Job Details

Director, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL)

Locations: Atlanta, GA; Montgomery, AL

Overview

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is seeking a Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning who is committed to developing community-driven solutions. The Director will lead an evaluator with a culturally responsive and equitable evaluation (CREE) approach and will help develop and implement a MEAL strategy that drives impact on organizational priorities. The Director of MEAL will partner with staff to enhance planning, monitoring and evaluation, build organizational capacity, and foster a culture that uses data, learning and innovation to achieve meaningful outcomes. The role also ensures accountability to partner communities is embedded in program design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation.

Who You Are

• Experienced. Proven experience in program evaluation and research related to advocacy, policy, activism, human rights, litigation, or related fields. Experience providing MEAL support across all stages of the project life cycle and designing and delivering MEAL training to teams. Demonstrated people management experience.
• Community Driven. Experience working closely with communities and the ability to build exceptional collaborative relationships across a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders to uplift SPLC's work in the five states where we have offices.
• Diplomatic. Ability to listen to community members and SPLC staff while maintaining honest, transparent, and diplomatic communications.
• Analytical. Highly proficient in MEAL concepts and tools to enhance program effectiveness, with up-to-date knowledge of best practices in learning, evaluation, and impact assessment. Culturally competent in engaging diverse stakeholders.
• Solutions Oriented. Experienced in designing community-based solutions across departments and stakeholders to uplift the voices of the communities SPLC serves.
• Detail & Data Driven. Skilled in developing qualitative solutions for programs and issues that cannot be measured quantitatively. Highly organized with strong attention to detail, consistency, and accuracy.
• Credible & Trusted. Able to build credibility and trust within the organization through active listening and a solutions-oriented approach. Skilled at aligning staff work with organizational goals.
• Mission, Vision & Culture Alignment. Demonstrated awareness of SPLC's mission and vision; commitment to justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and fostering an anti-racist work culture and learning.

What You'll Do

• Assess the Center's capacity and needs in MEAL and collaborate with the Chief Strategy Officer and other stakeholders to develop a MEAL strategy and framework that advances SPLC's impact.
• Build staff commitment and capacity to design plans aligned with SPLC's strategic objectives and informed by evidence of actions with greatest potential for positive change.
• Lead the design and implementation of systems that assess project impact.
• Partner with key stakeholders to design annual planning and reporting processes.
• Support cross-departmental planning and cultivate collaborative relationships with the Leadership Team and Executive Team.
• Support organization-wide learning by sharing data-driven insights and translating them into new practices with subject-matter experts.
• Design and conduct internal evaluations of SPLC projects, and oversee evaluations conducted by external researchers, partners, or consultants.
• Monitor MEAL advancements in the NGO sector to keep SPLC's performance systems aligned with proven best practices.
• Manage a team, monitor performance and development goals, assign duties, conduct reviews, and provide mentoring and coaching.
• Manage other projects and duties as assigned within the scope of the role.
• Perform other duties as required.
• Uphold our JEDI principles by seeking diverse collaborators and partners and directing their contributions toward SPLC's mission, values and goals.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 10 years of experience in leading monitoring and evaluation systems for advocacy-oriented organizations.
• A minimum of five (5) years of managerial experience coaching and mentoring staff, managing performance, and fostering professional development.
• Master's Degree or higher in a relevant field or equivalent work experience related to learning, monitoring and evaluation.

This is an exempt role; salary is starting at $148,500 annually and will be commensurate with experience.

Where & How You'll Work

• Local Remote: Remote work with expected attendance at SPLC offices or in states of operation (Montgomery, AL or Atlanta, GA).
• Telework: SPLC office presence at least three days per week; up to two days from an alternative location.
• Reports to the Chief Strategy Officer.

Other Considerations

This job is performed under general office conditions and is not subject to strenuous physical demands or dangerous conditions.

Disclaimer

The statements herein describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for this position.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The SPLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity and inclusion. We consider applicants without regard to age, caregiver status, race, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, national origin, genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy, veteran status, or other protected characteristics.