Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) and Evidence Lead

Position Description: Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) and Evidence Lead

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

About Palladium

Operating in over 50 countries, Palladium is a global consulting and implementation company working in partnership with governments, businesses, investors, and communities to design and deliver solutions that create lasting positive impact. We address some of the world's most complex challenges across infrastructure, economic growth and natural capital, health, energy, climate and environment, and digital transformation—strengthening systems, institutions, and markets to support inclusive and sustainable development. Our more than 2,100 staff worldwide work as trusted advisors across diverse contexts, combining deep technical expertise, implementation techniques, and innovative technology to deliver locally informed, client-focused solutions that help organizations achieve measurable, sustainable impact.

Palladium is part of GISI's global family of companies, which aims to create solutions for the world's most complex challenges. With annual revenues of $14 billion, GISI's approximately 15,000 employees are engaged in projects across 100 countries worldwide providing construction, program/project management, and engineering consulting services.

Project Overview

The GHSD America First Palladium Sole Source Award supports country-led efforts to strengthen health systems, advance global health security, and sustain essential health services in alignment with the America First Global Health Strategy. Leveraging Palladium's expertise in health systems strengthening, digital transformation, and data use, the project will strengthen governance, service delivery, and decision-making through integrated and interoperable systems across priority health programs. The award also supports stronger health financing, public financial management, and accountability mechanisms to promote resilient, efficient, and country-owned health systems.

Duration and Funding

This is a fixed-term, project-funded position. Employment is contingent upon the availability of funding, with the potential for extension based on project requirements and funding availability.

Location

This role is based in Palladium's Addis Ababa, Ethiopia office, with periodic travel within Ethiopia to project sites and regional offices. Applicants must have authorization to work in Ethiopia, as visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Position Summary

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) and Evidence Lead provides strategic leadership and technical oversight for the project's monitoring, evaluation, learning, knowledge management, and performance reporting functions. Reporting to the Deputy Country Director - Programs, the MEL and Evidence Lead will oversee the design and implementation of systems that generate high-quality data and evidence to support adaptive management, accountability, milestone achievement, and project performance. The position serves as the project's lead advisor on MEL and evidence generation, ensuring that data, learning, and performance information are effectively used to inform decision-making and strengthen project outcomes.

Primary Responsibilities

·       Lead the design and implementation of monitoring, evaluation, learning, and knowledge management systems.

·       Oversee milestone tracking, verification, reporting, and maintenance of audit-ready evidence repositories.

·       Strengthen data collection, quality assurance, analysis, visualization, and performance reporting systems.

·       Monitor project performance, track progress against indicators and targets, and support adaptive management.

·       Lead evaluations, assessments, operational research, and evidence-generation activities.

·       Develop and disseminate learning products, technical reports, case studies, and knowledge resources.

·       Ensure compliance with donor reporting requirements, data quality standards, and information management protocols.

·       Provide technical assistance and capacity strengthening to project teams, government counterparts, and implementing partners.

·       Facilitate stakeholder engagement and coordination with government institutions, donors, and development partners.

·       Support strategic use of data and evidence for program improvement, accountability, and decision-making.

Required Qualifications

Education

·       Master's degree in Master's degree in Public Health, Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Demography, Social Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Informatics, or a related field.

Experience

·       Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in monitoring, evaluation, learning, research, knowledge management, or related fields.

·       Demonstrated experience designing and managing MEL systems for complex donor-funded programs.

·       Experience leading performance monitoring, data quality assurance, evaluations, assessments, and evidence-generation initiatives.

·       Strong experience working with national health information systems, including DHIS2, HMIS, eCHIS, PHEM, or similar platforms.

·       Experience working with government institutions, donor-funded programs, development partners, or international organizations.

·       Experience with U.S. Government-funded programs, including DOS, CDC, or other federal agencies, is highly desirable.

·       Experience working with multilateral organizations, including the World Bank, Global Fund, United Nations agencies, and other development partners, is an advantage.

·       Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing stakeholder relationships.

Technical Competencies and Skills

·       Strong expertise in monitoring, evaluation, learning, knowledge management, and results-based management.

·       Experience with milestone verification, performance measurement, and evidence-based programming.

·       Strong analytical and data visualization skills, including experience with Power BI, Tableau, Excel, SPSS, STATA, R, or similar tools.

·       Familiarity with DHIS2, HMIS, eCHIS, PHEM, and digital data collection platforms.

·       Experience conducting data quality assessments, evaluations, operational research, and mixed-method studies.

·       Strong report writing, technical documentation, and knowledge management skills.

·       Excellent analytical, communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

·       Ability to translate complex data and evidence into practical recommendations and decision-support products.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. We encourage you to apply early as the position may close once a suitable candidate is found. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual, or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.