**Principal Specialist, MEL** City/Country Location Details **Bethesda, Maryland** Employment Status **Full-Time Regular** Job Type **Corporate** **Job** **Job Title:** Principal Specialist, MEL (P7) **Department:** Development Innovations **Reports to:** Principal Manager, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (USG) **Work Location:** Bethesda, Maryland, or Remote in states where DAI is registered* **Position Overview** DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world. The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Principal Specialist will be responsible for providing monitoring, evaluation, and learning expertise across project delivery, new business and through capacity building for home office and project staff. You will support DAI’s efforts to improve the way data are collected, managed, and used, with an emphasis on using data for learning and adaptive management. You will be responsible for finalizing outstanding Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) and MEL documents and deliverables, coordinating MEL/CLA activities with USAID and local partners, and building capacity of DAI field staff and home office staff to manage MEL/CLA activities. This is a full-time professional position on the MEL Team within DAI’s USG Business Unit, with minimum travel of 30% to possibly any location DAI has projects. **Responsibilities:** **Technical** + Work with home office and field staff to support MEL/CLA needs during start-up, including participation in rapidly assigned STTA, recruitment of local MEL/CLA staff, and managing MEL/CLA expectations of the client. + Develop competencies in new MEL approaches, including, but not limited to, CLA and complexity aware monitoring (CAM) approaches. + Help create and maintain a culture of learning and adaptive management within DAI. + Support projects to onboard MEL staff, deploy digital technology tools to conduct surveys, develop data management systems, and carry out statistical analysis and reporting. **New Business** · Support business acquisition activities by reviewing CLA/MEL requirements in proposal documents and contributing written content to DAI proposals, working mainly with DAI’s Center for Digital Acceleration team. · Identify and work with MEL partners and subcontractors as needed. **Knowledge Sharing & Learning** + Support in the development of MEL/CLA curriculum for HO and field staff capacity building efforts. + Provide guidance to home office MEL colleagues on USAID MEL techniques/approaches. + Support the development of community of practices for MEL, including CLA and CAM approaches to field staff. + Provide training and capacity-building on CLA, knowledge management, and adaptive management methods and tools and best practices. + Support the development and revision of MEL guidelines and standards. Additional responsibilities as deemed necessary. **USG Business Unit Core Competencies** All staff hired into positions within the USG Business at DAI are expected to demonstrate these competences throughout their work and interactions with others. · **Collaborates Effectively:** Recognizes the benefit of working with others from multicultural backgrounds; believes collaboration can lead to better and stronger contributions to USG; views relationships as long-term and meaningful; Communicates with empathy to cross-cultural audiences. · **Champions Inclusion:** Treats others with honesty, respect, and consideration; promotes cross-cultural understanding and inclusion throughout the organization; demonstrates appreciation for the complex environments in which DAI works. · **Performs with Excellence:** Thrives in all aspects of your role and fosters an open and energizing environment that motivates self and peers to contribute their personal best and is reflective of USG’s vision and mission. · **Creates Innovative Solutions:** Problem solves and broadens perspectives, while overcoming biases to find solutions to complex challenges; seeks opportunities to experiment with new approaches and grow/develop the skills of oneself and others. · **Drives Growth:** Able to weigh the costs and benefits of actions both internally and externally and their impact on diverse markets and stakeholders; Understands priorities and behaviors necessary for personal and organizational growth. · **Navigates Risk:** Integrates risk considerations into all aspects of work and planning; understands benchmarks for escalation of a risk-related issue or concern; makes decisions by gathering input from others and displaying trust of their recommendations, while also taking accountability for outcomes. **Qualifications & Skills** **Minimum Requirements:** · Minimum of 7 years of relevant professional work experience and a bachelor’s degree. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered. · Experience leading the development of MEL curriculums, training content and methods, and facilitating MEL trainings. · Experience implementing USAID MEL techniques/approaches and ability to train peers. · Able to take on assignments with little or no guidance, manages own time effectively, maintains control over all current projects/responsibilities. · Experience providing guidance on MEL techniques/approaches to MEL home office colleagues. · Experience with statistical analysis, qualitative and quantitative methods, and applied research and learning through development projects. · Excellent communications skills – particularly in presentation and relationship building with internal teams and clients. · Experience with developing and using primary data collection tools, including mobile data apps. · Knowledge, interest and past experience in at least one of DAI’s Technical Sectors (Governance, Environment, Economic Growth, Health, CDA) · Excellent attention to detail. · Able to work as part of a decentralized team with minimal oversight. · Able to handle confidential and/or sensitive information with discretion. · Professional proficiency in MS Office suite. · Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, with the ability to communicate clearly and professionally with internal and external clients, and tailor communication style to diverse audiences. · Able to build and maintain excellent working relationships with staff at all levels of the organization and external clients from diverse backgrounds. · **Able and willing to travel (up to 30% of the time)** to any country where DAI currently operates, or may wish to operate, barring times when DAI Global Security has deemed travel unsafe. · Authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. · *Based in one of the following U.S. locations where DAI is registered: District of Columbia, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington. **Preferred, but not required:** · Experience in supporting USAID projects in complex environments and utilizing complexity aware monitoring approaches. · Experience working successfully and respectfully in local communities in developing world setting. · Fluency in French or Spanish preferred. Supervisory Requirements _:_ None. **Compensation & Benefits** **Principal Specialist (P7):** For employees working the United States, the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to be between $108,997 to $128,232. Salary for part-time employees will be prorated based on actual hours worked. Actual offers will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, qualifications, relevant education, experience, skills, seniority, performance, and business or organizational needs. Eligible U.S. based employees, will be able to enroll in medical, dental and vision insurance, plus a 401(k)-retirement plan with a company match. Additionally, employees will be eligible for company-paid annual leave (vacation & holidays), sick leave, parental leave; as well as short- and long-term disability coverage. Detailed information will be provided at the time a formal offer is extended. For employees working outside of the United States, compensation and benefits will vary based on location. **Equal Employment Opportunity** All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran. DAI and its employees are committed to confronting discrimination in all forms, nurturing respect for our interpersonal relationships, and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner. DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks. Back (https://phf.tbe.taleo.net/phf04/ats/careers/v2/searchResults?org=DAINC&cws=48)