Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) Manager

Following the return of our co-founder Becca Dean MBE as CEO, we're excited to be recruiting for several new roles as we move into the next chapter of our journey. Having recently celebrated our 12th birthday, we're more determined than ever to reach even more girls and young women, and we’re building a brilliant team to help us do just that. If you're passionate about empowering the next generation, we’d love to hear from you.

THE ROLE

The Girls’ Network aspires to reach more girls and increase the impact we have, so the importance of a strategic, effective and evidence-based monitoring and evaluation system is paramount. The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) Manager will ensure thoughtful, intelligent and consistent collection, collation and analysis of data which has the potential to publicly represent our girls’ needs and their aspirations.

Key roles and responsibilities

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

• Develop and employ monitoring systems to support high-quality programme implementation.
• Maintain and employ existing data-collection and evaluation systems to evaluate past and ongoing programmes.
• Calculate impact indicators and support data-driven organisational decision- making.
• Management of our CRM systems to support the Fundraising Team with monitoring of their application pipelines.
• Further the organisation’s current potential to meaningfully contribute to public discourse on the experience of teenage girls in the UK, on social mobility, and on the future of women’s leadership using available and newly created resources, data and insights.
• Develop the above evaluation and research into recommendations; working with the team and independently to inform and plan the creation and implementation of a monitoring system for our impact process, based on evaluation findings, industry research, and overall strategy and objectives.
• Work with the Communications Manager to develop / create the visual design and communication strategy for M&E systems so as to engage stakeholders and to empower our team and our girls.
• Internally and externally champion the use of our impact data to influence broader discourse and policy on the experience of teenage girls in the UK, social mobility, and the future of women’s leadership.
• Identify and understand different stakeholders' needs for monitoring and impact data.
• Manage external consultants and other stakeholders to support evaluations of particular projects as required.
• Understand M&E technology solutions, with a specific focus on gender equity and gender justice.

Learning and Research

• Working with Fundraising colleagues, regularly update the charity's Case for Support, reviewing the latest evidence and data on social mobility, the experience of teenage girls in the UK, and the future of women’s leadership, among wider gender issues.
• Design and deliver engaging whole-team training to enable new monitoring and impact collection processes to be carried out effectively at all levels.
• Working with the People and Culture Manager, promote and model a culture of learning and continuous development within the organisation, by employing and complementing existing systems.

Reporting

• Prepare and present status reports for grant-giving bodies (such as The Millby Foundation) according to the requirements of the grant.
• Prepare and present regular status reports for the CEO, and the board of trustees, as required.
• Contribute up-to-date data and insights to the annual report as well as to other grant and donor reporting.
• Work collaboratively with the Fundraising Team to identify upcoming reporting deadlines to funders.
• Creating clear overviews of the impact data collected in evaluation surveys, for the Fundraising and Programme teams to disseminate to funders and partner schools.
• Support the senior leadership, finance, and fundraising team, by calculating and reporting on social return on investment.

Database/CRM (Salesforce) management

• Manage user access and permissions in order to maintain data security and safeguard sensitive information.
• Create and maintain documentation to support both technical and non- technical data processes.
• Regularly evaluate and update Salesforce objects, automations, and other features as needed in response to business need, staying up-to-date on Salesforce functionality and recommending improvements to SLT.
• Staff support via developing and reviewing Salesforce training, establishing relationships, and managing Salesforce queries ad-hoc and in regular clinics.
• Maintain and develop Salesforce reports and dashboards to monitor data quality.

Other duties

As a small charity with limited resources, all staff are expected to be flexible with their work and as such you may be required to undertake other duties and tasks as assigned from time to time.

Essential skills, knowledge and attributes

• Strong analytical and research skills, with the ability to effectively employ, interpret and summarise qualitative and quantitative data from multiple sources.
• Highly organised with excellent database management skills.
• Proficiency in MS Word, MS Excel, Powerpoint and Gsuite docs.
• Adaptable and flexible working style as well as experience of developing work plans that help you manage multiple and changing priorities, on time and within budget.
• Proactive in identifying and solving problems, curious and with great attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written).
• Passion for The Girls’ Network’s mission and an interest in issues related to mentoring and equality.
• Experience managing and using Salesforce or similar CRMs.

Desirable skills, knowledge and attributes

• Knowledge of data visualization software.
• Salesforce administrator certification or other relevant qualifications.
• Knowledge of Zapier or similar web-based automation tools.
• An understanding of Monitoring and Evaluation technology solutions.
• An interest in social equity and justice.
• Understanding of or experience of working from home.
• Experience of working in a small charity.

For more information, please download the candidate pack and apply via our website.