The Global Research and Evidence (R&E) Practice team at Oxford Policy Management is currently seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Consultant on a permanent basis. The position will be located in Islamabad, Pakistan.

We are an international development consultancy working to improve lives through sustainable policy change in low- and middle-income countries. Our vision is for fair public policy that benefits both people and the planet.

Through our global network of offices, we work in partnership with national stakeholders and decision-makers to research, design, implement, and evaluate impactful public policy. We draw on our local and international sector experts to provide the very best evidence-based support. We deliver projects with expert knowledge and experience, and can be relied upon for excellence in all aspects of project delivery. We work collaboratively, with ambition, to help deliver impactful public policy that will bring about lasting change.

The Global Research and Evidence (R&E) Practice objectives are to strengthen the production and use of information and evidence to improve policies, programmes, and service delivery. Through collaboration with Sector Practices such as Health, Education, Climate & Resilience, and Governance, the team delivers high-quality monitoring, evaluation, and research projects that contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable development at scale.

The position of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Consultant, R&E Practice is responsible for supporting the delivery of impactful evaluation, monitoring, and research projects in Pakistan. This includes contributing to technical project delivery, leading business development initiatives, and fostering client and stakeholder relationships. The role connects with OPM’s global network and technical expertise to ensure high-quality outputs and promote sustainable policy change.

As a MERL Consultant at OPM, you will:

Project Delivery:

• Provide technical inputs for projects at all stages, including inception, design, data collection, analysis, reporting, and dissemination.
• Ensure timely delivery of outputs aligned with OPM's MERL quality and report-writing standards.
• Manage consulting projects, ensuring delivery to time, budget, and quality.

Business Development:

• Lead and contribute to bids for new MERL opportunities.
• Build and maintain networks of national consultants, key experts, and partner organizations.
• Foster client relationships, including with donor agencies and the government of Pakistan, to expand MERL opportunities.
• Research and develop insights into the Pakistan MERL market.

Training and Technical Leadership:

• Actively participate in OPM’s Global Technical Communities of Practice (TCoPs) focused on MERL competencies.
• Stay updated on methodological developments, particularly in quantitative data analysis, and pursue relevant training.
• Collaborate with colleagues across R&E Practice, Sector Practices, and other country offices.

Professional Qualifications/Equivalent Experience:

• Degree and post-graduate qualification in a relevant discipline such as M&E, development economics, or other appropriate fields.
• Advanced technical knowledge and graduate-level training in monitoring and evaluation (M&E).

Technical Expertise:

• At least three years of experience in delivering monitoring, evaluation, or research projects, with some experience managing or leading aspects of these projects.
• Familiarity with quantitative data analysis, designs, and sampling methodologies.
• Proficiency in statistical software such as Stata, R, or Python.

Soft Skills/Autonomy and Management:

• Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver training on monitoring, evaluation, or research.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in diverse, multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience of project management, including managing project teams and delivering to time and budget.

Desired Qualifications/Experience:

• Experience working in lower- and middle-income countries.
• Fluency in at least one relevant language other than English.
• Willingness and ability to travel overseas for short-term assignments.

• We enable colleagues’ capacity to grow professionally through enhanced learning resources, opportunities to work cross functionally, and space to engage with a range of internal and external industry events.
• Our non-hierarchical culture values support, collaboration, intellectual curiosity, and a rich diversity of perspectives.
• We provide an exceptionally generous annual leave entitlement and a hybrid working model to encourage and enable healthy work/life balance.
• Wellbeing resources including a global Employee Assistance Programme and access to the UnMind app.
• Competitive salary and contributory pension scheme.

We are strengthened by the diversity of colleagues across our global business and are committed to being an equal opportunities employer, promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace for all. 

Our recruitment practices reflect our ambition to make the international development sector more inclusive and firm belief that our work delivers the best outcomes when we actively include a diversity of perspectives and experiences. 

If you share our vision for fair public policy that benefits both people and planet, we would love to hear from you. 

Please submit your application through our careers’ site. We review and interview applicants on a rolling basis and encourage you to apply by way of CV via our careers site at the earliest. 

We may close this advertisement before the published closing date, should a suitable candidate be identified.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role and candidates must have a pre-existing right to work in country for their application to be considered.

Oxford Policy Management is committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of the business. 

Should you require adjustments to make the application process more accessible please contact us via: recruitment@opml.co.uk

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