Global MEL Senior Associate

One Acre Fund Global MEL Senior Associate Jobs in Ethiopia; Country MEL Leads manage day-to-day MEL operations in their programs. The Global MEL Senior Associate complements this by bringing technical depth and cross-country perspective — reviewing and strengthening analytical approaches, advising on evaluation methodology, building tools and frameworks, and surfacing learnings across the portfolio. Over time, this role will build MEL capacity in supported countries and contribute to global MEL initiatives such as trainings, shared tools, and methodology work. Depending on profile, the portfolio may also include analytical support for One Acre Fund’s Agroforestry program. The role reports to a Senior Manager on the Global MEL Team. Responsibilities Country Portfolio Support: - Serve as primary technical resource for country MEL Leads, providing structured guidance and feedback - Review and strengthen survey instruments and data collection approaches (CommCare or equivalent) - Assess and improve data quality backcheck processes, automating checks where possible - Review and advise on country-level data analysis (Stata required; R a plus) - Quality-control MEL deliverables (reports, dashboards, presentations) - Help MEL Leads translate findings into decision-relevant insights - Identify and share learnings across portfolio, flagging common challenges Evaluation Design & Methodology: - Advise on evaluation design and methodology, including quasi-experimental approaches and RCTs - Identify methodological gaps or risks early and escalate appropriately - Contribute to global MEL standards, frameworks, and shared analytical tools Global MEL Initiatives: - Contribute to MEL trainings and capacity-building programs - Support development of shared tools, templates, and guidance documents - Contribute to cross-program methodology projects and special initiatives - Provide analytical support to Agroforestry portfolio (depending on profile) - Peer review cross-country workstreams, ensuring quality control Career Growth & Development: - Weekly check-ins, mentorship, training programs, and regular feedback - Career reviews every six months, with opportunities to shape a growing organisation and build a long-term career

Analytical Excellence: - Advanced quantitative skills; proficiency in Stata required, R a plus - Experience with impact evaluation methods (PSM, DiD, RCTs) - Strong attention to detail and analytical rigor Survey & Data Systems: - Experience designing and programming surveys for mobile data collection (CommCare preferred) - Ability to design and improve data quality assurance processes Experience & Education: - Minimum 3 years’ professional experience in MEL or applied research, preferably in international development - Master’s degree in economics, applied statistics, agricultural economics, or related field - Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa and smallholder agricultural programs strongly preferred Domain Knowledge: - Background in agriculture required; familiarity with MEL frameworks and indicators a plus - Experience with agroforestry or tree planting programs strongly preferred Communication & Collaboration: - Professional fluency in English required; French an asset (especially for DRC support) - Strong written and verbal communication skills for non-technical audiences - Collaborative style with service orientation; comfortable providing feedback and coaching