Data and Knowledge Management Systems Director

About TechnoServe:

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off.

Project summary:

The USAID Advancing Food Fortification Opportunities to Reinforce Diets (AFFORD) program is designed to provide operational support to field Missions and other Operating Units (OUs) of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), contributing to the goals of the U.S. government Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) through the implementation of programming aligned with USAID's Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) Results Framework. AFFORD seeks to safely and sustainably reduce micronutrient inadequacies and improve diets, particularly for women and children, through LSFF of staple foods and condiments.

Job summary:

The Data and Knowledge Management Systems Director will report into the Program Director and drive AFFORD's efforts to improve the generation, dissemination and timely utilization of relevant food fortification data that aims to facilitate actionable, real-time, evidence-based data for effective decision making by key ecosystem actors. This will involve collaboration with civil society, academia and learning institutes, government and industry, as well as development actors supporting fortification efforts and the wider AFFORD team. The aim will be to get more data more quickly to decision-makers in the public and private sectors through the generation of a knowledge hub and in collaboration with other data initiatives and technical working groups. The role will also support improved collection and use of data by the AFFORD program to improve its effectiveness, support knowledge management and strengthen its collaborative learning agenda. The Lead will work with key consortium partners and program staff as relates to nutrition research and data systems and apply the principles of Collaborative Learning and Adapting (CLA), ensuring that the voices of local actors are elevated in the design and monitoring of LSFF interventions.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

• Oversee a systematic review of existing data systems used to inform LSFF decision making, exploring the potential to build on and, where relevant, building new systems
• Explore collaborations and coordinate with relevant partners, including other initiatives to strengthen data systems
• Work with key market actors, like premix and equipment suppliers, to map critical control points for data collection and use a SWOT to steer further opportunities
• Identify and integrate cost effective data tools that help translate evidence into knowledge products for improved decision making
• Strengthen local/national institutions, academia, civil society and government agencies to improve their collection, dissemination and utilization of data to improve LSFF programming;
• Support the use of data by consumer and other advocacy groups to be more effective in holding industry accountable for compliance with fortification standards and hold government accountable for monitoring and enforcement;
• Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager and the Knowledge Management (KM) Manager to ensure effective internal data systems to capture progress, measure performance and support adaptation and learning
• Other related duties as assigned.

Basic qualifications

• A Master's degree or equivalent in nutrition/health/information systems/economics, or other relevant fields with eight years of relevant professional experience, preferably in international development (or a Bachelor's degree with over twelve years of experience)
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation methods and approaches, including monitoring and evaluation frameworks and methodologies used in development programs
• Highly skilled at interpretation of use of data in analysis, advocacy and communications;
• Familiarity with technologies to facilitate digital data analysis, sharing and visualization.
• Senior program and management experience
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively and collaboratively with a broad range of public and private sector counterparts and other key stakeholders.
• Proven track record designing qualitative and quantitative measurement tools
• Previous experience working with USAID or other donor funded programs
• Fluency in English, an understanding of French or Spanish advantageous

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced understanding of data systems in a nutrition context
• At least 10 years of experience in the design and management of relevant systems and implementation in Low-and-Middle Income Countries (LMICs);

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Expertise in data systems and data visualization
• Knowledge of the nutrition and/or food fortification landscape and related data needs
• Ability to build and sustain productive relationships with partners, clients, academics - both at the national and international level;
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, able to manage multiple work streams requiring collaboration and partnerships to complete;
• Communication and superior writing skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information into simple, clear language;
• Proficient with data management software (e.g. R, Stata, SAS, or other)

We are open to remote applicants for this position. However, if you are located within 50 miles from our Arlington, VA, Headquarters, you will be expected to work from HQ on the first and third Thursdays of each month. We will not offer sponsorship for this position. The selected candidate will need to be approved by the donor.

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe's vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at recruitment@tns.org or call +1 202 785 4515.

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