Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director

Jhpiego is an international, non-profit health organization affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University. Jhpiego develops innovations to enhance the capacity of health care workers, strengthening health systems and improve delivery of care towards improving the health and well-being. Jhpiego has been collaborating with the Government of Malawi and various partners in implementing a wide-range of interventions in maternal, newborn and child health, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention and care and treatment, since 1999. 

Jhpiego is seeking a highly qualified Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director to serve  as a strategic leader, providing technical direction and oversight for monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities across Jhpiego Malawi's projects . This role is critical to ensuring the generation and use of high-quality data to inform program design, implementation, and adaptation. The MEL  Director will champion a culture of learning and continuous improvement, lead a team of MEL professionals, and collaborate closely with teams, government counterparts, and other stakeholders to drive measurable impact and accountability.

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director will be based in Lilongwe, Malawi, reporting directly to the Country Director, and will supervise the MEL Advisors and  Digital Health Advisor.

Strategic Leadership & Technical Guidance

• Lead the development and implementation of MEL strategies, including logic models, results frameworks, and performance monitoring plans (PMP).
• Ensure alignment with Malawi’s national health guidelines, protocols, and reporting systems.
• Guide the design and implementation of MEL activities, including routine monitoring, evaluations, and learning agendas.
• Oversee the configuration of DHIS2 and development of PowerBI dashboards for routine data capture and visualization.
• Lead routine data review meetings to inform strategic decision-making and adaptive management.
• Promote the use of data for program improvement, learning, and accountability.
• Support the development of proposals and provide MEL inputs for new business opportunities.
• Lead development and implementation of effective systems to ensure good data quality across all programs.

Systems Strengthening & Capacity Building

• Establish and monitor standard operating procedures for timely, high-quality data reporting.
• Build capacity of MEL staff, technical advisors, and health facility teams in data collection, analysis, and use.
• Provide structured supervision and coaching to MEL officers and partner staff on use of registers, reporting tools, and quality improvement (QI) data.
• Support MNCH-N leads and facility staff in measuring QI aims, conducting root cause analysis, and using run charts to track improvements.

Management & Oversight

• Supervise MEL and data systems staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team culture.
• Collaborate with program and finance teams to plan, budget, and manage MEL activities.
• Ensure data quality through regular data verification, audits, and corrective actions.
• Ensure timely and accurate data entry into donor databases and internal systems (e.g., DHIS2).
• Contribute to annual work planning and ensure MEL requirements are integrated.

Communication & Knowledge Management

• Lead documentation of outcomes, success stories, and lessons learned; contribute to scientific publications and conference abstracts.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing across teams, regions, and with external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with communications staff to support implementation of communication strategies and ensure consistent branding and high-quality standards in MEL-related communications.

Compliance & Representation

• Ensure compliance with data governance policies, including human subjects’ protection, open data, and data quality standards.
• Represent the organization in professional forums, conferences, and stakeholder meetings.
• Cultivate relationships with government counterparts, donors, and implementing partners.

New Program Development

• Facilitate the development of best practices and help in coming up with new approaches in data management and use.
• Support any other strategic growth and partnership efforts for Jhpiego Malawi as may be required from time to time.

• Advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in public health, demography, statistics, information sciences, or related field.
• Minimum of 9 years of experience leading large (10+M per year) MEL activities in health sector programs in Malawi, with a strong focus on MNCH-N.
• Proven expertise in quantitative and qualitative methodologies, operations research, health management information systems, reporting, data quality assessments, data analysis and presentation.
• Demonstrated expertise working in a leadership capacity with international donors, senior government officials and policymakers, and familiarity with Malawian health management information system and other national M&E systems.
• Proven experience designing and implementing MEL systems for frequent and routine reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to process and analyze data, with proficiency in DHIS2, PowerBI, MS Excel, SPSS, Stata, and other data analysis tools.
• Skilled in data management and analysis, data interpretation and report writing.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and mentor staff and partners in MEL and data use.
• Strong management, coordination, teamwork and planning skills with a proven ability to establish and maintain interpersonal and professional relationships with donors, government partners and other key stakeholders.
• Ability to work in a complex environment with multiple tasks, short deadlines and intense pressure to perform.
• Excellent verbal, written, communication and presentation skills in English.
• Ability to travel nationally up to 30% of the time.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and professional proficiency in Chichewa (other local Malawian languages are desirable).

All staff, irrespective of their position, are expected to comply with and follow Jhpiego operational procedures and policies and codes of conduct.

                Jhpiego offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package.

                                                                     Please apply at www.jhpiego.org/careers

Applicants must submit a single document for upload, including a cover letter, resume, and references.

                       For further information about Jhpiego, visit our website at www.jhpiego.org

Note: The successful candidate selected for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.

Jhpiego is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to tough international child safeguarding standards.

Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University affiliate, is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Jhpiego promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans.

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