MEL Officer

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) is seeking an ambitious MEL Officer who is passionate about protecting the marine environment and the livelihoods of coastal communities. The MEL Officer will work closely with the Liberia Chief Representative, the West Africa Regional Manager, and programme and international teams to develop and implement robust frameworks that record programme performance and deliver effective, accurate, and timely monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting for EJF's ocean programmes to secure sustainability and social equity in Liberia's fisheries sector. It is an exciting opportunity for a results‑oriented professional eager to apply analytical skills and creativity in a dynamic, mission‑driven organisation that values evidence‑based learning and innovation. Responsibilities Lead the development, refinement, and implementation of MEL frameworks, indicators, and data collection tools for all Liberia projects. Ensure MEL systems align with organisational goals, donor requirements, and international fisheries and livelihoods indicators. Oversee the development and implementation of a Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) to capture project results, including routine data collection, baseline and endline assessments, and all process and outcome evaluations—flagging up areas requiring the attention of the team. Ensure the project's results framework is linked to a plan and a system that supplies managers and other stakeholders with reliable information about the progress of all projects. Support the integration of MEL processes across programme planning, implementation, and reporting cycles. Data collection, analysis and reporting Identify, analyse, and report on internal or external factors that might impede implementation or negatively affect the achievement of project results. Lead the monitoring and evaluation of project interventions, collect, clean and analyse data, document results, and provide clear and actionable feedback to the senior management team to guide decision‑making. Work with the Liberia team and consultants to conduct mid‑term and end‑of‑project evaluations. Assist in preparing quarterly/half‑yearly and annual project reports and internal performance review. Conduct targeted evaluations and snap operations for rapid appraisals of the project. Maintain databases and dashboards for tracking progress across fisheries and community projects. Work with project and financial staff to prepare and track progress of project and activity budgets. Perform other relevant duties as assigned. Collaboration, learning and adaptive management Facilitate reflection and learning sessions with Liberia and international teams and partners to assess progress and identify lessons. Work with the communication team to document case studies, success stories, and learning briefs that communicate project impact. Work collaboratively with Liberia and international teams to align evidence and learning with advocacy goals. Promote adaptive management by supporting programme teams to adjust strategies based on MEL findings. Capacity building and technical support Provide training and technical assistance to the Liberia team, partners, and community groups on MEL tools and approaches. Build local capacity for participatory monitoring and community‑led learning initiatives. Qualifications Bachelor's or master's degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Development Studies, Project management or a related field of studies with a minimum of three to five years of work experience in MEL roles, ideally within natural resource management, fisheries, or community development projects. Familiar with using logical planning models in the design and improvement of monitoring and evaluation frameworks. Experienced in defining key performance indicators, establishing baselines, and setting targets for development projects. Proven expertise in quantitative and qualitative methodologies, operations research, management information systems, data quality assessments, data analysis, presentation and setting up and managing MEL system. Demonstrated strong management, coordination, teamwork and planning skills with proven ability to function effectively with multiple partners in both the NGO and the public sectors. Excellent diplomacy skills and a proven ability to establish and maintain interpersonal and professional relationships. Excellent skills in facilitation, team building, and coordination. Experience in designing tools and strategies for data collection, analysis and production of reports. Broad experience in the design and implementation of capacity‑building activities in MEL. Creative, innovative and problem‑solving capabilities. Commitment to protecting the marine environment and the communities that depend on it. Contract One year full‑time with the possibility of a renewal. Salary and benefits Salary range: Competitive, up to US$28,000 (gross) per annum, dependent upon experience. Health insurance package. Annual leave of 17 days plus all 11 Liberian national public holidays, increasing by 2 days each year of service, plus one personal day per year. A dynamic and supportive working environment that encourages innovation and career development. Opportunity to contribute to impactful projects that protect marine ecosystems and support communities. #J-18808-Ljbffr