions demonstrate senior leadership and be accountable for results.
• Financial acumen and budgeting skills to effectively manage resources and make informed decisions.
• Ability to assess and mitigate risks ensuring compliance with legal health safety and security requirements.
• Proficiency using relevant software and technology tools for data analysis reporting and project management.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively represent the organization externally and build relationships.
• Must possess confidence business acumen and relationship-building skills to move the organization into a social impact organization.

Physical and Mental Requirements:

• The physical requirements that may be needed to execute responsibilities may include bending standing and walking etc.
• The mental requirements that are essential to satisfactorily executing the responsibilities outlined in this job description include but are not limited to: learning new tasks comprehending and retaining information completing tasks independently effectively communicating verbally and in writing demonstrating proficiency in using computer software to perform assigned tasks.

Other Duties:

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities duties or responsibilities for the position. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. All positions are required to perform any additional tasks assigned by the supervisor. Global positions that are bound by contracts will not be changed without notice and approval.

Working Conditions Travel and Environment

• Corus has a hybrid work policy allowing work to be done remotely; two days per week (Tuesday and Wednesday) in the office is required. The employee must be available to work outside normal office hours or weekends as required.
• This position must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in different locations the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high-security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions as well as to infectious diseases.
• If applicable must have authorization to work in the country of assignment.

As a member of the Corus Family each employee is expected to:

• Foster a work environment where everyone feels valued and included.
• Support employees evaluation and promotion processes based on skills and performance.
• Promote a safe secure and respectful environment for all members of Corus family stakeholders in general and particularly for the communities we serve.
• Follow Corus Code of Conduct helping to prevent any type of abuse including workplace harassment sexual abuse and exploitation and trafficking in persons.
• Adhere to the Organizational Core Values.

Corus International is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion national origin sex age disability genetic information protected veteran or any other classification protected by applicable local state or federal laws.

Required Experience:

Director