Job description

EPG has many of the necessary building blocks in place for good monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) but needs to embed fit-for-purpose approaches and tools that can drive a focus on impact in our programmes and help us adapt as we seek to grow in size in the coming years. We are therefore looking for a highly motivated candidate to join us to drive this work.

The right candidate will be excited about being the ‘go to’ person for all things research and evaluation at EPG. The successful candidate will play a critical role in supporting the generation of policy-relevant data and research from our growing portfolio of country programmes; use this research to contribute to the global evidence base on education systems reform; and drive a fit-for-purpose approach to monitoring and evaluation activities across all EPG country programmes that maintains a focus on impact, supports exchange and learning internally, and is designed appropriately for a small and growing organisation. 

This role provides a growth opportunity which would suit an ambitious and dynamic individual looking for a new challenge and an opportunity to help develop a niche organization looking to work differently in the global development space.

The role can be based in London, Accra, Nairobi, Abidjan, Freetown, Cape Town, Lusaka with international travel (indicatively 25%). The Research and Evaluation Manager will report to the Director of Programmes.  

Indicative Responsibilities: 

The successful candidate will perform a range of monitoring and evaluation, research, and analysis activities including, but not limited to, the following: 

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Lead on a review of EPG’s impact framework, monitoring, evaluation and learning strategy and associated tools, including making recommendations for adjustments of the strategy to EPG’s Senior Management Team and driving the agreed changes and/or additions with programme teams.
• Support in the design and implementation of project and country-level monitoring to enable timely insights on project progress, the exchange and communication of learnings within teams and practical knowledge to support ‘course correction’ and future project design. 
• Support teams to appropriately close out projects to support learning for future projects and organisational delivery and facilitate the regular exchange of lessons across EPG and institutionalisation of insights and best practice with the Director of Programmes.
• Drive the reporting of portfolio performance to EPG’s SMT, Board, funders, and other key stakeholders as required.

Support for project delivery

• Provide up-to-date, best practice advice related to project research and evaluation design to EPG programme managers.
• Ensure that every programme that EPG helps governments design has a well-constructed theory of change, implementation monitoring that includes a baseline survey and KPIs, a formative evaluation with feedback mechanisms, and a robust impact evaluation where relevant and possible.

Research

• Support the Programme Team to ensure that high quality research and impact evaluations are commissioned, well supervised and sufficiently quality assured. This may involve contributing to developing new project proposals and bids for funders.
• Support the team to conduct or commission primary and secondary research related to the portfolio of projects, including overseeing the literature and data searches for ongoing research projects, and supporting the development and quality assurance of appropriate research questions and tools.
• Provide descriptive statistics and run other statistical analysis using Stata and preparing publication quality graphics. 
• Collaborate with EPG’s programme teams to draft blogs, policy briefs, and notes on research findings. 
• Present research findings at seminars and conferences in partnership with relevant stakeholders and collaborators.

Requirements:

• A post-graduate degree with emphasis on quantitative analysis, such as applied statistics, economics, or evaluation. 
• Experience in establishing and overseeing programme monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems in a global development context.
• Experience in designing and implementing experimental/quasi experimental impact evaluations, mixed-methods approaches (including survey design and sampling). 
• Extensive experience conducting quantitative analysis (including econometric and other complex statistical analysis).  
• Familiarity with current issues, actors and debates in global education.  
• Experience working in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams (including with in-country partners) 
• Proven ability to be a team player and to successfully manage multiple and changing priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, all while maintaining a good sense of humour. 
• Proven capacity to work independently and proactively in delivering new ideas, solutions and results. 
• Outstanding organisation and time management skills, with an attention to detail. 
• Essential software skills: Microsoft Office (specifically Excel) and advanced statistical analysis software such as Stata, SPSS, SAS or R. 
• Experience working in developing country contexts or international education policy would be an advantage. 
• Willingness to travel internationally, subject to COVID-19 restrictions
• Commitment to EPG’s core values and commitment to being an anti-racist organisation.  

Applications to be submitted by 5pm GMT on Friday 3 December 2021 but please note: we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response.