Research and MEAL (RMEAL) Manager

Job Description

The RMEAL Manager is a critical role responsible for ensuring the project meets all its Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning commitments for the PEPE initiative.
Reporting directly to the PEPE Project Coordinator (with technical supervision from the Ethiopia Country MEAL Coordinator), the incumbent will strengthen RMEAL capacity and maintain close working partnerships with the Airbel Impact Lab, consultants, relevant IRC staff/departments, and implementing partners across the PEPE consortium. This ensures high-quality, coordinated implementation and alignment of research and MEAL activities with global and country approaches.

This role requires strong operational leadership, contextual understanding, and coordination with local education authorities, community structures, and supporting implementing partners to ensure inclusive, resilient, and scalable education program implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Research Leadership & Management

• Research Coordination: Facilitate deep collaboration with external research consultants and IRC’s Airbel Impact Lab throughout all phases of the research process, ensuring robust methodology and ethical practice.
• Contextual Adaptation: Support the adaptation of research tools and methods to align effectively with local contexts and Ethiopia’s education system structures (e.g., MOE, REB, WoEO).
• Stakeholder Engagement: Lead participatory consultations with key stakeholders, including government education officials (at federal, regional, and woreda levels), community leaders, and parents, to inform research design and execution.
• Field Logistics: Develop and manage detailed data collection schedules and logistics, including transport, equipment, and fieldwork calendars, ensuring smooth operations.
• Team Supervision: Supervise and coordinate the local research team, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and providing mentorship to field research assistants.
• Ethical Clearance: Oversee the process to obtain ethical clearance for the research from the appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB).
• Knowledge Products: Lead and support the development and publication of research outputs, including policy briefs, research articles, and conference presentations, and ensure timely submission to donors and partners.
• Communication: Translate complex research findings into accessible formats for non-technical audiences, including community members and policymakers.

2. Monitoring Evaluation and Accountability

• RMEAL System Design: Co-design, maintain, and lead the roll-out of project-specific RMEAL systems and guidance for accurately tracking project achievements, Key Indicator Performance (KIPs), and outcomes.
• Capacity Development: Lead and coordinate MEAL capacity building for all project staff and partners to ensure alignment with project-specific RMEAL plans, processes, and data quality requirements.
• Data Management & Quality: Coordinate the development and utilization of robust data systems (including mobile monitoring tools like Kobo Collect/CommCare) to inform project management improvements and reporting. Ensure quality data is captured, analyzed, and accurately consolidated for timely donor reports.
• Accountability & Feedback: Design and lead regular consultations and knowledge exchange activities. Support the data gathering and use of gender-sensitive monitoring data, including client feedback mechanisms, to ensure responsive interventions.
• Assessment & Measurement: Lead and coordinate the implementation of project-specific assessments, evaluations, and performance measurements.
  Representation: Represent, contribute, and participate in inter-departmental, cross-sector, and external RMEAL activities as required.

3. Learning and Adaptive Management

• Learning Coordination: Lead project learning activities for the IRC and coordinate effective documentation and regular communication of lessons learned and evidence of good practices across the consortium.
• Data Utilization: Ensure the utilization of strong data systems and analysis to inform adaptive

4. Safeguarding Responsibilities:

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
  Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.

Requirments

• Bachelor’s Degree: 4 years of progressive, relevant work experience with a first degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Computer Science, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Master’s Degree: 3 years of progressive, relevant work experience with a Master’s Degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Computer Science, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Direct RMEAL Experience: Demonstrated experience in monitoring, evaluation, and applied research within the humanitarian and development context, with specific experience in education measurement preferred.
• Technical Proficiency: Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills.
• Software Mastery: High proficiency in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, data visualization tools (i.e., Power BI), and data analysis software (e.g., SPSS, STATA, R, NVivo).
• Mobile Monitoring: Proven experience in mobile monitoring using applications like Kobo Collect, Comm Care, or similar tools.
• System Development: Demonstrated experience developing tools and systems for program tracking and documentation.
• Leadership & Capacity Building: Demonstrated experience in staff supervision, team leadership, and capacity building for both staff and local partners.
• Consortium Management: Experience managing donor-funded projects/grants and providing technical input to proposal development, budgeting, and donor reports.
• Communication: Exceptional English writing, high-quality communication, and interpersonal skills are essential.
• Desirable: Proven experience in authoring and publishing research articles in peer-reviewed academic journals is a plus.
• Reports to: Project Coordinator
• Technical Reporting: Works closely with project staff and external consultants; provides technical supervision to RMEAL Officers.
  Office: This position will be based in the Addis Ababa office.
• Travel: Expected travel 50% of the time.
• Language Skills: Proficient in English and knowledge of local languages of our intervention area is an advantage

How to Apply

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only through the below IRC On-line recruitment website:

IRC Career Site: https://theirc.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/External_Careers/job/Addis-Ababa-Ethiopia/Research-and-MEAL–RMEAL–Manager_JR00001200

Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

Name of the position you have applied for
Date of application
Summary of your qualifications and experience
Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job
Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address
Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees