Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Senior Manager at Trees for the Future

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Senior Manager will supervise, plan, develop, implement, and evaluate all aspects of TREES’ Kenya Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning strategy. The successful candidate will actively contribute to the design and implementation of robust frameworks to track progress, measure & report collective impact in compliance with Verra’s Verified Carbon and Climate Community Biodiversity Standards.

RESPONSIBILITIES  

They will also facilitate organizational learning around carbon and monitoring the Lake Victoria Watershed Agroforestry Carbon Project. In compliance with the standards of Verra and TREES, develop surveys, SOPs, and training frameworks, and manage the execution of: 

• Baseline assessments 
• Household Community Surveys 
• GIS ecosystem 
• Salesforce Farmer Database and TaroWorks data collection system 
• Apply TREES Adaptive Management Plan for short term and long-term monitoring to make ongoing adjustments and annual changes as needed to effectively achieve targets.
• Monitor and evaluate overall progress on achievement of targets and goals. This involves coordinating field monitoring and evaluation activities with the MEL Director.
• Develop the annual MEL plan and budget in collaboration with Program team and lead the dissemination of MEL activities.
• Cultivate relationships with local universities and relevant professional institutions.
• Recruit, train, and manage Interns during periods of high data collection activity.
• Notify field staff of upcoming data collection activities, its processes, and content.
• Report monthly, quarterly, and annual progress on all project activities to the Country Director. This also included tracking project data and communicating key metrics to project staff.
• Provide feedback to the Country Director and Program Managers on data trends and progress toward targets.
• Develop training, quality control processes and planning for all data collection (Baseline Field Area Measurement, Carbon Monitoring, Household Survey Bioacoustic Monitoring and Polygon taking) activities.
• Notify the Country Director of issues and risks encountered during MEL-related activities.
• Train field staff on all MEL systems and applications for data collection. This includes offering periodical refresher training on upcoming surveys and data collection activities to the technical field staff.
• Ensure quality control, analyze all collected data, and present results to the Country Program team.
• Provide monthly oversight and approval of project activity data reported by Project Officers through an internal, digital reporting system.
• Work closely with Program Managers and Training Team to ensure the Monthly Lead Farmer data collection is recorded and insights are conveyed in a timely manner for course correction as needed.
• Serve on steering committees with other departments to determine efficiencies in managing inventory, IT, etc.
• Participate in investors/donor/third party auditor calls and site visits to convey MEL processes, metrics, and standards giving confidence in our systems.

WHO YOU ARE  

• An enthusiastic advocate for TREES’ mission and values. You are passionate about improving livelihoods through agroforestry. You center farmers in every decision, ensuring projects drive real impact for communities and the environment. 
• An action-oriented MEL professional. Your collaborative approach is evident as you train field staff on all MEL systems and applications, analyze all collected data, and present results to leadership. 
• You are a strong and capable technical trainer. You demonstrate strong leadership by designing and delivering comprehensive training programs for field staff on all Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems and applications, ensuring their proficiency in data collection, analysis, and reporting. 
• You are a communication ninja. Your strong communication skills and relationship-building abilities make you an effective team member who looks for ways to relay information, so it sticks and is easily understood. 
• A detail-oriented executor with a systems mindset. You understand what details matter, and you get them right. You look for ways to make systems simple, efficient, and user-friendly. You can turn a vision into tactical next steps.  
• An adept problem solver.
• You overcome obstacles in your work by identifying them, adapting to new information, and proactively devising solutions. You take action before being asked and hold yourself accountable when you set goals.  

REQUIREMENTS 

• A Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree in Statistics, Demographics, Public Policy, International
• Development, Economics, or a related field. Master's degree or bachelor's plus an advanced certificate in M&E, statistics, or economics preferred.
• At least 8 years of experience in the design and implementation of M&E in development projects implemented by national/international NGOs/UN bodies/government.
• Proven ICT skills, especially in the navigation of Android technology and web-based databases.
• An understanding of GIS systems.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Ability to travel frequently and troubleshoot in remote areas and converse with smallholder farmers.