Research and MEAL (RMEAL) Manager

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview/Summary: 

The RMEAL Manager is a critical role responsible for ensuring the project meets all its Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning commitments for the PEPE initiative.

Reporting directly to the PEPE Project Coordinator (with technical supervision from the Ethiopia Country MEAL Coordinator), the incumbent will strengthen RMEAL capacity and maintain close working partnerships with the Airbel Impact Lab, consultants, relevant IRC staff/departments, and implementing partners across the PEPE consortium. This ensures high-quality, coordinated implementation and alignment of research and MEAL activities with global and country approaches.

Major Responsibilities:

1. Research Leadership & Management

• Research Coordination: Facilitate deep collaboration with external research consultants and IRC’s Airbel Impact Lab throughout all phases of the research process, ensuring robust methodology and ethical practice.
• Contextual Adaptation: Support the adaptation of research tools and methods to align effectively with local contexts and Ethiopia’s education system structures (e.g., MOE, REB, WoEO).
• Stakeholder Engagement: Lead participatory consultations with key stakeholders, including government education officials (at federal, regional, and woreda levels), community leaders, and parents, to inform research design and execution.
• Field Logistics: Develop and manage detailed data collection schedules and logistics, including transport, equipment, and fieldwork calendars, ensuring smooth operations.
• Team Supervision: Supervise and coordinate the local research team, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and providing mentorship to field research assistants.
• Ethical Clearance: Oversee the process to obtain ethical clearance for the research from the appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB).
• Knowledge Products: Lead and support the development and publication of research outputs, including policy briefs, research articles, and conference presentations, and ensure timely submission to donors and partners.
• Communication: Translate complex research findings into accessible formats for non-technical audiences, including community members and policymakers.

2. Monitoring Evaluation and Accountability

• RMEAL System Design: Co-design, maintain, and lead the roll-out of project-specific RMEAL systems and guidance for accurately tracking project achievements, Key Indicator Performance (KIPs), and outcomes.
• Capacity Development: Lead and coordinate MEAL capacity building for all project staff and partners to ensure alignment with project-specific RMEAL plans, processes, and data quality requirements.
• Data Management & Quality: Coordinate the development and utilization of robust data systems (including mobile monitoring tools like Kobo Collect/CommCare) to inform project management improvements and reporting. Ensure quality data is captured, analyzed, and accurately consolidated for timely donor reports.
• Accountability & Feedback: Design and lead regular consultations and knowledge exchange activities. Support the data gathering and use of gender-sensitive monitoring data, including client feedback mechanisms, to ensure responsive interventions.
• Assessment & Measurement: Lead and coordinate the implementation of project-specific assessments, evaluations, and performance measurements.
• Representation: Represent, contribute, and participate in inter-departmental, cross-sector, and external RMEAL activities as required.

3. Learning and Adaptive Management

• Learning Coordination: Lead project learning activities for the IRC and coordinate effective documentation and regular communication of lessons learned and evidence of good practices across the consortium.
• Data Utilization: Ensure the utilization of strong data systems and analysis to inform adaptive

Safeguarding Responsibilities:

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies

Requirements:

Education background

• Bachelor’s Degree: 4 years of progressive, relevant work experience with a first degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Computer Science, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Master’s Degree: 3 years of progressive, relevant work experience with a Master’s Degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Computer Science, Social Sciences, or a related field.

Required Experience and Skills

• Direct RMEAL Experience: Demonstrated experience in monitoring, evaluation, and applied research within the humanitarian and development context, with specific experience in education measurement preferred.
• Technical Proficiency: Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills.
• Software Mastery: High proficiency in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, data visualization tools (i.e., Power BI), and data analysis software (e.g., SPSS, STATA, R, NVivo).
• Mobile Monitoring: Proven experience in mobile monitoring using applications like Kobo Collect, CommCare, or similar tools.
• System Development: Demonstrated experience developing tools and systems for program tracking and documentation.
• Leadership & Capacity Building: Demonstrated experience in staff supervision, team leadership, and capacity building for both staff and local partners.
• Consortium Management: Experience managing donor-funded projects/grants and providing technical input to proposal development, budgeting, and donor reports.
• Communication: Exceptional English writing, high-quality communication, and interpersonal skills are essential.
• Desirable: Proven experience in authoring and publishing research articles in peer-reviewed academic journals is a plus.

Reporting and Travel

Reports to: Project Coordinator

Technical Reporting: Works closely with project staff and external consultants; provides technical supervision to RMEAL Officers.

Working Environment:

Office: This position will be based in the Addis Ababa office.

Travel: Expected travel 50% of the time.

Language Skills:  Proficient in English and knowledge of local languages of our intervention area is an advantage

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer.  IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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