Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Director

Chemonics seeks a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Director to provide strategic leadership for evidence generation, learning, and adaptive management for education programming in Syria. The Syria Education Programme II (SEP II), locally known as Manahel, aims to ensure children living in conflict-affected areas of Northwest Syria have access to safe, inclusive, and quality education that responds to their learning, psychosocial, and protection needs. The MERL Director will lead the design, implementation, and oversight of the programme’s monitoring, evaluation, and research systems, working closely with technical, implementation, and partner teams to ensure high-quality data is used to inform decision-making, programme adaptation, and donor reporting. This position is based in Damascus, Syria and reports to the Team Lead. We are seeking a results-driven professional with a strong commitment to learning, accountability, and improving outcomes for children affected by crisis.Background:SEP II, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and running until 2027, provides primary school children access to quality, inclusive and sustainable education in conflict-affected areas of Northwest Syria. The project provides comprehensive support to schools and teachers, including pedagogical supervision, learning assessments, psychosocial support, and safeguarding measures. The goal is to foster hope for future generations by investing in capacity-building and models that facilitate learning.Position DescriptionThe Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Director will be responsible for the implementation of the MEL plan and populating Manahel’s MEL system. If and when required, they will work with the MERL Advisor to revise and update the MEL system. They will work with technical staff to oversee tools for data collection, storage, and analysis. They will train staff and partners as needed on MEL system operations, collection methods, and tools.The MERL Director will adhere to and act in accordance with Chemonics’ professional code of ethics, “Living Our Values,” and will make the principles of the code a part of the program’s culture and operating procedures. They will uphold SEP II’s safeguarding standards at all times and will promote a safeguarding culture among partners, beneficiaries, and staff. The MERL Director will also foster and maintain good relationships with potential and actual grantees, will disclose any affiliations that could be perceived as a conflict of interest, and will maintain confidentiality regarding program activities.Principle Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe MERL Director will perform the following tasks:* Review the project contract and other background documentation such as the client’s strategic objectives, theory of change, results framework, MEL plan, and country strategy to understand how the project helps to achieve the client’s goals. * Provide leadership and oversight of the programme theory of change, ensuring its clearly articulated in the activity design, periodically reviewing, and used as a living framework to guide monitoring, learning, and adaptive decision making. * Establish performance indicators, analyse data, and implement interventions to close performance gaps for a complex array of beneficiaries. * Provide strategic oversight and accountability for data collection systems, design and maintaining them where necessary, ensuring that information generated through routine reporting, ad hoc data collection, and special studies is systematically produced, analysed, and used to inform decision-making. * Exercise overall oversight, quality assurance, and upload requested data inline with the client system requirement on the REX system and coordinate closely with the FCDO Results team on troubleshooting any data errors. * Exercise overall oversight and quality assurance of programme monitoring processes, ensuring data integrity, consistency, and compliance with organisational standards and donor requirements. * Oversee the update of existing MEL tools and templates for field staff to collect data if required as a result of programme adaptations. * Oversee and validate grantees’ monthly MEL reporting, ensuring that reporting meets required quality and compliance standards, is aligned to the projects’ logical framework and provides a sound basis for grant payment approvals. * Provide leadership and direction to MERL staff and partner MEL teams, delegating operational responsibilities while maintaining final accountability for performance and outputs. * Ensure that MERL systems and processes uphold ethical standards, safeguarding requirements, and data protection protocols. * Collaborate with senior programme leadership to ensure monitoring evidence is appropriately reflected in programme reviews, adaptive management processes, and donor reporting. * Support the Manahel technical team in refining the project’s results framework and participate in work planning sessions. * Conduct periodic training for project staff, stakeholders, and/or partners. Share information to help them monitor the progress of their work and use the data for strategic decision-making . * Analyse qualitative data as needed per the research agenda, design KPIs and FGD methodologies for field staff to collect qualitative data when needed * Prepare drafts of relevant sections of donor contractual reports. * Work closely with the technical team and STTAs to draft research plans, methodologies, and reports. * Provide technical support on research process from suggesting areas of research to a finalised product. * Follow-up with FCDO third party monitoring partner, coordinate closely for visits and review final products and capture learning from them in close coordination with the MERL Advisor.Qualifications:This is a donor and government facing position, requiring demonstrated and substantial experience and level of comfort engaging with institutional donors and government counterparts including FCDO, ministries or similar entities.* At least five years’ experience in data analysis and reporting, designing and utilizing tools for data collection, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of donor-funded projects * At least five year experience leading a team, with supervisory responsibilities * Bachelors’ degree in social sciences, Statistics, Economics, Public Policy, Education, International Development, a closely related field., or equivalent experience * Demonstrated experience leading and overseeing organization- or programme- wide MERL systems, including governance of data quality, ethical standards, safeguarding, and compliance with donor requirements. * Proven ability to provide strategic oversight rather than operational delivery, with experience delegating technical functions while retaining accountability for performance, quality and results. * Knowledge and understanding of Syrian context, conflict and security situation. * Experience with Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel is required, and experience with statistical packages such as SPSS preferred * Fluency in Arabic, with strong speaking and writing skills in EnglishLocationThe assignment will be conducted in Damascus with possible travel to Northwest Syria .Period of Performance:The assignment is long-term through the life of the relevant donor contract.Supervision and reporting:The MERL Director reports to and is directly supervised by the Team Lead.HOW TO APPLYApplication instructions:To apply please fill out this form: SEP II Job Application by March 3rd , 2026. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis. No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact finalists.Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.Chemonics values the protection of your personal data. If you are in the European Union, please read our EU Recruiting Data Privacy Notice to learn how we process personal data. You may access the notice via the following link: https://chemonics.com/eu-recruiting-data-privacy-notice/.