Senior MEL Manager

Title: Senior MEL Manager – Iraq
Reports to: Program and Operations Director, with technical guidance from NEF’s global MEL team
Duty station: Baghdad, Iraq
Travel: Travel to project locations as required
Duration: From the agreed start date until 30 June 2027

Position Description

The Senior MEL Manager will coordinate monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning for ProDiGi, ensuring that reliable information is available to monitor implementation, assess participant progress and verify project outcomes.

Working closely with programme colleagues, field service providers, trainers and employment pathways experts, the Senior MEL Manager will establish practical monitoring systems across Baghdad, Basra and Anbar. The role will also support monitoring of activities involving university Career Development Centres in the Kurdistan Region. The position will translate project data and participant feedback into findings that support timely decisions, improvements in delivery and accurate donor reporting.

Key Responsibilities

MEL Planning and Systems

• Develop and maintain the project MEL plan, indicator tracking framework and reporting calendar in line with the approved proposal and donor requirements.
• Define indicator measurement methods, data sources, collection frequency and verification requirements.
• Develop standard tools for participant registration, profiling, attendance, training assessments, coaching, referrals and employment follow-up.
• Establish and maintain a secure participant database, with appropriate disaggregation and checks to prevent duplicate records.
• Coordinate the collection of baseline information and document the starting values of relevant indicators.

Monitoring and Data Quality

• Guide staff and service providers on approved data collection tools, consent procedures and documentation requirements.
• Monitor implementation progress against agreed targets and flag gaps or delays to the project lead.
• Conduct regular checks for completeness, consistency and accuracy, following up on missing or unsupported information.
• Undertake monitoring visits and spot checks to assess delivery and validate reported results.
• Maintain organised evidence files supporting indicator reporting and donor verification.

Assessments and Outcome Verification

• Coordinate pre- and post-training assessments to measure changes in participant knowledge and skills.
• Track participant access to coaching, mentoring, employment referrals and job-matching services.
• Coordinate follow-up to assess changes in employment status, working conditions, income stability, retention and career progression, according to the approved indicators.
• Review supporting evidence and verify reported outcomes in collaboration with programme colleagues and service providers.
• Support monitoring of Career Development Centre training, including participation, completion and changes in facilitation capacity.
• Prepare technical inputs for external assessments and review their tools, data and deliverables.

Accountability and Learning

• Establish accessible participant feedback arrangements and communicate how feedback can be submitted.
• Maintain a feedback tracker and coordinate timely responses, referring sensitive complaints through NEF’s established procedures.
• Facilitate periodic reflection sessions with programme colleagues and service providers.
• Analyse implementation challenges and participant feedback, recommending practical adjustments.
• Document lessons and examples of change, obtaining consent where participant experiences are shared.

Analysis and Reporting

• Prepare regular progress summaries showing achievements, gaps and actions required.
• Provide verified quantitative and qualitative information for internal and donor reports.
• Explain variances against targets and identify limitations in available evidence.
• Contribute to the final report and ensure monitoring records are complete and ready for handover.

Qualifications and Experience

• University degree in statistics, social sciences, economics, development studies or a related discipline.
• At least three years of relevant experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning for development programmes.
• Experience monitoring livelihoods, employability, skills development or private-sector engagement programmes is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to develop monitoring tools, manage databases and analyse quantitative and qualitative information.
• Proficiency in Excel and digital data collection platforms such as KoboToolbox.
• Experience conducting data quality checks and verifying reported outcomes.
• Strong analytical, organisational and report-writing skills.
• Fluency in Arabic and professional working proficiency in English.

Professional Standards

The MEL Manager will uphold NEF’s safeguarding, confidentiality and data protection requirements, ensuring informed consent, secure handling of participant information and appropriate referral of sensitive concerns.

NEF will accept rolling applications until the position is filled. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. 

To apply:

Please apply by submitting the following documents:

1. Cover letter outlining all relevant experience, how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Curriculum Vitae.
3. List of three references (including one from current, or most recent, employer). You will be given further notice prior to us contacting references.

NEF welcomes and encourages applications from all genders, backgrounds, religions, cultures, nationalities and abilities. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Near East Foundation by visiting the NEF website at www.neareast.org.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Pre-employment Checks

Any Employment with the Near East Foundation will be subject to the following checks before start date:

• A satisfactory Restricted Party Screening.
• Receipt of satisfactory references.
• Workplace Verification Check.

NEF's strength is its people. Our team is our fuel to achieving the innovation, quality programming, community focus, mutual trust, sustainability, and learning needed to realize our mission. To help our team thrive, we support a working structure that prioritizes flexibility, personal commitments, and staff well-being while promoting a work culture of teamwork, collaboration, respect, integrity, and excellence. 

As an international organization, we value a truly diverse workforce and prioritize a culture of inclusivity and belonging. We strive to create a high-achieving work environment informed by different cultures, perspectives, and experiences. With a commitment to diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion in all we do, our aim is to ensure that people feel heard, protected, and empowered to contribute to NEF's mission from day one.

Commitment to Safeguarding

As a global organization serving some of the world’s most vulnerable communities, the Near East Foundation takes the safeguarding of its program participants, staff, volunteers, and partners seriously. To that end, the Near East Foundation is a member of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, and will systematically check with previous employers about any sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment issues relating to potential new hires. We may also employ other robust pre-hire screens, including in-depth reference checks, criminal background checks, and sanctions screens.
procedures. The Near East Foundation expects all program participants, staff, volunteers, and partners to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.
By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment.