The Role
The Manager, Field Operations oversees all monitoring and evaluation field activities for Evidence Action’s programs across the West and Central Africa Sub-region, including Nigeria, Liberia, and Cameroon.
This role presents a dynamic opportunity to spearhead program research and learning initiatives, facilitate Monitoring, Learning, and Evaluation (MLE) support for regional programs, and drive the formulation and evaluation of comprehensive monitoring frameworks. Additionally, it entails providing strategic guidance to research and learning projects while fostering seamless collaboration between MLE teams, governmental bodies, and other key implementing partners to ensure alignment and impact.
To ensure this, a crucial responsibility involves overseeing systems to verify that the data quality for all Evidence Action sub-regional programs consistently meets stringent standards.
Please be advised that this is a one-year contract role.
We are seeking a motivated individual to oversee daily operations, ensuring all tasks are completed efficiently and in accordance with company standards. This role involves coordinating team efforts, managing workflows, and maintaining productivity levels to meet organizational objectives. Additionally, the position requires thorough monitoring of performance metrics, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing corrective actions when necessary. Strong leadership and communication skills are essential to guide the team, foster collaboration, and resolve any challenges that may arise. The ideal candidate will possess prior experience in a similar role, demonstrating the ability to multitask, prioritize effectively, and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Planning and coordinating Machine Learning Engineering (MLE) support for programs across the sub-region.
Elevate and optimize machine learning engineering (MLE) initiatives by implementing comprehensive, cost-effective, and strategically designed approaches that align with program objectives. Employ the most economical yet high-quality methodologies and resources to maximize budget utilization and execution efficiency.
Review and oversee program MLE outcomes, providing ongoing monitoring and analysis to ensure accuracy and relevance. Offer guidance to program teams in the sub-region on interpreting MLE findings and applying them effectively, thereby enabling informed, evidence-based decision-making processes.
Ensure the MLE team maintains appropriate representation in meetings involving program teams, partners, and government stakeholders, as needed and contextually suitable.
Partner with the MLE Strategy and Delivery teams to align on the data requirements for sub-regional initiatives, ensuring the MLE team meets program objectives punctually.
Collaborate with state and national partners, as well as government stakeholders, to provide Machine Learning Engineering (MLE) support.
Conduct on-site assessments to verify the proper implementation of MLE activities, ensuring alignment with local conditions, and provide assistance in their execution as needed.
Develop and oversee critical collaborations with Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) vendors, as necessary, to meet program Monitoring, Learning, and Evaluation (MLE) objectives.
Responsible for directing the procurement of vendors essential to MLE operations across programs in the designated sub-region, while also administering budget management, adhering to timelines, and ensuring timely delivery of vendor-driven outputs.
The MLE Strategy team’s research and learning initiatives will benefit from your support in addressing critical knowledge gaps regarding programs in the sub-region. This role involves designing survey methods and sampling approaches, developing survey instruments and protocols, piloting these tools, collecting and cleaning data, conducting analyses, and preparing comprehensive reports to inform programmatic decisions.
Contribute to the creation and dissemination of content for the Machine Learning Engineer (MLE) newsletter, as well as sub-regional, regional, global, internal, and external publications.
Conduct comprehensive data collection activities to gather evidence for all programs implemented by Evidence Action within the designated sub-region.
Oversee country teams and allocate resources to meet all data collection objectives—encompassing both quantitative and qualitative approaches—ensuring the acquisition of pertinent and trustworthy data for MLE initiatives.
Work collaboratively with the program team to facilitate seamless communication ensuring efficient planning of data collection activities. Establish and maintain ‘instant feedback’ information systems while promptly disseminating relevant information to the program team as needed.
We create and implement streamlined logistical tools tailored for field teams, establish foundational standards and optimal methodologies for data collection, and oversee the performance of back-checks and spot-checks to ensure accuracy. Additionally, we maintain thorough documentation of all field activities to uphold consistency and compliance with established protocols.
Spearhead the design, implementation, and ongoing upkeep of essential databases to efficiently track and manage program-related data and information.
Review process monitoring reports issued by the Data Learning team, analyze the data within a relevant context, and deliver input grounded in that analysis. Document and distribute key lessons derived from monitoring activities, while simultaneously tracking advancements in critical areas to ensure these insights drive meaningful program enhancements over time.
Oversee the management and coordination of field operations teams, ensuring efficient execution of projects and adherence to established protocols. Direct team activities to optimize performance and maintain high service delivery standards. Develop and implement strategies to enhance operational effectiveness, resolve logistical challenges, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Ensure compliance with organizational policies, safety regulations, and industry standards while supporting team development through targeted training and performance evaluations.
Oversee the annual scheduling and coordination of the MLE team’s work plans, aligning activities with the established scope of work and program priorities across the sub-region. Monitor progress against the work plan, verifying that all activities are executed on schedule while ensuring adherence to monitoring and reporting deadlines.
Draft the annual program MLE budgets in alignment with the scope of work outlined by the MLE Strategy Leads, ensuring comprehensive allocation for planned MLE activities across all programs within the sub-region. Manage MLE expenditures in accordance with the approved budget, conducting regular reviews to verify that actual spending remains within the predefined sustainable range.
In partnership with MLE leadership, the HR Manager, and key program team representatives, oversee the execution of needs assessments, staff recruitment initiatives, and onboarding processes for MLE personnel across the sub-region.
Oversee the MLE team’s country-level operations to ensure strict adherence to all monitoring and evaluation (M&E) processes while maintaining exceptional quality in implementation and consistently meeting established deliverables.
Collaborating closely with Program and MLE teams, we assess opportunities to enhance capacity, foster professional growth, and strengthen skill sets, then design targeted strategies to address these areas for improvement specifically within the MLE teams across the sub-region.
Develop and oversee robust reporting templates and schedules to ensure alignment with both internal requirements and external obligations.
Support the advancement of machine learning engineering (MLE) best practices throughout the organization while fostering cross-geography knowledge sharing at Evidence Action.
Oversee the development, enhancement, and implementation of cutting-edge systems and tools to facilitate staff training, as mandated by the MLE staff training protocol.
Other:
Conduct additional monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities as instructed by the supervisor to advance the team’s collective goals.
Track and measure key performance indicators to evaluate operational effectiveness, productivity, and goal attainment. Develop and implement strategies to enhance performance metrics across teams, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives. Regularly analyze data trends to identify areas for improvement and drive data-informed decision-making. Collaborate with stakeholders to establish measurable targets and monitor progress toward achieving key results.
Surveys and other data collection initiatives are developed in collaboration with MLE-S to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and methodological rigor.
Continuously refining developed systems, protocols, and procedures while providing pertinent feedback to elevate the quality of training remains an ongoing priority.
Data collection vendors fulfill the contractual data collection obligations as specified.
The monitoring data for all programs in the sub-region must be collected promptly and efficiently to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Country programs are required to electronically gather and submit data through designated platforms, including CTO and DHIS2, ensuring consistent reporting across all initiatives.
Maintain and enhance the integrity and accuracy of data gathered for program monitoring and evaluation purposes.
To uphold standards and implement best practices throughout survey initiatives—from initial design and development to staff training, data collection, and final reporting—ensuring consistency, accuracy, and compliance with established protocols.
Effective management of financial resources, ensuring strict compliance with established finance policies, is essential for this role.
After monitoring activities, relevant learning resources will be made accessible to the program team to support their review and decision-making processes.
Each Monday, activity progress reports must be submitted punctually.
As demonstrated through evaluations from direct reports, supervisors, external stakeholders, and other collaborating teams, there has been steady advancement in team-building, collaboration, and leadership capabilities.
Annually, members of the Field Operations team establish and accomplish professional development goals, provided they remain reasonable and attainable within organizational parameters.
Field Operations teams are equipped with the necessary tools and materials to carry out their responsibilities, ensuring strict accountability throughout all activities.
Requirements
A Master’s degree in a pertinent discipline is essential, with a robust foundation in public health, development economics, and statistical analysis.
A minimum of seven years of relevant experience in Monitoring & Evaluation programs throughout West and Central Africa, with a particular emphasis on Nigeria, Liberia, and Cameroon.
Possessing advanced technical proficiency and the ability to handle complex tasks, you should have a minimum of four years of hands-on experience leading and collaborating with extensive teams to establish and execute data collection procedures.
Proficient in both written and verbal communication, with the ability to express ideas clearly and effectively. Demonstrates strong command of language, ensuring seamless comprehension and articulation of complex concepts.
Fluency in both French and English is essential for this position. Candidates who are native or highly proficient in French are particularly encouraged to apply, given the direct applicability of their language skills to the role’s core duties and responsibilities.
Professional experience in collaborating with globally distributed teams to execute surveys, facilitate program implementation, and conduct other data collection initiatives is required.
Proficiency in utilizing electronic data collection platforms, with a focus on Survey CTO, is required.
Skilled in fostering clear and effective dialogue, as well as building strong professional relationships, with a keen ability to engage and collaborate with diverse teams and stakeholders.
Able to accommodate immediate travel requests, manage diverse tasks simultaneously, operate effectively amid uncertainty, and follow directives from various stakeholders.
Innately driven by a strong sense of inquiry and intellectual curiosity, you demonstrate meticulous attention to detail alongside exceptional organizational skills.
Driven by Evidence Action’s commitment to scaling proven interventions and transforming the lives of millions,
Working conditions:
This role necessitates close collaboration with Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) team members across the West and Central Africa region as well as global offices, spanning diverse time zones, linguistic backgrounds, and cultural work environments.
The role necessitates extensive travel between various national programs.
There are no physical demands associated with this role.
We oversee a team of direct reports, ensuring their professional development and alignment with organizational objectives through regular performance evaluations, mentorship, and strategic goal-setting initiatives.
Country Field Operations leads, spanning roles from Senior Associates to Associate Managers, comprise the regional Field Operations team, including Managers, Leads, and Executives.
Position Location:
The position will be situated in one of the WPA countries—Nigeria or Cameroon—determined by the candidate’s nationality and employment eligibility.
Applicants must possess the legal authorization to work in Nigeria or Cameroon, as the organization is currently unable to provide or assume responsibility for employment visa sponsorship for these roles.
We kindly invite you to utilize the following method to submit your application.
To submit your application, please utilize the provided link(s) on the company’s official website.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
