Lead, MEAL

Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Lead, MEAL to join our global team.

Team And Job Purpose

To enhance the culture of quality and impact across Country Offices by ensuring that the right technical expertise is available at the right place and time. Our purpose is to drive an evidence and accountability agenda and embedding learning throughout our programming and operations. We aim to support the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) function through capacity strengthening, PRIME, and global indicator roll-out, while leading programme incident management, risk escalation, and reporting to uphold our commitment to excellence and accountability.

Role purpose

To lead the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) initiatives ensuring continuous improvement in programme implementation, ultimately enhancing our impact on children's lives while nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment that empowers all team members.

Job Title: Lead, MEAL

Reports To: Head, MEAL

Work Pattern: Hybrid/Remote with flexible working options available

Contract Length: Permanent

Grade: M3

Location: Any approved Save the Children International office location. For a full list of locations that Save the Children International can hire in, please visit: SCI Careers

Time Zone (that the role holder must be available to work in): Any (multiple time zones and locations required across team)

Right to Work: The successful candidate must possess the unrestricted right to work in their current or preferred location for the duration of employment.

Language Requirements: English (additional language of French, Spanish or Arabic preferred)

International Travel Requirements: Yes, up to 40%

People Management Responsibility: Number of people managed in total: 4

Manager of a team: Yes

Team Manager (manager of multiple teams): No

Principal Accountabilities

* Provide support and guidance to a team of five, regional MEAL Advisors on capacity-strengthening, MEAL system and procedures in all contexts and accountability to children and communities.
* Contribute to capacity-strengthening initiatives and workforce planning to ensure MEAL staff and partners can effectively generate, analyse, and use quality monitoring and accountability data, incorporating relevant digital solutions (PRIME).
* Lead on technical guidance and facilitating cost-recovery where feasible.
* Assist in implementing Save the Children’s MEAL approach to country offices.
* Facilitate technical support to regional MEAL staff to improve the collection and use of feedback from children and communities as part of broader accountability efforts.
* Support the regional MEAL team in planning, conducting, and analysing multi-sectoral needs assessments in coordination with external sector agencies, ensuring a strong focus on children’s needs.
* Ensure evaluations and learning documents are systematically stored, with key findings effectively communicated to response management for informed decision-making and integrated into programme design and future responses.
* Work closely with the wider teams to promote a culture of impact and learning, supporting the use of quality data in research, evaluations, and insights.
* Contribute to diversity and inclusion efforts within the I&I team, ensuring a collaborative and inclusive working environment.

Essential

Experience and Skills

* Strong understanding of MEAL principles, with experience in applying and supporting the maintenance of quality standards for project, programme, and strategy data.
* Ability to support and guide regional MEAL Advisors, promoting an inclusive work environment and collaborating across regions and organisational levels.
* Proficiency in digital data collection and analysis tools, along with experience in supporting the integration of data/information systems and relevant technologies.
* Ability to work effectively in diverse cultural settings, respecting different perspectives and adapting to various cultural environments.
* Experience in managing and guiding technical teams, particularly in initiatives focused on data collection, processing, and analysis.
* Strong organisational skills for assisting with project planning, execution, and oversight, ensuring effective resource management and timely completion of tasks.
* Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively convey technical information to diverse, non-technical stakeholders.
* Experience in supporting the development and delivery of training and capacity-building initiatives, helping MEAL staff and partners build the necessary skills for quality data and evidence generation.
* Ability to contribute to strategic discussions and support innovative approaches that enhance data and evidence quality across country teams and regional offices.

Essential

Education and Qualifications

* A post-graduate degree in degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, International Development, Statistics, Public Health or a related field is essential. Consideration for a combination of relevant academic qualifications and substantial work experience is also possible.

Desirable

* Professional training or certification of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Results-Based Management, or Project Management or related areas would be beneficial.

Working at Save the Children International

Save the Children is the world's leading organisation for children, employing ~25,000 staff. We save children's lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Through our work in 116 countries, we put the most deprived and marginalised children first.

We know that great people make a great organisation, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

The work here is challenging but is also immensely rewarding. At Save the Children, you will be in good company, working with talented, like-minded individuals who are determined to ensure that all children survive, learn, and are protected. Your contribution will help ensure children's voices are heard at the highest levels, and that we achieve our global strategy, Ambition for Children 2030, and reach every last child.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

DEI is core to our vision, values and global strategy. Save the Children is committed to creating a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation, and one which will support us in our vision to ensure every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation.

We are committed to equal employment opportunities, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, disability, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, caring or parental responsibilities, age, or beliefs and religion. We are committed to diversifying our staff to better represent the communities we serve and actively welcome underrepresented groups to apply.

Reasonable adjustments will be made should any candidate invited to interview require this.

Application Information

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application. A full copy of the role profile can be found here via the job listing. It is recommended that you save a copy of the role profile as it will no longer be available after the advert closes.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the job advert may be closed earlier than advertised subject to the volume of suitable applicants. Please submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Candidates who are successfully shortlisted should expect to hear from us within 2 weeks of the advert deadline.

Our Recruitment Process:

* Application review by our recruiting team based on your CV and cover letter
* Two-stage competency-based interviews with the hiring team
* Some recruitment may include an additional assessment or case study stage, or a third stage interview
* If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment, followed by your contract subject to passing background checks

We need to keep children and adults safe so our selection process includes rigorous background checks and reflects our commitment to the protection of children and adults from abuse. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our Code of Conduct and all policies and procedures relating to Anti-harassment, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, and DEI and Equal Opportunities.

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

* Job Identification 14117
* Job Category Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
* Posting Date 09/10/2025, 10:55 AM
* Apply Before 09/24/2025, 11:58 PM
* Job Schedule Full time
* Locations CENTRE - London Worldwide