Senior MEL Specialist

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About Us:Bixal is a consulting company based in Fairfax, VA, working alongside governments and organizations to help them deliver better services and experiences to the communities they serve. Using evidence-based knowledge and technology, Bixal empowers clients to deliver on their missions more effectively by fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

Location:

The candidate must be based in Barbados and have current work authorization to work in Barbados.

What You'll Do?

Bixal Solutions uses innovative methods to improve performance monitoring, evaluations, and capacity building, ensuring learning and adaptation throughout the USAID/ESC program cycle. MELSA strengthens USAID/ESC’s ability to manage and assess development programs, providing actionable data for decision-making, refining strategic planning, and fostering adaptive learning. Through capacity building and knowledge management, MELSA supports evidence-based decisions and upholds high monitoring and evaluation standards.

The Senior MEL Specialist leads the management and execution of all evaluation, assessment, survey, and special study activities, along with cross-cutting learning initiatives, to support USAID/ESC’s goals. The role integrates USAID’s Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) framework into MEL activities under the MELSA contract. The Specialist collaborates closely with the Chief of Party and other MELSA staff, providing technical leadership for MEL and CLA efforts with USAID and partners, focusing on collaboration, data-driven learning, and program adaptation, and reports to the Chief of Party.

Responsibilities:

Performance Monitoring

• Assist the Chief of Party in delivering timely, high-quality MEL services required by USAID.
• Support the recruitment of top-tier evaluation, assessment, and performance monitoring teams, ensuring the necessary technical expertise.
• Oversee technical aspects of MELSA subcontractors and provide quality assurance to data collection and technical consultants.
• Represent Bixal Solutions to USAID technical officers and implementing partners, ensuring strong communication and collaboration across stakeholders.
• Lead or participate in evaluation teams as Team Leader or Team Member, depending on expertise and project needs.
• Provide technical oversight and support on a range of MEL-related activities, including workshops, trainings, and reporting.
• Enhance USAID/ESC’s ability to track progress on Regional Development Objectives by implementing robust performance and context indicator monitoring systems.
• Lead efforts in data management, including baseline and follow-up surveys, GIS tool development, and third-party monitoring, ensuring accurate, high-quality data to support program management and decision-making.
• Provide technical oversight on the design, testing, and execution of monitoring systems, and collaborate with stakeholders to continuously improve the tracking of performance indicators.

Evaluations

• Strengthen USAID/ESC’s evaluation efforts by leading developmental, mid-term, and impact evaluations.
• Manage evaluation data according to best practices and synthesize findings to enable actionable insights.
• Facilitate the use of recommendations to improve program effectiveness, ensuring that evaluation efforts align with strategic goals and provide practical guidance for program adaptation.

Assessments and Analyses

• Support updates to the Regional Development Cooperation Strategy (RDCS) by conducting assessments, including revising context indicators, performing baseline studies, and assisting in GIS data collection.
• Conduct critical analyses to inform strategic planning and enhance the understanding of program impacts.
• Provide guidance on the design and execution of analytical tasks, including the use of data to inform and refine program direction.

Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation (CLA)

• Drive USAID/ESC’s CLA efforts by organizing and facilitating learning events, pause-and-reflect sessions, and other collaborative activities that promote knowledge sharing and adaptive learning among stakeholders.
• Foster engagement in strategic discussions and address knowledge gaps to improve the effectiveness of USAID programs.
• Ensure CLA efforts are integrated into MEL activities, enhancing decision-making and program impact through continuous learning and adaptation.

Capacity Building and Knowledge Management (KM)

• Boost USAID/ESC’s M&E capabilities by delivering training, tools, and mentoring to strengthen monitoring and evaluation practices.
• Support the development of M&E plans, ensure data quality standards are met, and help manage knowledge products to foster evidence-based decision-making.
• Facilitate capacity-building initiatives that reinforce adherence to USAID policies and standards, ensuring the sustainability of MEL efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.
• At least 5 years of experience in international development monitoring, evaluation, and management consulting in international development.
• Experience with USAID-funded projects.
• Experience working in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean region (e.g., Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago).
• Recognized expertise in monitoring, evaluation, and learning, with strong management and leadership skills.
• Proficient in quantitative and qualitative data analysis, with excellent writing and communication skills in English.
• Ability to manage and contribute to a wide range of monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities.
• Demonstrated ability to train and build capacity within teams, partners, and clients.
• Track record of collaboration, solutions-orientation, and approachability
• Spoken and written fluency in English.