Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist

Major Function

The Bezos Earth Fund seeks a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist to support evidence-based adaptive management and decision-making to continuously improve our impact. Working closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Lead, and collaborating with staff across the organization, the MEL Specialist will support development and use of the Fund’s systems for gathering, analyzing, and reporting on Earth Fund progress and results—and support learning within and beyond the Earth Fund to help us focus on how to best support meaningful change. The MEL Specialist will balance big-picture, strategic and systems thinking with a keen ability to focus on details and move work forward, being able to re-prioritize as opportunities emerge. The role involves a combination of collaboration on tasks, day-to-day management and logistics, and some administrative tasks. It also includes primary responsibility for some workstreams. They will be energized by managing a high volume of opportunities to make a difference and will possess sound judgment, a collaborative spirit, and a facilitative approach.

Key Responsibilities

Contribute to MEL knowledge management system design, tools, and use:

Support design, building, and use of a framework for MEL for the Earth Fund’s grantmaking portfolios and broader work, including creating and using tools for assessing and aggregating grant and other progress, results, and learning as part of a process that aligns with the Earth Fund’s mission, goals, and values and with the latest science.

Support identifying, adapting, and defining sound core and custom indicators focused on climate, nature, and equity. Support collaborative design and use of quantitative and qualitative outcomes and indicators to track progress and demonstrate results across ideas, initiatives, grants and other workstreams and help ensure robust and sound monitoring and learning approaches for proposals and contracts, working with staff and, where appropriate, grantees.

Support deepening incorporation of equity and climate justice approaches and metrics into the Earth Fund’s work.

Support the Earth Fund to collect and utilize information to demonstrate substantive progress and results in our priority goals and work, including support for proposal design, grant reporting, and learning:

Support collaborative design and use of theories of change for the Earth Fund overall and for initiatives and grants.

Support processes for grantee reporting and for review and learning with grantees, including supporting grantees in reporting in alignment with Earth Fund guidance, reducing undue burden.

Conduct analysis of grantee reporting (including written and other types of reporting) and other data, and support staff to analyze and use data and learning.

Build staff capacity to implement monitoring, evaluation, and learning for their grant portfolios.

Produce, draft, and/or review reports, memos, slide decks, figures, and other materials to communicate with a variety of internal and external audiences and review and provide clear feedback on materials produced by others.

Contribute to processes to facilitate and enable strategic learning and adaptation –across the Earth Fund, among grantees, and across the broader ecosystem:

Lead or support design and use of resources, processes, and procedures necessary to enable the timely use of evidence, evaluation findings, and other learning to support idea and initiative design.

Facilitate and support staff to deepen their learning through their work, using emergent learning and other tools and approaches to capture, apply and share learning.

Manage or support management of evaluations and learning projects, providing design and administrative and other day-to-day support, including designing scopes of work; identifying and contracting consultants; project management for planning, timelines, budgets, and logistics; arranging interviews and meetings; keeping inputs from a variety of stakeholders on track; etc.

Design, facilitate, and/or support in-person and virtual meetings, convenings, and workshops, using adult learning methods.

General:

Contribute to and carry out day-to-day MEL support functions.

Represent the Earth Fund as appropriate at meetings, conferences, and other events.

Seek learning about emerging MEL issues through literature, communities of practice, networking and other opportunities to learn and build knowledge about the sector.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and experience:

A master’s degree or equivalent experience in evaluation, social sciences, research methods, environmental sciences, and/or public policy and 3-5 years of relevant, professional experience focused on monitoring, evaluation, and learning is required. Prior experience working in climate and nature and in philanthropic or non-profit organizations is a plus.

Skills and Abilities

Experienced in design and use of theories of change, results frameworks, outcomes, and indicators and in supporting others to design and use them.

Experience designing and managing systems for collating, analyzing and aggregating quantitative and qualitative monitoring and other progress and results data—balancing level of effort for grantees and staff and diverse data sources.

Strong quantitative and qualitative data gathering and analysis skills, demonstrated capacity in data visualization, and a nuanced approach to reporting.

Experience working in climate change, conservation/nature, public policy, international development, and/or climate justice in philanthropic, non-profit, legislative or advocacy communities.

Excellent written and verbal communications skills. Ability to conceptualize and draft a variety of written products for multiple audiences.

Demonstrated experience supporting equity and justice work and working with local communities, along with work experience in the Global South.

Superb project management skills, including attention to detail, excellent organization, proven ability manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines, and proactive communication skills.

Experience managing the work of external consultants.

Proven diplomatic approach, with sound professional judgment, discretion in handling sensitive matters, flexibility, and strong problem-solving skills in a multi-stakeholder environment, along with the highest level of personal and professional integrity.

Collaborative working style, responsive, considerate, flexible, and personable—enthusiastic and natural team player with the ability to build trust and work with cross-functional, virtual, and diverse teams.

Demonstrated passion for the Earth Fund’s mission.

Strong facilitation and team building skills, with experience designing and facilitating meetings and convenings.

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and in both data analysis and visualization approaches and tools.

Self-starter with the ability to manage multiple assignments at a time and to work effectively and efficiently (both virtually and in-person) in a dynamic environment with minimal supervision.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

May require extended hours and/or weekend hours for urgent issues or to meet established deadlines.

This position is based in Washington, DC

May undertake domestic and/or international travel. (10%-15% time).

To Apply

This position offers a competitive salary and includes a benefits package. The Bezos Earth Fund is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination. The Earth Fund recognizes diversity as an asset essential to accomplishing its work. We actively welcome all qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, gender identity or expression, genetic information, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin, ethnicity, disability, military/veteran status, compensation history or any other basis prohibited by law. Qualified applicants are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter as soon as possible.