Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (RMEL) Manager

Job Title: Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (RMEL) Manager
Project Name: Special Defence Advisor (Defence Reform)
Job Type: Full time
Location of Position: Kyiv, Ukraine
Reporting to: This position will report to the Team Lead.
Remuneration: Fees are subject to negotiation and shall not exceed established market rates.
Indicative LOE/Time Frame: Full-Time, March 2024 – March 2025 (with possible extension)
For contracting (after the job offer is made), the selected candidate is expected to be registered as a Private Entrepreneur of the 3d group (consultancy services).
Citizenship: Ukraine. Must be living in Ukraine, Kyiv or willing to relocate to Ukraine.
Language Requirements: Ukrainian native speaker, fluent in English.
Application Deadline: 20 February 2025

Application Instructions:
1. A cover letter is mandatory to be considered. Cover letters should effectively align your skills and experiences with the specific job responsibilities outlined in the position’s description, demonstrating your aptitude and enthusiasm for the role, your daily fee and current availability.
2. Alinea International accepts electronic submissions only. To apply for this position, please click the Apply Now link.
3. Only successful candidates will be contacted. No phone calls please.

About Alinea: Alinea is an international development consultancy providing technical and management expertise that helps people improve their lives. We work with governments, investors, companies, and communities to create lasting change. Over 38 years, Alinea has successfully delivered more than 1000 projects worldwide. alineainternational.com

Equal Opportunity, Due Diligence and Fraud Statements: At Alinea International we value equity, diversity, and inclusivity in everything we do. We are an equal opportunity employer opposed to all forms of discrimination. We actively seek and encourage applications from people of diverse backgrounds recognizing that an inclusive workforce enriches our organization and achieves smarter, more innovative results.
Alinea is committed to the protection of children and vulnerable adults. Due to the nature of our work, all candidates will be subject to due diligence checks and extensive background checks where appropriate.
Alinea International does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment and hiring process. All offers of employment or job opportunities with Alinea International that include any form of a request for payment of fees or collect information on bank accounts are fraudulent. Any requests for such payment or information should be refused and reported to your local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action and to Alinea International.

Project Description: Alinea International has been contracted by the UK Government to support defence reforms in Ukraine, working with civil society, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence, and other relevant stakeholders. The project is designed to support defence reforms in Ukraine with a view to making the sector more efficient and accountable.

About the Work: We are looking for a Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (RMEL) Manager to provide dedicated monitoring, evaluation and learning for Phase 2 of the project, beginning March/April 2024.
The successful candidate will design and execute the RMEL approach, lead routine monthly and quarterly reporting, execute strategic learning products, and manage a team of ~2 MEL Officers for this exciting project to support defence reform in Ukraine.
The is part of Alinea project team. This is a critical role, central to the project’s ability to deliver, learn and demonstrate impact.

Key Responsibilities:
•       Manage RMEL design and delivery
•       Work with the Team Lead, Project Director, MEL Advisor and the Client, to:
1.     Be accountable for RMEL delivery; this includes:
a.     Contribute to creating an organic learning culture.
b.     Manage one or more Reporting and Learning Officers who will engage with project pillars on a day-to-day basis.
c.      Iterate the Theory of Change (ToC) and work together with partners (Pillar Leads and Learning Officers) and the Client when designing outputs/activities to ensure alignment with overall goals/the ToC.
d.     Manage all project MEL, including reviewing and updating the agile/dynamic results framework (RFW), MEL dashboard/delivery plan, learning and evidence plan.
e.     Design and deliver strategic learning products (including Change Stories, Deep Dives etc..), and implement tools to deliver these.
f.      Engage with Pillar Leads and Reporting and Learning Officers to gather data and information on project delivery for regular reporting to the donor.
g.     Lead routine reporting, (monthly and quarterly).
h.     Participate in relevant meetings and other project activities. Liaise with project lead and relevant teams on input for project evaluation reporting.
i.       Engage with the Client, Team Lead to support inform and improve project strategy and implementation, using evidence and learning.
j.       Review and advise team on project outputs and outcomes against the RFW.
2.     Identify and implement any improvements/ revisions to the MEL management system. This might include analysing and interpreting data to identify trends, patterns and areas for improvement ie data collection tools and methods, data visualization.
3.     Liaise with the international MEL Advisor to ensure alignment with UK Government / Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) approaches to MEL.
4.     Capture key evidence, learning and evaluation; this might include:
a.     Designing and leading learning activities.
b.     Informing and supporting project adaptation in response to emerging learning.
c.      Ensuring RMEL is collaborative across project components to enable project-level learning and adaptation.
d.     Manage and store all project data securely.

Required Qualifications:
• At least a Bachelor’s degree.
• 10+ years of Research or MEL experience, including in a management role, preferably in institutional reform.
• Experience in international development and donor MEL frameworks, including with designing or iterating Theories of Change.
• Experience with both qualitative methodologies (some quant experience is useful but not imperative), and other RMEL tools.
• Experience building deep and trusted relationships to ensure effective RMEL.
• Understanding of institutional reform and/or behaviour change models preferred.
• Experience developing MEL approaches to evaluate project contributions to policy change and audience sentiment.
• Experience working with teams with varying levels of monitoring and evaluation experience; confidence explaining M&E processes in simple terms.
• Strong data processing and analysis skills, with an eye for accuracy.
• Experience presenting and facilitating learning with diverse stakeholders, including senior clients and staff.
• A self-starter, with the ability to think strategically and turn insights into recommendations.