Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Specialist at DG Murray Trust

Role

The Zero Dropout Campaign is providing support to the Department of Basic Education (DBE) for strategic implementation and monitoring of psychosocial support interventions geared towards contributing to the reduction and ultimate prevention of learner dropout.

Zero Dropout Campaign is an incubated project of the DG Murray Trust working to halve the rate of school dropout by 2030. This ambitious vision aims to set a common agenda and provides direction and clarity to mobilise and direct the activities of a diverse range of stakeholders towards the same critical outcomes.

The campaign seeks to appoint a Monitoring; Evaluation and Research Specialist based at the Department of Basic Education Head office in Pretoria within the Psychosocial Support department.

Minimum requirements

• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in an M&E position responsible for implementing M&E activities with projects of national and/or international scope.
• Experience in designing and managing beneficiary monitoring and database systems.
• Experience in strategic planning and performance measurement, including indicator selection, target setting, reporting, database management, and developing M&E and performance monitoring plans.
• Knowledge of the major evaluation methodologies (e.g. qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method, and impact) and data collection and analysis methodologies.
• Experience in planning and managing surveys.
• Ability to facilitate and serve as project liaison for externally-managed evaluations.
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work methodically and meet deadlines

Additional qualifications or experience that will be an added advantage

• Evidence of the ability to make things happen, think strategically, work in uncertainty, and have strong people skills.
• A strong understanding of M&E principles and developing quality assurance strategies.
• Experience in working with DBE and schools.
• Fluent in 2+ South African official languages.
• Driver’s license and willingness to travel are essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the revision of existing PSS programme log frames and work plans, particularly in the areas of performance indicators and their measurement as it pertains to school dropout;
• Review the quality of existing PSS data from internal and external sources, improving methods of collecting and reporting.
• Build structural processes to provide good baseline statistics for routine monitoring and programme impact evaluation.
• Design frameworks and tools for data collection to track baseline assessment and measure achievement against the performance indicators.
• Produce evaluative progress reports consolidating data from different sources
• Identify areas where technical support to project partners is required.
• Create refresher training material on M&E for partners and Provincial Departments of Education (PDEs) as required
• Create learning briefs and develop case studies to capture qualitative outputs of the PSS programme.
• Provide advice to DBEs Senior Management on improving project performance using M&E findings.
• Supervise and mentor the data-capturing team in the Directorate
• Work closely with the SA-SAMS team
• Respond to programme data requests and queries
• Contribute to programme write-ups and articles
• Assist with the Unit’s knowledge Management Protocols