#3527 Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist

III. Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution in international relations, public administration, social sciences, statistics, evaluation, or a related field.*
• U.S. Citizenship
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of State issued Medical Clearance
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team and resolve conflicting views to promote cooperation and support for national security objectives
• Demonstrated expertise in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), including designing and managing MEL frameworks, developing performance indicators, and conducting data analysis
• Experience coordinating audits, oversight, and compliance activities with U.S. government agencies, including OIG offices
• Knowledge of U.S. government standards and regulations for monitoring and evaluation of foreign assistance programs
• Experience providing technical guidance and capacity building on MEL best practices
• Five years of relevant specialized experience in MEL, program evaluation, international development, or related fields**

*BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Have a bachelor’s or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in international law, international relations, public administration, social sciences, statistics, evaluation, or a related field; OR

Have completed at least 4 years of appropriate experience in one or more of the fields listed above in work associated with international organizations, problems, or other aspects of foreign affairs.

Note: If you are qualifying based on education, you MUST submit transcripts WITHIN ONE DOCUMENT ALONG WITH YOUR RESUME as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. IN ADDITION to the basic requirements, this position requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the FS-02 level in the Federal service, which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position:

• Experience designing and implementing MEL frameworks for foreign assistance or international development programs.
• Experience developing and tracking key performance indicators and integrating adaptive management practices.
• Experience coordinating audits, oversight, and compliance activities.
• Experience providing technical guidance and training on MEL best practices.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist

(Duration of contract: 2 years with possibility of up to 5 years total)

U.S. Personal Service Contractor (FS-02 equivalent)

U.S. Department of State

Office of the Under Secretary for Political Affairs (P) Bureau for European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR)

U.S. Embassy in Kyiv

I. Introduction

This position is located in the Assistance Coordination Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist develops and implements robust frameworks to assess program effectiveness, ensure accountability and oversight, and inform strategic decision-making in line with U.S. foreign assistance priorities in Ukraine. The incumbent establishes systems to track progress against key performance indicators, identify lessons learned, and integrate adaptive management practices to improve program outcomes.

The MEL Specialist serves as the primary point of contact for audits, oversight, and Office of Inspector General (OIG) offices, ensuring that all monitoring and evaluation activities meet U.S. government standards. The incumbent provides technical guidance to implementors on MEL best practices and compliance, and works closely with Embassy sections, interagency partners, and implementing organizations to strengthen the effectiveness and impact of U.S. foreign assistance programs.

We seek candidates with demonstrated expertise in monitoring, evaluation, and learning, who can design and manage complex MEL systems, communicate findings clearly, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

II. Major Duties and Responsibilities

1) MEL Framework Development and Implementation (35%)

• Design, implement, and modify comprehensive MEL frameworks to assess the effectiveness and impact of U.S. foreign assistance programs in Ukraine.
• Conduct independent analysis of evaluation findings and provide strategic recommendations to Mission leadership on program design, resource allocation, and policy adjustments.
• Draft policy briefs and decision memos that synthesize complex MEL data to inform high-level strategic decisions.
• Anticipate emerging evaluation needs and proactively design MEL approaches for new or evolving assistance priorities.
• Ensure MEL systems are aligned with U.S. foreign assistance priorities and program objectives.
• Develop tools and methodologies for data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Identify and implement emerging technologies and methodologies to enhance MEL efficiency and rigor.

2) Performance Tracking and Adaptive Management (25%)

• Establish systems to track progress against key performance indicators and program milestones.
• Manage and maintain complex MEL information management, ensuring data integrity and security.
• Identify lessons learned and integrate adaptive management practices to improve program outcomes.
• Prepare regular reports and presentations for Embassy leadership and Washington-based stakeholders.

3) Accountability, Oversight, and Audit Coordination (20%)

• Serve as the primary point of contact for audits, oversight, and OIG offices.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the ACE MEL mechanism.
• Navigate complex interagency dynamics to build consensus on evaluation priorities, methodologies, and resource allocation.
• Ensure all MEL activities comply with U.S. government standards and regulations.
• Ensure compliance with data management requirements.
• Coordinate responses to audit findings and implement corrective actions as needed.

4) Technical Guidance and Capacity Building (15%)

• Establish and enforce quality control standards for all MEL activities, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Provide technical guidance and training to implementors and partners on MEL best practices.
• Develop and disseminate resources to strengthen MEL capacity across program teams.
• Review evaluation designs, data collection instruments, and analytical approaches for methodological soundness.
• Foster a culture of learning, accountability, and continuous improvement.

5) Administrative and Other Duties (5%)

• Assist with administrative tasks, visitor scheduling, and note-taking as required.
• Schedule and conduct monitoring visits for team activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the mission and team initiatives.

III. Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution in international relations, public administration, social sciences, statistics, evaluation, or a related field.*
• U.S. Citizenship
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of State issued Medical Clearance
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team and resolve conflicting views to promote cooperation and support for national security objectives
• Demonstrated expertise in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), including designing and managing MEL frameworks, developing performance indicators, and conducting data analysis
• Experience coordinating audits, oversight, and compliance activities with U.S. government agencies, including OIG offices
• Knowledge of U.S. government standards and regulations for monitoring and evaluation of foreign assistance programs
• Experience providing technical guidance and capacity building on MEL best practices
• Five years of relevant specialized experience in MEL, program evaluation, international development, or related fields**

*BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Have a bachelor’s or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in international law, international relations, public administration, social sciences, statistics, evaluation, or a related field; OR

Have completed at least 4 years of appropriate experience in one or more of the fields listed above in work associated with international organizations, problems, or other aspects of foreign affairs.

Note: If you are qualifying based on education, you MUST submit transcripts WITHIN ONE DOCUMENT ALONG WITH YOUR RESUME as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. IN ADDITION to the basic requirements, this position requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the FS-02 level in the Federal service, which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position:

• Experience designing and implementing MEL frameworks for foreign assistance or international development programs.
• Experience developing and tracking key performance indicators and integrating adaptive management practices.
• Experience coordinating audits, oversight, and compliance activities.
• Experience providing technical guidance and training on MEL best practices.