Head of Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Impact Assessment (MELIA)

About the role

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a Head of Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Impact Assessment (MELIA) to provide scientific and technical leadership for generating, analysing and using evidence on the relevance, effectiveness, adoption, outcomes and impact of CIP's research and innovation portfolio. The role strengthens MELIA by integrating economics, social science, statistics and data science, monitoring and evaluation, impact assessment and organizational learning, and supports CIP2030. It is a global position based in CIP's Africa Region (Nairobi, Kenya or another African country office), reporting to the Director General.

Key responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for CIP's MELIA approaches, aligned with CIP2030, research priorities and CGIAR frameworks, and develop methodologies, standards, tools and guidance for assessing research outputs, outcomes and impact.
• Strengthen MELIA integration into research programs, projects and investment proposals, and lead results and indicator frameworks for major programs.
• Advise research teams and management on outcome and impact measurement, including economic, social, nutritional, gender, inclusion and environmental dimensions.
• Lead the design and implementation of CIP's Monitoring and Evaluation framework, and design ex-ante and ex-post impact assessments and evaluative studies using quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods.
• Contribute to proposal development and embed MELIA across research programs, regions and corporate functions.
• Establish mechanisms to synthesize MELIA findings, turn evidence into recommendations, and support organizational learning, portfolio reviews and the Organizational Growth agenda.
• Build MELIA partnerships with CGIAR entities, national research systems, universities, governments and development partners, represent CIP in technical networks, and build partner capacity.

Required profile

• Ph.D. in Economics, Statistics, Data Science or a related discipline; specialization in MELIA methodologies is desirable.
• At least 8 years of experience in similar positions, with significant experience in agricultural research, international development, agricultural economics, impact assessment and/or monitoring, evaluation and learning.
• Demonstrated experience designing impact assessments, evaluations, adoption studies and socioeconomic research, and developing theories of change, results frameworks and indicators.
• Experience in multidisciplinary, multicultural research settings and with international and national partners; CGIAR or comparable research-for-development experience is highly desirable.
• Strong quantitative analytical skills, statistical and econometric methods, and a record of scientific publication and communication to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Advanced written and oral English; fluency in the official language of the assignment country is desirable.

What we offer

• A competitive compensation package commensurate with experience.
• A 3-year term contract with the possibility of renewal.
• A career opportunity in an international organization in an equal and diverse workplace.