Specialist, DMEL

Jerusalem
Institutional Learning – Middle East and North Africa /
Part Time - Local /
On-site
Search Jerusalem:

Since its establishment in 2000, Search for Common Ground (Search) has maintained a presence in Jerusalem, where we have implemented projects across various thematic areas including inclusive governance, women, peace and security, media and inter-religious dialogue among others. Over the past two decades, we have developed extensive expertise in managing large-scale and diverse projects. Our collaboration extends to diverse local partners, ranging from grassroots organizations and activists to women's groups, all sharing a vision to overcome fragmentation and promote inclusive narratives. Our diverse team possess significant experience in managing multi-sectorial programs, comprises experts in conflict transformation, peace-building, capacity building, media, and program management. They bring to the table a deeper, lived experience of the conflict, coupled with a nuanced understanding of its various social, political, and religious dimensions. Conflict sensitivity is ingrained in our everyday interactions and is a fundamental aspect of the design and implementation of our programs.

Team Summary:

The Design Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (DMEL) team plays a key role within the
program department to support projects’ adaptation based on evidence that Search’s Global
Programs generate in each country. DMEL implements best practices in monitoring, research
and evaluation, and contributes to the broader organizational learning across programs; under
the technical support and in collaboration with the Institutional Learning Team (ILT). DMEL also
contributes to business development processes ensuring quality of program design which
integrates lessons learned and evidence collected and alignment with global and conflict
geography strategies. DMEL is responsible for ensuring alignment of country programs with
global standards, including the Evidence and Learning Protocols and the Global Impact
Framework (GIF). The team is led by the Manager/Senior Manager under the leadership of the
Director of Programs/Country Director/Manager. The team engages at multiple levels of the
program structure and with other departments within the country’s structure, such as finance,

Responsibilities:

    • Individual contributor with senior-level expertise in learning processes and M&E technical capacities;
    • Coordinate in a matrixed structure to pursue MEL goals, standards and best practices with other teams and departments;
    • Ensure high quality M&E reporting, research products, procurement and recruitment processes for consultants;
    • Provide technical input on reflective practice and evidence based programming and sharing innovative M&E methods and approaches
    • Ensure skills development is incorporated into personal objectives and those of other staff by proactively identifying paths for growth and opportunities to build technical skills.

Contributions: Program Execution & Learning

    • Provide technical leadership in projects development, implementation and review with country teams and departments, seeking alignment with the organizational strategy.
    • Planning:
    • Set technical objectives within the DMEL team that support global standards, and participate in country planning to ensure department annual objectives are relevant for organizational needs.

    • Organizational Performance:
    • Provide technical leadership in reflection on strategy, and implement action plans to address bottlenecks to performance;
    • Articulate priorities for staff performance in technical areas of expertise, and share input with teams setting objectives for staff.

    • Evidence & Impact:
    • Guide the DMEL team to ensure they increasingly produce learning documents (includes research, M&E and programmatic best-practices) that uphold Search standards for
    • assessing program impact and building evidence, and provide review and approval for necessary documents;
    • Support the implementation of the M&E strategy for the conflict geography;
    • Draft and review MEL products, with a focus on feeding evidence and lessons learned back into programmatic design.

    • Technical Positioning:
    • Develop initiatives that support capacity building for staff to improve our impact and program quality, in line with organizational standards and the Global Impact Framework;
    • Collaborate with the ILT department on initiatives that support staff to enter and build skills within networks of technical expertise in the organization;
    • Supervise data entry and data management, ensuring the use of the Grant Management

    • System:
    • Ensure regular/periodic uploading of data/results into the GMS.
    • Serve as a leader within technical networks to channel Search learning back into programming, serve as a focal point of technical expertise with external groups, and position Search as field leaders affecting policy and practice at the country level;
    • Ensure staff build professional skills within the organization's learning platform and lead development of relevant training and resources for technical growth.

    • New Frontiers:
    • Engage in the business development process, leading and reviewing drafts, with a focus on feeding evidence and lessons learned back into programmatic design;
    • Participate in and serve as M&E representative at relevant events and initiatives developed with country partners.
    • Infuses organizational values into all work.
    • Sharing and exchanges of innovative M&E methods and approaches
    • Take leadership in collaboration within and across organizations in Represent Search in external meetings and conferences
    • Other duties that are broadly in line with the above key contributions as assigned.

Competency Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):

    • Manages overall strategy and vision. Provides functional and program/project management. Anticipates and plans for needs and takes action accordingly. Provides guidance to direct reports or matrixed team members.
    • Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with vendors, organizations, professional associations, partners, funders, and Search’s network of experts critical to the area of purview.
    • Modifies a planned course of action in response to new information or new circumstances.
    • Responds to changing circumstances and expectations readily.
    • Articulates Search/function program/project goals and objectives within and external to
    • Search. Develops program objectives that reflect broader Search strategies and approaches.
    • Provides input for standards across functions globally within Shared Services teams and with a view from a multicultural perspective that reflects consideration of other cultures, other viewpoints, and other ways of doing things.
    • Overcomes obstacles using ethical practices; formulates and evaluates morally and ethically justified solutions.
    • Assesses risks and opportunities to lead decision makers to a favorable outcome.
    • Checks the accuracy of one’s own and others’ work and sets up systematic checks and balances to support content and data integrity.
    • Has knowledge of project management tools including technology as resources for efficiency and reduction of stress.
    • Remain alert and responsive to any safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills that will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Safeguarding Policy.

Type and Nature of Contacts:

    • Routinely coordinates with colleagues and consultants on-site and in the field and resolves problem situations with tact.
    • Represents, as assigned, selected programs or projects and other organizations, including external meetings, conferences, donors, vendors, and international and local partners.
    • Interacts with the country office and regional staff.
    • Part time: 40%

Education and Experience:

    • Typically BS/BA with minimum 9 years’ experience.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

    • Usual office environment conditions; ability to travel at least 30%.

Supervisory and Budget Responsibility:

    • Reports to: Country Director
    • Individual contributors and typically does not supervise staff members.
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.