Head of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability Learning (MEAL) - Damascus (National)

TITLE:  Head of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability Learning (MEAL) 
TEAM/PROGRAMME: 

LOCATION: Damascus/ One of the Syria Country Offices within Syria with expectation to travel to other locations 50% of the time

GRADE: 3

CONTRACT LENGTH: 

Fixed term – 12 months

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: 

Level 3 – the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The Head of MEAL for the Syria Country Office (SCO) provides strategic leadership and oversight of MEAL functions across all programs and operational areas. This role is responsible for ensuring high-quality, evidence-based programming, fostering a strong culture of learning and accountability, and leading the integration of data-driven decision-making within program design and implementation. The postholder will lead and manage a team of MEAL professionals, including the MEAL Technical Coordinator, IM Manager, Accountability Manager, and Research & Learning Specialist, ensuring alignment with Save the Children’s global MEAL standards and sector best practices.

The Head of MEAL will also be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive MEAL strategy, strengthening internal MEAL systems, ensuring compliance with donor and organizational requirements, and fostering a learning culture across the Syria response. The role requires excellent leadership, analytical, and coordination skills to navigate the complex operating environment and drive impactful change.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to: Director of Impact and Influencing

Staff directly reporting to this post: Information Management Manager, Accountability Manager, MEAL Technical Coordinator, Research and Learning Specialist

Technical dotted lines to:  MEAL Managers in Area Offices 

Role Dimension:This is a senior leadership role requiring collaboration with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including Save the Children members, the Country Office Programme team, Area Offices, Partners, SC Global Advisors, donors, and technical working groups. The Head of MEAL will represent Save the Children in external MEAL-related forums and lead efforts to enhance the organization’s credibility in research, learning, and evidence-based programming.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Strategic Leadership & MEAL System Strengthening

• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive MEAL strategy for the Syria Response, ensuring alignment with SCI’s global MEAL framework and best practices.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight on all MEAL activities, ensuring strong evidence-based programming across all thematic sectors.
• Ensure MEAL systems and processes are standardized, robust, and user-friendly, enabling effective data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Ensure a  culture of accountability and learning is embedded across all program activities.
• Develop and oversee MEAL mechanisms, adapting approaches to the dynamic operational context inside Syria.

• Oversee the design and implementation of the project’s MEAL system in coordination with Technical advisers and MEAL team in the Main Office and at Area office level including key performance indicators, targets, tools, and appropriate MEAL responsibilities across the project.
• Oversee responsibilities for needs assessments, baseline and external mid and final evaluations, including coordination in terms of external processes, such as drafting ToR and selection of firm, in alignment with SCI procurement policy.
• Develop and disseminate relevant MEAL tools, formats and lead the provision of MEAL specific technical trainings;
• Oversee data collection, collation, storage, analysis, and reporting, ensuring that data is of high quality and audit worthy;
• Ensure MEAL teams in AOs are compliant with SCI MEAL system;
• Ensure appropriate training and supportive supervision of all partners in monitoring and evaluation procedures, data collection tools, and data management practices in alignment with the MEAL best practices
• Support in working closely with partners to establish their internal MEAL systems, M&E plans, and data quality management;
• Strengthen staff and partners’ capacity in qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation techniques through comprehensive staff training, mentoring, and/or coaching;
• Contribute to child-focused programme implementation by promoting child-friendly qualitative methodologies;
• Contributes to programme updates for the Senior Management Team and internal information sharing;

Data Management, Quality Assurance & Evidence Generation

• Ensure the timely and accurate collection, analysis, and use of MEAL data to inform decision-making, learning, and strategy adaptation;
• Lead efforts across the team to design and strengthen data collection methodologies, ensuring child-sensitive and inclusive approaches;
• Manage and oversee the Syria Response Database, ensuring accurate and timely storage and analysis of programmatic data.
• Oversee the development and integration of Information Management (IM) systems that enhance data visualization, real-time monitoring, and reporting;
• Oversee the data analysis, writing, and review of the results and learning sections of project reports in collaboration with program staff, before submission to donor and ensure compliance with internal data quality requirements and timely submissions for reporting.
• Responsible for compiling and quarterly uploading KPIs data.

Research and Learning 

• Oversee the development and rollout of the Syria Research and Learning Agenda, ensuring research priorities align with program needs, donor requirements, and sector best practices;
• Support and act as lead for the design and implementation of operational research, evaluations, and impact assessments to inform evidence-based programming;
• Strengthen knowledge management and learning systems, ensuring insights are captured, shared, and applied across programs and teams.
• Lead efforts to generate, document, and disseminate learning and best practices, both internally and externally.
• Provide guidance to program teams and partners on integrating adaptive management approaches based on real-time data and learning insights.
• Lead the program team on routine reviews and interpretation of data for learning and adaptation; package and disseminate timely findings in a meaningful way.

Accountability & Participation

• Ensure that participatory MEAL approaches are developed and reflected in our programmes, ensuring communities, especially children, are actively engaged in monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Establishing close partnership and ways of working between Accountability Manager and Technical Advisors to ensure that feedback from children and communities is reflected in all our project designs. 
• Oversee the design and support the Accountability Manager in the roll out of Save the Children’s Accountability Framework.
• Ensure that beneficiary feedback is systematically collected, analyzed, and used to improve program quality and responsiveness.
• In consultation with partners the MEAL adviser will provide technical support on strengthening and establishing beneficiary and partners’ accountability systems across all programmes in line with the SC policies and Accountability Framework including child safe guarding policy.
• Ensure compliance with child safeguarding and ethical standards in all MEAL and research activities reflecting Safe Programming principles into all MEAL plans. 

External representation and strategic engagement

• Support strategic planning processes, including strategy development, annual planning and reporting, and support response strategy for all inside Syria programming
• Working closely with Syria Director of Impact and Influencing to support coordination of Syria strategy and ensure monitoring of Syria strategy, learning and improving programme quality;
• Represent Save the Children in MEAL coordination platforms, donor meetings, and research partnerships.
• Lead on high-level MEAL advocacy and influencing efforts, ensuring SCI’s leadership in evidence-based programming.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with academic institutions, research bodies, and MEAL consortia to enhance SCI’s research and learning capacity.

Capacity Building, Team Leadership & Partnerships

• Lead and manage the Syria MEAL team, providing technical mentorship, performance management, and professional development opportunities.
• Strengthen MEAL capacity among program staff and partners through training, coaching, and mentorship.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and data-driven decision-making within the MEAL team.
• Engage with partners to strengthen their MEAL systems, ensuring effective data collection, reporting, and accountability mechanisms.

Others

• Comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures with respect to child safeguarding policy, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies. 
• Contribute to ensuring that programme’s delivery happens in strict adherence to security policy and procedures.
• Any other task as required.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

The post holder must commit to work in an international agency that promotes diversity, equity and

inclusion and fights racism, gender inequality and discrimination in all forms; and to model positive behaviours that demonstrate a commitment to equality and respect to all colleagues, partners and communities.

QUALIFICATIONS 

Master’s degree in project management, development studies, research or other areas relevant to the role and scope of work – Bachelor degree and relevant work experience (at least 6 years) can be considered as well. 

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Minimum of 8 years’ experience undertaking a MEAL & Research related role with line management responsibilities;
• Fluency in Arabic and English; Kurdish language is an asset. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing MEAL teams.
• Extensive experience designing and implementing MEAL frameworks for large-scale humanitarian and development programs.
• Proven expertise in data management, statistical analysis, and qualitative research methodologies.
• Strong track record in external representation, donor engagement, and strategic partnerships.
• Experience in conducting and managing assessments, evaluations, research data collection
• Experience of, and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability;
• Ability to work both in a senior level advisory and a hands-on implementation capacity;
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff;
• Ability to facilitate/conduct large technical trainings for staff;
• Ability to write clear and effective reports;
• Very good understanding of set up and use of data and information management systems and tools; 
• Proficient in MS Office (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Demonstrable experience of leading mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) research, confidence with research and fieldwork techniques and a range of analysis;
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy;
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances;
• Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children. In particular, a good understanding of the Save the Children mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support.

Desirable

• Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts.
• Experience in utilizing gender and disability sensitive indicators and measures.
• Experience managing remote MEAL systems in humanitarian settings.

The Organization
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:
· No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
· All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
· Violence against children is no longer tolerated
We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.
Application Information:
Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/jobs We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.