Chemonics seeks a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Manager to support 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 Manager will play a key technical role in designing, implementing, and supporting research, evaluation, and learning activities across the programme, working closely with the MERL Director, technical teams, implementing partners, and external evaluators to ensure high-quality evidence is generated, analysed, and applied to inform programme improvement and accountability. Based in Damascus, Syria, the position reports to the MERL Director and is suited to a collaborative, results-oriented professional with a strong commitment to learning, safeguarding, 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 Description
The role of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Manager will be part of the MERL Department. The Manager will play a critical role in leading and supporting research, evaluation, and learning efforts under the SEP II programme. This includes designing and implementing comprehensive research and evaluation frameworks, promoting evidence-based decision-making, and facilitating adaptive learning within the programme. The MERL Manager will ensure that programme activities are systematically assessed, lessons are captured and shared, and continuous learning drives programme improvements. While monitoring support will be a minor component, the primary focus will be on generating, analyzing, and applying knowledge for programmatic learning and accountability.
The MERL Manager 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. They 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.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions)
Research and Evaluation
- Support with the design, implementation, and management of research studies and evaluations to assess the programme’s impact and effectiveness.
- Develop and apply quantitative and qualitative data collection tools, ensuring robust methodologies for evaluating programme interventions that will include but not be limited to learning outcomes, protection needs, continues professional development, and inclusive education goals.
- Collaborate with external evaluators (TPMs), consultants, and partners to ensure effective management of evaluations and studies.
- Conduct ongoing analysis of evaluation data to inform programmatic decisions and refine intervention strategies.
- Provide technical input to ensure high-quality research design, data collection, and reporting that align with client expectations and sector best practices.
Learning and Knowledge Management
- Provide inputs to the learning agenda to capture and disseminate lessons learned and best practices across the programme.
- Develop learning products, including reports, briefs, and presentations to communicate findings to both internal and external stakeholders.
- Support the Director with reflection and learning events to foster knowledge exchange and promote evidence-based decision-making.
- Support the Director in collaborating with the programme’s technical teams to integrate learning into adaptive management and program design.
- Manage a centralized knowledge management system for storing, sharing, and accessing research, evaluation, and learning resources.
Technical Support and Capacity Building
- Provide technical guidance to partners, programme staff, and stakeholders on research and evaluation methodologies, tools, and processes.
- Conduct training sessions and mentorship to enhance the capacity of partners in data collection, analysis, and evidence-based decision-making.
- Develop guidance notes, manuals, and toolkits to standardize data management and learning approaches across the programme.
Monitoring and Reporting
- Provide support in reviewing and analyzing monitoring data to track progress against key performance indicators.
- Contribute to the development of donor reports, ensuring alignment between monitoring data and programme results.
Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement
- Support the Communication and Advocacy team in developing evidence-based communication products, including success stories, case studies, infographics, and reports, to effectively share programme results, lessons learned, and best practices.
- Collaborate with the Communication and Advocacy team to create technical briefs and other materials for client, donors, and the education sector, aimed at informing and influencing policy and practice.
- Represent the programme in relevant research, evaluation, and learning platforms.
- Support in learning dissemination and co-facilitate learning labs.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the required knowledge, skills, and/or abilities needed to perform the principal duties.
- Strong experience in evaluation and research design and data collection, including qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
- Experience in developing and implementing learning frameworks and integrating findings into programme improvement.
- Experience in data analysis and reporting, with a solid understanding of statistical tools and software (e.g., SPSS, R, STATA, Excel) is preferred.
- Proven experience (5+ years) in designing and managing research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MERL) activities, especially in development or humanitarian contexts.
- Bachelors’ degree in social sciences or related field
- Knowledge and understanding of Syria context, conflict and security situation in Syria, previous experience in Syria strongly preferred.
- Desirable: Familiarity with UK donor-funded programs and understanding of donor reporting requirements for research and evaluation
- Excellent communication, and writing/reporting skills.
- Team player with the ability to also work independently.
- Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity.
- Demonstrated understanding and commitment to equal human rights, gender equality, disability and social inclusion, and safeguarding.
- Fluency in Arabic, with strong speaking and writing skills in English.
Location
The 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 MERL Director.
Application 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.
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