Program Quality, Evidence & Learning Director - Ukraine

Programs Kyiv, Ukraine

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Description

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

Position Status: Full time

About Mercy Corps 

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Program Summary

The Program function at Mercy Corps supports its mission and works with program impact, innovation, and influence teams. Mercy Corps just launched its new global ten-year strategy, ‘’Pathway to Possibility’’, which reflects our ambitions to not only meet basic needs of communities affected by conflict and climate, but to achieve lasting, transformational change at scale. Pathway to Possibility (P2P) includes a three-layers resilience approach at its core and aims to deliver impact through four key outcome areas: Food Security, Water Security, Economic Opportunity, and Peace and Good Governance. P2P is also driven by five organizational commitments on being climate smart; evidence-driven; safe, diverse and inclusive; locally-led; and innovative and creative. 
To deliver on P2P, Mercy Corps recently changed its global program department structure into two key teams: A Technical Resources and Quality (TRaQ) Unit which aims to deliver measurable impact, leads agency thinking in key technical and program management areas, and ensures quality programing while maintaining agency visibility with key audiences; The Evidence & Learning (E&L) Unit, which leads Mercy Corps’ efforts to use data, evidence, and analytics to improve programs, scale what works, and influence others. Evidence & Learning at Mercy Corps comprises Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, Research and Learning, Crisis Analysis, and a developing Knowledge Management/Evidence Use team. 
 
The Quality, Evidence and Learning (QEL) Director - Ukraine will ensure some of the key TRaQ and E&L Units functions are fulfilled while the others will be met and supported by both regional and global teams.
 
Mercy Corps’ Ukraine response meets the humanitarian needs of people affected by the war in Ukraine. Since the escalation of the war in 2022, Mercy Corps has supported more than 750,000 conflict-affected people in Ukraine and neighboring countries. We have provided cash assistance, food and hygiene kits, and psychosocial support for people in emergency situations; grants for micro, small and medium businesses, as well as small to medium farming enterprises; and conducted large-scale information campaigns. With continued attacks on critical infrastructure and regular power disruptions, localized solutions to ensure sustainable, reliable and affordable access to energy are increasingly important, both to meet humanitarian needs, as well as to support the recovery of Ukraine. Notably, nearly all our programming is delivered in partnership with civil society organizations matching humanitarian action with capacity strengthening and a real commitment to localization.

General Position Summary

The Program Quality, Evidence and Learning (QEL) Director - Ukraine oversees the teams and work streams supporting strong program delivery and quality across Mercy Corps by integrating context-driven best practices, technical approaches, quality standards, and accountability mechanisms. In addition, enhancing Mercy Corps’ ability to generate, use, and facilitate the application of evidence to improve programs, scale what works, and influence others, through fostering evidence generation and learning, knowledge-sharing and capacity strengthening across the country portfolio. Under the leadership and direction of the Director of Programs (DoP) who oversees all program-related functions, the QEL role ensures the consistent implementation of program management standards, processes and best practices and to improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of Mercy Corps’ programs in Ukraine. They also drive and assure the quality of evidence-based programming and practices while ensuring a culture of adaptation and learning is shared across all country programs, both across the humanitarian and development portfolio.  

Essential Job Responsibilities

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES 
  • Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work 
  • Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members 
  • Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g. Integrity Hotline and other options. 
STRATEGY AND VISION
  • Develop and lead on compelling Program Quality, Evidence and Learning strategic directions that reflects Mercy Corps Ukraine’s Country Strategy FY24-26 and that aligns with P2P, Global and Regional MENAE strategies.
  • Use the recently developed Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) to deliver on key objectives and targets that pertain to Program Quality, Evidence and Learning, and contribute to other workstreams as needed.
  • Ensure the QEL unit of Mercy Corps Ukraine is cohesive and efficient, well and appropriately staffed, that team members are clear on the unit’s mandate and priorities and new team members well onboarded as needed.
  • Serve as a key partner to the DoP to ensure QEL workstreams, initiatives and priorities are integrated across all programs and to ensure proper coordination across all programs 
  • Collaborate and coordinate with Regional and Global TRaQ and E&L teams, ensuring Ukraine participation in TRaQ and E&L-led work streams while requesting necessary support when needed.
  • Contribute to Mercy Corps Ukraine’s impact delivery through the QEL teams, mandate and priorities.
  • Contribute to the achievements of other organizational commitments whenever possible (climate smart; innovative and creative; evidence-driven, locally-led; safe, diverse and inclusive).
PROGRAM PERFORMANCE & QUALITY (Program Management Support, Program Standards, including Monitoring & Evaluation and Learning (MEL), Community Accountability/CARM and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI))
  • Lead in establishing efficient program quality systems, processes and tools across Mercy Ukraine’s program portfolio 
  • Champions and provides tangible technical support and guidance to Program Leads around Mercy Corps’ Program Management Policy and its associated minimum standards to ensure that the teams are driving transformational impact through executing programs that are of the highest quality 
  • Support Program Leads and teams with the implementation of the Program Management (PM@MC) Policy, procedures and standards (inclusive of PM, CARM, MEL, GESI in Program Management, Cash Transfer/Goods Distribution Programs, and Infrastructure), overseeing efforts to conduct gap analysis, develop action plans, contextualize and continuously  
  • Oversee efforts to ensure that all programs in Ukraine adopt and use recommended program filing structures to improve record retention, documentation management, standards adherence, and information sharing
  • Support the DoP in effective collaboration between program teams (grants/new business, program implementation and QEL teams) to ensure utmost program quality and that program standards are being met 
  • Support the overall program cycle - from identification and design, kick-off to close-out - to drive strong evidence-based program design, promote program adaptation throughout implementation, ensuring programs are performing and of high-quality, and that evidence and learning are generated throughout the program lifetime.
  • Work closely with Regional TRaQ team as needed to ensure necessary program quality gaps are being identified and supported in a timely manner 
  • Support the Monitoring and Evaluation (MEL) teams for all MEL-related functions with a strong focus on in all quality assurance processes in the country (including but not limited to the MSR and TolaData)   
  • Support the development of sector guidance and lead MEL Teams in developing corresponding MEL frameworks in accordance with the overall country strategy  
  • Support the Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism (CARM) teams for all-CARM related functions, ensuring sound and efficient systems are in place across all programs and that CARM data are reviewed regularly for program adaptation
  • Ensure that an appropriate CARM is in place for all programs, and that results are utilized for implementation improvements and overall learning.  
  • Support the CARM teams in the expansion to the larger accountability framework when starting globally
  • Support the GESI team in leading the roll-out of Gender, Diversity and Inclusion as a priority area for Mercy Corps Ukraine’s programs and ensuring GESI minimum standards are being met. 
EVIDENCE GENERATION & LEARNING (MEL, Research, and collaboration with other evidence-generation teams)
  • Lead on Mercy Corps Ukraine’s Evidence-Driven commitment and support the development of an evidence and learning vision in Ukraine in collaboration with the Regional Evidence and Learning Unit and other evidence generation teams, contributing to a culture change in elevating the importance of evidence and learning at large to improve programs, scale what works and influence others
  • Coordinate with Regional ELU to develop or support the development key evidence and learning priorities for Mercy Corps Ukraine at country and/or program level, in line with Mercy Corps Ukraine’s Country Strategy and in alignment with Global and MENAE Evidence and Learning Agenda (ELA)
  • Develop and/or integrate new knowledge management systems to improve the processing, analysis and utilization of data and evidence generated across programs 
  • Coordinate and collaborate with the Mercy Corps Ukraine and Regional Crisis Analysis teams to include CA work when relevant and applicable to the broader Mercy Corps Ukraine evidence and learning priorities and/or framework
  • Coordinate and collaborate with Mercy Corps Ukraine/Regional TRaQ/Technical teams to include technical assessments and other relevant outputs when relevant and applicable to the broader Mercy Corps Ukraine evidence and learning priorities and/or framework 
  • Support program teams at business development stage to ensure all new programs are designed based on evidence 
  • Support program teams at inception stage to promote the development of key learning and/or research questions in collaboration with technical experts in-country, regionally or globally 
  • Lead the development of processes to support program teams in integrating cross-program learning and ensure that lessons learned are used to inform adaptation of activities and future program design, with a particular focus on the use of quantitative and qualitative data for adaptive management and design
  • Lead efforts to develop and resource strategic local and regional partnerships to advance Mercy Corps Ukraine evidence and learning strategic directions and influence, such a research firms, academics, analysis agencies, data processing organizations etc., 
  • Contribute to Mercy Corps Ukraine’s influence objectives through the intentional and organized use and dissemination of generated evidence and learnings in various platforms and fora 
TEAM MANAGEMENT
  • Supervise and manage all QEL team members and ensure their work is aligned and contributing effectively to the QEL team’s strategic directions
  • Create and sustain a safe, diverse and inclusive work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to grow, learn and achieve excellence. 
  • Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews  
  • Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives, including capacity strengthening as needed 
  • Ensure appropriate staffing within the QEL purview, and ensure all staff understand and are able to perform their role 
  • Hire, orient and supervise new team members as necessary 
REPRESENTATION AND COORDINATION
  • Coordinate internally with other teams in the country, regionally and globally to ensure the successful delivery of the QEL mandate.
  • Collaborate closely with regional Evidence and Learning and TRaQ team for all needed technical support 
  • Lead efforts in sharing best practices with the broader humanitarian and development community in Ukraine when it pertains to evidence and learning and program quality
  • Contribute to Mercy Corps Ukraine being seen as a thought leader in key technical areas relevant to Mercy Corps Ukraine’s portfolio
  • Represent Mercy Corps in external coordination and donor meetings, as required.  
  • Participate in the Complex Program board calls and associated follow-up as needed.
 Supervisory Responsibility:
Sr. MEL Manager, Learning Manager, Protection Coordinator, Sr. GESI Officer, Community Accountability Manager

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director of Programs
Works Directly With: Program Teams, SMT Members, Operations Teams, Ethics/ Assurance/ Safeguarding, Regional Program Teams, and Regional and Global TRaQ and E&L Teams 

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.  

Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills

  • Bachelor’s degree required. Masters or equivalent in a field related to Humanitarian or International Development or relevant fields is preferred.  
  • At least 7 years’ experience providing coordination or management support to program implementation.
  • Experience working in the Ukraine or other high-risk contexts preferred.  
  • Proven ability to work cooperatively with internal and external stakeholders, and to play a leadership role in convening groups. Astute skills in relationship building and coordination.  
  • Extensive experience with program quality, monitoring and evaluation, evidence and learning, research, information management in P2P related technical areas
  • Willingness and ability to travel frequently to Mercy Corps program sites and field locations, including traveling to insecure environments, is required.  
  • Excellent listening communication and interpersonal, communication and networking skills; and the ability to work with diversified populations.
  • Excellent presentation skills and capacity to deliver and facilitate training and capacity strengthening interventions.  
  • Analytical, problem solver, with strong experience and understanding of project cycle management and coordination.
  • High level of self-awareness and self-development with the maturity to deal with constructive feedback.  
  • The willingness and ability to adapt leadership and management style as appropriate.  
  • Experience of conducting research, drafting and presenting reports to varied audiences.  
  • Fluency in English is required, Ukrainian advantageous.   

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Kyiv, Ukraine and it requires 30-40% travel to support programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing for this role is in shared housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development  
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. 
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. 
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work. 
 
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis. 
As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).  

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