The Senior Director for Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) and Innovation provides overall leadership for the integrated MEL, digital systems, analytics, learning, knowledge management, communications, and innovation functions of Implementing the America First Global Health Strategy (AFGHS) and the Supply Chain Strengthening (SCS) projects in Ethiopia in consultation with the Chief of Party/Country Lead. The position leads the evidence and innovation strategy across the Supply Chain and Tuberculosis work streams and ensures performance information is accurate, timely, decision-oriented, and aligned with U.S. Department of State/GHSD requirements and Government of Ethiopia systems. In this context, innovation includes the identification, adaptation, testing, and use of new or improved M&E tools, systems, ideas, methods, and approaches that strengthen data quality, learning, knowledge management, decision-making, and program performance. As a member of the senior leadership team, the Senior Director is accountable for the technical quality and coherence of the project-wide MEL and Innovation system, achievement of project milestones and targets, and leadership of a multidisciplinary team of digital health, M&E, communications and knowledge management.
SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITY:
Strategy, governance, and technical leadership
- Set and steward the project-wide MEL and Innovation strategy, results framework, MEL plan, learning agenda, research agenda, data strategy, and innovation roadmap across Implementing the America First Global Health Strategy (AFGHS) and the Supply Chain Strengthening (SCS) projects
- Define and institutionalize governance, decision rights, roles, standards, and coordination mechanisms across the multidisciplinary team and technical work streams.
- Serve as the project’s senior technical authority for MEL methods, indicator and target design, milestone measurement and verification, data quality, evaluation design, and evidence products.
- Advise and influence project leadership on performance, emerging risks, attribution, value for money, transition readiness, and strategic course correction.
Performance, milestones, and data use
- Architect and govern an integrated performance management system linking objectives, activities, work plans, indicators, and milestones.
- Chair and drive quarterly technical performance reviews that translate findings into documented decisions, accountabilities, timelines, and follow-up actions.
- Safeguard the integrity, consistency, timeliness, and audit readiness of donor, government, management, and MSH reporting.
Digital systems, analytics, and innovation
- Direct and govern interoperable project data architecture and the responsible use of DHIS2, DAGU/e-LMIS, e-RIS, laboratory connectivity platforms, and other approved systems.
- Sponsor and oversee the testing and scale-up of practical innovations, including AI-assisted tools, with quality, privacy, security, ethics, and human-review safeguards.
- Position digital investments to strengthen government ownership, interoperability, sustainability, and routine data use.
Evaluation, research, learning, and knowledge translation
- Drive the development and adoption of innovative solutions, including methodologies, tools, and systems, that transform supply chain and TB program management to enhance efficiency, sustainability, quality, equity, and program impact.
- Set the strategic direction for mixed-method evaluations, implementation research, operational studies, assessments, and evidence syntheses related to TB, supply chains, health security, capacity, and transition.
- Uphold compliance with human subjects research, ethical review, informed consent, data protection, and dissemination requirements.
- Institutionalize adaptive learning practices, including pause-and-reflect sessions, after-action reviews, and evidence-informed course correction.
- Shape and quality assure technical briefs, presentations, abstracts, manuscripts, and communications that translate evidence for key audiences.
People, partner, and institutional leadership
- Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of MEL, communications and knowledge management and innovation experts, ensuring strategic alignment, role clarity, and high-quality delivery.
- Cultivate a high-performing leadership culture grounded in clear objectives, complementary roles, professional development, quality assurance, and succession planning.
- Represent and position the project in senior government, donor, partner, and technical forums, advancing institutional capacity and strategic alignment.
- Leverage MSH home office MERL-Tech and other technical teams to mobilize specialized expertise, reinforce standards, and strengthen project-wide technical quality.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Required: Master’s degree in MEL, public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, health informatics, social sciences, implementation science, health systems, supply chain management, or a closely related field.
- Preferred: Doctoral degree.
- At least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in MEL, research, analytics, digital health, innovation, or related health systems work.
- Extensive senior leadership experience designing and leading MEL systems for large, complex, donor-funded health programs.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managers and advising government leaders.
- Substantial experience in public health supply chains, pharmaceutical systems, and/or TB, with the ability to lead an integrated evidence strategy across both.
- USG experience required; Department of State, fixed amount award, milestone-based, or performance-based financing experience strongly preferred.
- Significant Experience in Ethiopia, including collaboration with the Ministry of Health and expert level knowledge of the Ethiopian health system and relevant information systems.
- Expert command of MEL theory and practice, mixed methods, implementation research, evaluation design, causal reasoning, indicator and target design, DQA, and adaptive management.
- Ability to design defensible milestones, graduated thresholds, verification protocols, and evidence packages.
- Advanced synthesis and communication of complex quantitative and qualitative evidence.
- Strong understanding of TB monitoring and public health supply chain performance measurement.
- Knowledge of DHIS2, e-LMIS/DAGU, Power BI, GIS, statistical packages, qualitative analysis tools, and project management software such as OpenProject.
- Expertise in transition, sustainability, institutional capacity, and government ownership measurement.
- Excellent leadership, negotiation, facilitation, writing, presentation, and stakeholder relationship skills.
- Professional fluency in English and Amharic required; another Ethiopian working language is a plus.
- Integrity, ethics, respect, and responsible data stewardship.
- Results oriented, adaptability, innovation, problem solving, quality, and timely delivery.
- Inclusive people leadership, collaborative, coaching, and constructive feedback.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND TRAVEL:
Regular keyboard and computer use. Ability to travel domestically, including to project regions and implementation sites, and internationally as needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals.
Other duties as assigned.
MSH is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws. MSH complies with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, Section 4212 of the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act, as amended, and all related applicable regulations.
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