Senior Collaboration, Learning and Adapting (CLA) Specialist

Position Description

The Senior CLA Specialist will lead the MEPL CLA Unit, including technical and supervisory responsibilities. The position will provide senior technical leadership on adaptive management and adult learning activities to facilitate a culture of collaborative and adaptive management.

This full-time position is based at the MEPL office in Beirut, Lebanon, and will report to the Deputy Chief of Party. The Senior CLA Specialist will supervise three technical staff: a Gender, Youth and Inclusion Learning Office, the DOC specialist and a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Associate.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Essential functions include:

• Employs strong USAID CLA practices, based on USAID documents and other relevant technical sources, tailored to Program Cycle stages in all MEPL work and facilitates the use of CLA in USAID/Lebanon internal business processes and with implementing partners.
• Works closely with the USAID/Lebanon team to support MEL capacity development at the Mission and with implementing partners. and the MEPL monitoring and evaluation team to support effective MEL delivery by MEPL.
• Facilitates collaborative program relationships and dialogue between USAID/Lebanon stakeholders, to include implementing partners and local stakeholders.
• Ensures monitoring and evaluation information is effectively shared through engaging communication products and participatory learning events.
• Leads implementation of the USAID/Lebanon program learning agenda, with activities and best practices that promote learning to meet USAID/Lebanon's development goals.
• In collaboration with USAID/Lebanon, leads continued implementation of a CLA Plan to guide and coordinate CLA activities with USAID/Lebanon.
• Designs and leads training and facilitation events with USAID technical staff, implementing partners and other USAID statkeholders.
• Ensures effective management of all CLA activities by setting clear objectives, coordinating resources, providing oversight/mentorship, and facilitating feedback on quality of delivery.
• Supervises the three additional staff members who comprise the CLA Team, including making sure that these staff have effective technical support for their diverse but related functions.

  Position Requirements

  Qualifications

  Academic Qualifications

• • A Master's degree in organizational development, education, development studies, or a related field highly preferred (please note additional years' experience substitution below).

• Experience and Skills

• • For candidates with a Master's: Minimum of eight (8) years of relevant experience in CLA, organizational learning, knowledge management, change management, or adult learning design for M&E; some (but not all) of this experience may be in communications roles. For candidates with a Bachelor's: Minimum of fifteen (15) years of relevant experience.
  • Passion for learning and adaptive management as a foundation of robust change- management strategies.
  • Ability to work with government institutions at different levels.
  • Strong communication, supervision, and management skills.
  • Working knowledge of USG-funded program management, policies, regulations and procedures required. Strong familiarity with USAID's CLA practices and the Program Cycle.
  • Familiarity with USAID's Evaluation Policy and ADS 201 (Program Cycle) and 205 (Gender and Social Inclusion) broadly preferred.
  • Experience supporting the development of communication and knowledge sharing products and strategies. Graphic design or audience engagement measurement experience a plus.
  • Understanding of knowledge management as it relates to USAID programs an asset.
  • Familiarity with e-learning tools, Virtual Instructor-Led Trainings (viLT) on Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Adobe Connect, and other online instructional products such as Kahoot highly desirable.
  • Experience building monitoring, evaluation and learning capacities of relevant stakeholders including implementers, funders, and government staff preferred.
  • Experience applying a social inclusion approach to learning events a strong asset.
  • Familiarity with USAID/Lebanon programs and technical approaches is preferred.
  • Professional proficiency in English required. This includes an ability to lead and participate effectively in formal conversations, read technical materials, and draft technical reports.
  • Authorization to work legally in Lebanon.