Monitoring and Evaluation Manager

ISEAL is looking for an experienced MEL professional to build and deliver its organisational M&E function, work closely with other areas of the organisation on MEL related activities, and convene a community of practice on MEL.

This new role will lead on a range of MEL related activities, from supporting the upcoming ISEAL strategic plan development and putting in place appropriate systems to monitor progress, to ensuring the organisation is making best use of available data to draw out learning and to measure results. Working closely with internal leads across a range of workstreams, the role will support in designing programme evaluations and outcome monitoring tools and processes. With colleagues from relevant focus areas, the MEL Manager will co-deliver learning at ISEAL.

Another important component of this role (roughly 30-40%) will be working with ISEAL’s Membership and Credibility team to support member organisations in implementing the ISEAL Code and ISEAL membership requirements related to MEL. The MEL Manager will be the content lead for ISEAL’s training events on M&E topics and will co-lead the M&E Community of Practice, a peer learning space for ISEAL Community members.

We are looking for someone with a range of expertise in MEL across different organisations, with a strong preference for specific experience with sustainability systems or standard organisations or comparable settings. The ideal candidate will thrive on delivering effective MEL activities in a standalone role, as well as bringing the expertise and training or facilitation skills necessary to advise others and support peer learning on related topics. They will have a strongly collaborative approach and a genuine interest in sustainability systems and learning and improvement.

In return, ISEAL can offer inspiring insight into the world of sustainability initiatives and sustainability issues, a supportive multicultural organisational setting, and good opportunities to develop professionally and personally in an international NGO environment.

The key responsibilities we entrust you with

Organisational and project/programme MEL activities

Provide MEL related input into strategic planning process and implementation for new 5-year strategy (with strategy development starting in mid-2025)

Provide support to ISEAL’s Partnership Manager and project/programme leads in programme evaluation, development of indicators and log frames

• Ensure learning and recommendations on MEL are documented, disseminated and considered when designing new projects or programmes
• Manage the delivery and continual improvement of selected MEL activities and systems, including leading necessary data collection, management, analysis, visualization, and reporting
• Support colleagues across different teams to design and conduct surveys and programme/project evaluations, and to develop performance and outcome monitoring indicators and systems
• Work with peers and internal teams (including Membership, the Innovation Fund and Evidensia.eco) to analyse and develop learning and insights to inform decision making and reporting
• Help create a culture and practice of learning at ISEAL, in liaison with the Associate Knowledge Manager

MEL expertise to support the ISEAL Community

• Co-lead ISEAL’s M&E Community of Practice, preparing and facilitating virtual and in-person workshops and creating and moderating content on the ISEAL Community Platform
• Use MEL expertise to help guide and support compliance with the ISEAL Code of Good Practice, working closely with ISEAL’s Membership and Credibility team
• Act as programme officer for selected Innovation Fund grants related to MEL and the measurement of outcomes and results, supporting grant recipients with expertise and connections and helping to extract key learnings
• Develop content for and deliver training events on good practice in MEL as part of ISEAL’s training and services portfolio
• Contribute MEL and outcomes measurement expertise to collaborative projects managed by Impacts and Innovations team, supporting sustainability systems to respond to changing market and legislative expectations

Experience, Knowledge and Attributes

• Range of experience in MEL roles, ideally including experience in a sustainability system, or in a not-for profit, professional or compliance-based membership organisation
• Prior experience with donor funded projects and programmes, including MEL frameworks and development and implementation of log frames
• Demonstrated ability in a wide range of MEL related activities including theory of change, survey design, MEL and research methodologies, and the development of indicators and related data monitoring systems
• Strong quantitative data collection, management and analysis skills, including the ability to present visual insights using tools such as Excel and Power BI
• Ability to work independently, while building strong relationships with colleagues and other stakeholders
• Collegial and able to thrive in a dynamic work environment while supporting senior colleagues and peers and building momentum and support for MEL activities
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills, including ability to present technical information to a non-technical audience
• Understanding of what sustainability systems are and how they help deliver change on sustainability issues
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Confidence in using the IT systems, familiarity with virtual meeting tools (e.g. MS Teams, Zoom, etc), use of databases (e.g. Salesforce), productivity and collaboration tools (e.g. Monday.com), proficiency in MS Office
• Desire to contribute to a more sustainable world

Additionally desirable

• Experience in an ISEAL member system, or similar sustainability standards organisation
• Knowledge of the ISEAL Code of Good Practice or its predecessor (ISEAL Impacts Code)
• Experience designing and setting up data management systems
• Good working knowledge of emerging trends in MEL and in sustainability reporting and disclosure

About ISEAL

ISEAL supports ambitious sustainability systems and their partners to tackle the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges – from the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis to human rights and persistent poverty. ISEAL Community Members include many of the most respected sustainability schemes worldwide and are active across a diverse range of sectors. Read more about us on our website www.iseal.org.

ISEAL´s culture and how we will help you thrive

Our values are Connection, Empowerment, Inspiration, Wellbeing, Effective Working and Creativity.

These are traits we value in each other and in the organisation overall and we instil these in all our processes and interactions.

The issues we work on are of a global nature and our team reflects this, with individuals from many different backgrounds and nationalities. We know this diversity adds to the high quality of work we deliver as an organisation and through our commitment to diversity and inclusion we want to add strengths and perspectives in our team with each recruitment. Diversity for us includes race and gender identity, age, disability status, sexual orientation, religion and many other areas forming part of someone´s identity. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer.

As an organisation, we also support our people in their personal and professional development, with specific budgets and processes enabling individuals to take advantage of growth and development opportunities.

We offer 25 days of annual leave, to which we will add a day a year after 2 years (to a maximum of 30 days), as well as an extra five days as a one off once you have been with us for a full five years.

We recognise individuals’ preferences when it comes to where and when to work through a hybrid working model with a minimum of 4 days per month in the London office as well as the opportunity to apply for flexible working arrangements to suit individual´s needs.

Other relevant information

Term: This is a permanent contract

Salary: £52,000-58,000 p.a. depending on experience (full time, 37.5 hours per week)

Location: London is the preferred location. Applicants will need to provide evidence that they are entitled to work in the UK. An ability and willingness to work in a hybrid work environment is required. Applications for other locations may be considered for exceptional candidates (Netherlands, Belgium)

International travel: The post holder may be required to undertake occasional international travel

Ideal start date: asap

How to apply

Please use this link to apply: https://iseal.factorialhr.com/job_posting/228143

Specific enquiries about this role and the application process can be sent to the recruitment@isealalliance.org.

Deadline for applications is 6 January 2025

Please note that we will only contact shortlisted applicants.

Interview process

Please see below the planned interview process (please note that we will endeavor to keep to this schedule, but some dates may be subject to change)

First interviews (Teams): 9-14 January 2025

Pre-interview timed exercises (between 60 – 90 minutes from home): 15-19 January 2025

Panel interviews (in person or Teams) w/c 20 January 2025

Final interview: w/c 3 February 2025

Accessibility

If candidates require additional time or other considerations for the interview process, we are committed to accommodating any reasonable requests.

Please note that ISEAL will cover travel expenses for in person interviews for UK based candidates travelling from outside of Greater London. ISEAL also covers caring expenses for candidates who are carers and need to arrange of cover for the duration of the interview/exercises