Advisor, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (P3)

Save the Children

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.

The Role

The Advisor, MERL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning) provides technical leadership to strengthen evidence, learning, and accountability across Save the Children US’ International and Domestic Programs. In this role, you will lead applied research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities that support program quality, adaptive management, and donor accountability.

You will blend advanced research and evaluation expertise with strong monitoring systems and data-use leadership. You will design and oversee data systems, evaluation approaches, and learning processes; supports teams to analyze and interpret data; and translate findings into actionable insights for program improvement, reporting, and strategy.  Operating with a high degree of independence, you will serve as a technical resource to colleagues and partners across both international and U.S.-based programs, taking on both leadership and support roles depending on program needs, capacity, and risk, while contributing to proposal development, donor engagement, and evidence-informed strategy.

*This is a part–time role at 75% level of effort.

Location

Hybrid – Washington DC, Fairfield, CT or Lexington, KY office locations

 

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

*not inclusive of all role responsibilities. May be subject to change

Technical leadership: research, evaluation, and learning (40%)

• Lead the design and implementation of research, evaluations, and learning activities across International and Domestic Programs, with depth in the USDA FFE portfolio within International Programs ensuring rigor, feasibility, and ethical standards.
• Provide technical guidance on outcome measurement (e.g., literacy, numeracy, education participation, nutrition, and related school-aged outcomes), including tool selection, sampling, and analytic approaches.
• Conduct literature reviews and synthesize the evidence base to inform program planning and strategic decision making in domestic and international programs
• Develop and support learning agendas and evidence-building priorities in collaboration with technical, program, and country teams.
• Guide teams in interpreting findings and applying evidence to strengthen program design, adaptation, targeting, and quality improvement.

Monitoring systems, data quality, and data use (30%)

• Lead and strengthen monitoring and data management systems for complex programs across International and Domestic portfolios, including multi-country USDA FFE programs and multi-state Community Impact and Food Security programs, ensuring alignment with donor and organizational requirements and internal learning needs.
• Oversee development and maintenance of data collection tools, documentation, and workflows that enable consistent, high-quality reporting
• Train and support staff and partners on data systems and tools; provide ongoing technical support to improve system adoption and effective data use.
• Ensure data completeness, accuracy, and reliability through routine data quality checks, follow-up, and structured data review processes.

Analysis, visualization, and communications (20%)

• Conduct and/or oversee quantitative and qualitative data analysis using appropriate statistical and analytic methods.
• Develop dashboards, tables, charts, briefs, and other data visualization products to support donor reporting, management decision-making, and learning.
• Synthesize and present findings for internal and external audiences, translating complex analyses into clear, actionable recommendations.

Resource development and external engagement (10%)

• Lead or contribute to MERL components of proposals for USDA FFE and other International and Domestic Programs, including results frameworks, indicators, MEL plans, learning agendas, evaluation scopes, and budgets.
• Support engagement with external partners (e.g., donors, research institutions, implementers) to strengthen evidence generation and learning.
• Contribute to thought leadership and positioning efforts that elevate Save the Children’s role in applied research, monit