Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer at PATH in Kebbi

• PATH is currently seeking a Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer who will be responsible for leading critical MEL practices to improve routine immunization coverage in Kebbi State, Nigeria. The Senior MEL Officer will report directly to PATH Global MEL lead on this project and will oversee a team of data collectors who work with Mobile Immunization Teams (MITs) within 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kebbi State.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with Kebbi State health officials, local partners, and PATH colleagues to develop monitoring, evaluation, and learning strategies to improve routine immunization program planning, delivery, and coverage in Kebbi State.
• Contribute to and provide feedback on project workplans and deliverables related to MEL activities.
• Oversee mobile immunization team data collectors to ensure accurate, complete, and timely data collection and reporting.
• Partner with PATH staff, local partners, and Kebbi State health authorities to develop a data collector training program to ensure data collectors have requisite skills and information before joining the mobile immunization team. Training and content will align with the existing government materials for immunization program data collection.
• Design and implement processes to manage, clean, and validate routine immunization and other project data.
• Manage project database(s) and support submission of project data into the government’s routine health information systems (e.g., DHIS2, Routine Immunization SMS platform).
• Develop quantitative and qualitative data analysis plans and perform data analysis.
• Develop clear and impactful data visualizations, presentations, and reports to effectively communicate program performance and results.
• Support a culture of data use by facilitating data review meetings and working closely with stakeholders to review, interpret, and use routine immunization data to improve program design and delivery.
• Provide technical support to the project team to use data to inform ward/settlement prioritization, microplanning, outreach planning, and performance monitoring.
• Manage two MEL Officers, to be hired during Year 2 of the project to support scale-up across LGAs in Kebbi State.
• Document successes, challenges, and lessons learned throughout project.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Bachelors degree in medicine, public health, statistics, social sciences, or related field; Masters degree in public health and/or equivalent experience in public health, population studies, health informatics, epidemiology, or research would be an advantage.
• A minimum of 5 or more years of relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation of complex health and development programs.
• Experience with training, mentorship, and supervision of community health workers/volunteers and data collectors at community level. Familiarity with phone-based digital data collection tools is an added advantage.
• Knowledge of health and development programs including familiarity with the national health management information system (DHIS2). Experience with routine immunization programs preferred.
• Experience with management and cleaning of large quantities of data from various sources preferred.
• Strong facilitation skills and experience effectively leading data review meetings for data-informed programming and adaptive management.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, including development of presentations and reports.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple activities simultaneously.
• Team-focused with the ability to interact with diverse stakeholders (PATH staff, donors, partner organizations, local government) and facilitate strong working relationships between local and remote colleagues.
• Professional proficiency in English verbal and written communications.
• Willingness to travel within Kebbi State as required by project activities.