Senior MERLA Advisor

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Ethiopia.

📋 Description

• Serves as a steward for Ipas’s global monitoring, evaluation, research, learning, and adapting (MERLA) framework in alignment with Ipas’s global strategic plan.

• Collaborates closely with Ipas network nodes across Africa to deliver context-specific technical assistance.

• Promotes teamwork among nodes and advances MERLA skill enhancement initiatives.

• Onboards and mentors new MERLA employees through both in-person and remote training.

• Provides timely and proactive technical support to MERLA personnel.

• Leads and/or assists in adapting global tools, guidelines, and processes for data management to fit local contexts.

• Ensures alignment of global monitoring and evaluation with the needs of individual countries.

• Supports cross-country and regional research to fill evidence gaps.

• May represent Ipas at regional meetings, conferences, and working groups.

⛳️ Requirements

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in social science or public health, or equivalent professional experience.

• Over 8 years of experience in global reproductive health programs, particularly in MERLA.

• Proficient in MERLA for global health initiatives, especially in SRHR, including experience in training others on MERLA-related skills and processes.

• Experience in managing research and/or evaluation teams.

• Familiarity with mobile data collection applications such as ODK programming, CommCare, or similar tools.

• Proven ability to utilize data for informed decision-making and quality enhancement.

• Proficient in word-processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software.

• Experience with database management.

• Skilled in conveying data to diverse audiences and utilizing data visualization software (Power BI, Tableau, Excel, or others).

• Fluent in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills, including effective use of language translation tools when necessary.

• Experience working across multiple African countries.

• Willingness to travel internationally, primarily within Sub-Saharan Africa, for up to 40% of the time.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive salary.

• Options for remote work.

• Opportunities for professional development.