Country Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) Manager

Job Overview

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Uganda Program is seeking a dedicated Country Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) Manager based in Kampala. This full-time role reports directly to the Country Director and entails supervising the MEAL Coordinator and MEAL Officers. The position is central to reinforcing WCS's conservation impact through rigorous evaluation and learning mechanisms, aligned with global standards and country-specific strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead design and execution of the Program and Collaborative Management Partnership (CMP) Annual Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plans (AMELP).
• Provide technical guidance to project leaders on crafting activity-specific MEAL plans.
• Ensure alignment of program and project indicators with strategic goals and program Theory of Change.
• Oversee participative evaluations and assessments throughout project lifecycles.
• Implement and maintain MEAL standards consistent with WCS's global conservation strategy and donor requirements.
• Standardize data collection, storage, and reporting across various sites and projects, leveraging consistent tools and frameworks.
• Conduct regular data quality assurance, including verification and completeness reviews, ensuring timely data availability for reporting.
• Interpret and synthesize data to monitor progress, support evidence-based decisions, and guide adaptive management.
• Regularly update MEAL frameworks in response to program developments.
• Contribute to proposal preparations by embedding MEAL components and designing robust log frames with appropriate indicators.
• Enhance capacity of staff at country and site levels through training, coaching, and field support focused on MEAL systems and data analysis.
• Manage MEAL databases, documentation, knowledge resources, and coordinate program performance reviews and learning sessions.
• Coordinate with global thematic leads and site managers to promote system coherence and process improvements.
• Drive innovation by integrating new tools, technologies, and methods to enhance data-driven decision-making.
• Oversee design, execution, and validation of project evaluations, collaborating with external consultants as necessary.
• Supervise the MEAL unit personnel within the Uganda Program.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Statistics, Quantitative Economics, Social or Natural Sciences or equivalent; alternatively, a bachelor’s degree with substantial MEAL experience.
• At least 7 years of experience in MEAL, ideally within conservation, rural development or tourism sectors, with solid knowledge of Log frames, Theory of Change, and Concept Models; familiarity with Conservation Standards approach is beneficial.
• Proven capacity to manage multiple tasks effectively and deliver timely high-quality reports.
• Experience working within multicultural teams; knowledge or experience in Uganda is advantageous.
• Experience collaborating with diverse stakeholders including government bodies, NGOs, community groups, and technical partners.
• Excellent communication skills in English and relevant local languages.
• Strong dedication to conservation and alignment with WCS’s mission.
• Experience or familiarity with data collection tools such as SMART, EarthRanger, KoBoToolbox, ODK, and Basic Necessity Survey is a plus.

Preferred Attributes

• Willingness to travel frequently to field offices.
• Professional proficiency in local languages is preferred.

Additional Information

This role is open exclusively to Ugandan nationals or individuals holding a valid work permit for Uganda. WCS is an equal opportunity employer committed to high standards of diversity, equity and inclusion, offering fair consideration to candidates regardless of age, race, gender identity, religion, disability, or other protected characteristics. Salary information is not provided.