Oxfam America

Director of Evaluation

Department: Regional Programs

REPORTS TO:  

Senior Vice-President for Programs

Coordinates with:

Accountable to:

• President, SVP Programs and VP Policy and Campaigns
• Board of Directors’ Grants & Themes and Advocacy & Communication committees

Consultation and coordination:

• All units within the Programs Division, including Regional Programs Department, Humanitarian Response Department, and Aid Effectiveness; and all units within the Policy & Communications Division, including Policy & Research, Communications, Private Sector, Government Affairs and Campaigns, and the Global Program Teams, as are created to address sector and thematic programming areas (e.g. Climate Change, Equitable Rural Development -incl. Extractive Industries-, Agriculture& Trade and Humanitarian Response)
• Operations Division


External relations and collaboration:

• OI LEAP
• InterAction
• Professional evaluation and learning networks and other international development organizations, as needed.


PURPOSE OF POSITION:

To head LEAD functions and initiatives at Oxfam America (OA), namely:

  • To support the further development and improvement of the existing conceptual design and evaluation frameworks for the programming, advocacy and campaigning work of the Agency by the LEAD team.
    (conceptual frameworks)

  • To enhance and support the methodological guidance and quality control to the application of the frameworks for programming, advocacy and campaigning, and the development of concomitant agency-wide systems for learning, monitoring and evaluation by the LEAD team. (methodology)
  • To enhance and support the collection and dissemination of learning and expertise about program, advocacy & campaign effectiveness and quality by the LEAD team throughout the agency, Oxfam International (OI) and the larger international development community. (learning & knowledge sharing)
  • To enhance and support credible assessment of and reporting on program, advocacy & campaign quality and performance for demonstrating accountability to all key stakeholders (incl. donors, primary change agents, partners, and other internal & external users. (accountability)


PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Department Management

• Provide strategic guidance on the prioritization and execution of department initiatives
• Ensure the LEAD staff have resources and orientation to align with agency priorities
• Hire and orient new LEAD staff as required.
• Secure resources for monitoring, evaluation, learning & accountability projects.
• Secure resources for publication and dissemination of LEAD ideas and knowledge

• Regularly coordinate and liaison with other departments to ensure ongoing communication and collaboration around learning and accountability.

Monitoring and Evaluation (conceptual frameworks & methodology)

Coordinate LEAD’s work regarding programs and campaigns design, monitoring and evaluation in collaboration with the appropriate units and departments, which includes:
• The further development and improvement of existing M&E frameworks and systems for programs, advocacy & campaigns
• The provision of methodological guidance and quality control to the application of the frameworks
• The development of platforms or spaces for key stakeholder involvement in programs & campaigns monitoring & evaluation.


Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

Coordinate LEAD’s work regarding learning and knowledge sharing in collaboration with the appropriate units and departments, which includes:
• The development of effective platforms and systems for knowledge exchange and learning, which are systematic and adequately documented.
• The establishment of effective external multi-stakeholder structures and processes to provide regular feedback to program analysis and strategies.
• Organization and coordination of agency-wide exercises for organizational learning, improvement and integration for delivering rights-based impact.
• Provision of methodological guidance, workshops and coaching for the application of the M&E frameworks and systems
• Development of trainings for core skills and knowledge required in program & campaign design, monitoring and evaluation.
• Organize the collection and dissemination of best practices relevant to OA programs, advocacy & campaigns both internally and externally, through thematic workshops, trainings, online resource center, placements of journal articles, publications, presentations at conferences.


Accountability:

Coordinate LEAD’s work regarding accountability, learning and knowledge sharing in collaboration with the appropriate units and departments, which includes:
• Assessment of and reporting on program, advocacy & campaign quality and performance for demonstrating accountability
• Quality assurance of reviews and evaluations produced or commissioned by the programs, advocacy & campaigns units.
• Quality assurance of programs, advocacy and campaigns reporting in formats adequate to various audiences (e.g., partners, donors, Board of Directors)
• Development of appropriate systems & procedures for addressing concerns and lessons from reporting.
• Development of adequate platforms and systems to assess the coherence of programmatic work with agency values and strategic priorities as set out in the Oxfam America Strategic Plan.
• Promotion of reporting against external evaluation standards and codes of conduct (e.g., OI, InterAction).

Do all of the above in coordination with the Operations Division and OI’s Learning, Evaluation & Accountability Program (LEAP). Contribute to LEAP’s efforts to increase accountability and program quality within the Oxfam family.


EXPECTATIONS FOR THE POSITION:

• The incumbent will stay abreast of professional standards, trends and issues affecting this set of responsibilities, demonstrating continuous learning of the field.

• The incumbent will adopt a multi-disciplinary and integrated approach to monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability applying both qualitative and quantitative methodologies adapted to rights-based development programming. S/he will be creative in supporting the further development and improvement of the existing design, monitoring & evaluation frameworks that fit OA’s unique set of programs, advocacy & campaigns.

• The incumbent will work effectively in support of building a team-based culture of work within the LEAD and developing collaborative liaisons throughout the whole agency. S/he will strive to build the monitoring, evaluation & learning capacity of program staff and foster an environment in inquisitiveness and open reflection across the agency.

• The incumbent will perform all duties (as described in this document) appropriately for a multi-cultural environment, treating all persons with dignity and respect, promoting the equal participation of his/her staff throughout the agency, based on internal planning, prioritization and agreement around the division of tasks, roles & responsibilities, and the assignment of special projects. The incumbent will be committed in this to Oxfam America mission and goals.

• S/he will be available to travel domestically and abroad for about six weeks per year.


QUALIFICATIONS:

Required


Education: 

  • Master degree in the social sciences.
     

Experience and Core Competencies:

  • At least fifteen years experience working with organizations engaged in international development and social justice work on both public policies and program implementation.
  • Proven experience leading initiatives involving multiple evaluation methodologies and developing creative evaluation methodologies for complex for rights-based international development programs.
  • Excellent team leadership, staff development and mentoring skills.
  • Proven track record of leading or substantially contributing to organizational change processes in complex, multi-faceted organizations.
  • Excellent project management skills; proven leadership skills in working with matrix teams or collaborative efforts.
  • Excellent organizational skills, including preparation and monitoring of plans and budgets.
  • Excellent analytic, writing and oral skills.
     

Preferred: 

  • Multi-disciplinary background and knowledge, with considerable and ongoing high level studies, with preferably a Ph.D. in or linked to the social sciences.
  • Significant professional experience working and living in a developing country or countries.
  • Published works relating to monitoring and evaluation, organizational learning and accountability.
  • Experience in training and/or facilitation.
  • Ability to communicate in Spanish or French.

Please see our How to Apply page for application information. Oxfam America is an Equal Opportunity Employer.