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Ascension is seeking a highly experienced Lead Evaluator / MEL Technical Director to serve as the senior technical authority responsible for designing, managing, and assuring the quality of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activities supporting U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB)-funded technical assistance programs.

The ideal candidate is an experienced evaluation professional with deep expertise in international development evaluation, adaptive evaluation approaches, mixed-method research methodologies, performance measurement, stakeholder engagement, and evidence-based learning.

This individual will serve as the technical leader for evaluation teams conducting performance evaluations, rapid assessments, thematic studies, data quality assessments, learning activities, and synthesis efforts across global programs. The Lead Evaluator will ensure evaluation approaches are methodologically sound, practical, utilization-focused, and aligned with ILAB’s mission of improving program effectiveness and outcomes.

The successful candidate will be comfortable operating in complex international environments, leading multidisciplinary evaluation teams, engaging senior stakeholders, translating complex findings into actionable recommendations, and mentoring evaluation specialists.

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Summary of Contractor Role

The Lead Evaluator / MEL Technical Director provides overall technical leadership for Ascension’s MEL support services. This position leads the planning, execution, analysis, and utilization phases of evaluation assignments supporting ILAB technical assistance projects.

The Lead Evaluator develops evaluation strategies, methodologies, Terms of Reference (TORs), analytical frameworks, and quality assurance processes. The role oversees evaluation specialists assigned from Ascension’s bench of technical experts, ensuring each assignment includes appropriate methodological expertise, sector knowledge, geographic understanding, and language capability.

The Lead Evaluator supports:

• Performance evaluations of ILAB-funded technical assistance projects
• Rapid and ad-hoc evaluation studies
• Qualitative and quantitative research activities
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Data quality assessments
• Learning workshops and sense-making sessions
• Evaluation report development
• Data visualization and findings dissemination

The position requires a professional who can balance rigorous evaluation methodology with practical program improvement needs. The Lead Evaluator must be capable of translating evaluation findings into clear recommendations that support decision-making, adaptive management, and organizational learning.

The candidate should demonstrate strong judgment, attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and the ability to independently manage complex evaluation activities while collaborating with government stakeholders, grantees, technical experts, and international partners.

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Key Responsibilities / Expected Activities

The Lead Evaluator / MEL Technical Director will:

Evaluation Leadership & Methodology

• Lead the design and implementation of monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities supporting ILAB programs.
• Develop evaluation methodologies, analytical frameworks, and evaluation approaches aligned with assignment objectives.
• Develop Terms of Reference (TORs) using approved government templates.
• Define evaluation questions, indicators, data collection approaches, analytical methods, and reporting strategies.
• Apply mixed-method evaluation approaches combining quantitative and qualitative techniques.
• Recommend appropriate methodologies based on project scope, timeline, and available data.

Technical Oversight & Quality Assurance

• Provide technical oversight for evaluation specialists supporting individual task assignments.
• Review evaluation plans, data collection instruments, analytical approaches, and draft deliverables.
• Ensure evaluation products meet quality standards for accuracy, credibility, and usability.
• Perform technical quality reviews of reports, findings, recommendations, and analytical products.
• Validate AI-assisted analysis, summaries, and content before incorporation into client deliverables.

Evaluation Execution & Data Analysis

• Lead evaluation teams conducting virtual and in-person fieldwork.
• Conduct stakeholder interviews, focus groups, observations, and document reviews.
• Analyze quantitative performance indicators and qualitative findings.
• Interpret monitoring data to identify trends, outcomes, challenges, and opportunities.
• Support data quality assessments evaluating validity, reliability, timeliness, precision, and integrity.

Learning Facilitation & Knowledge Sharing

• Design and facilitate learning sessions, workshops, and sense-making activities.
• Translate evaluation findings into actionable insights for stakeholders.
• Develop executive summaries, presentations, dashboards, and communication products.
• Mentor junior evaluators and support knowledge transfer across evaluation teams.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with ILAB Task Managers, CORs, grantees, and technical stakeholders.
• Facilitate evaluation launch meetings and stakeholder discussions.
• Adapt evaluation approaches based on stakeholder feedback and emerging requirements.
• Communicate complex evaluation findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Reporting & Deliverables

• Prepare and finalize evaluation reports and technical products.
• Ensure deliverables meet Section 508 accessibility requirements.
• Support preparation of English and translated deliverables when required.
• Ensure reports are evidence-based, concise, and aligned with client expectations.