We’re looking for an Interim Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager (Livelihoods) for a maternity cover

About Stichting IKEA Foundation

The IKEA Foundation vision is a better everyday life for the many people. We believe the two greatest threats to the future of children are climate change and poverty. We believe it is possible to help families to afford a better life while also protecting the planet. It’s our mission to improve the lives of vulnerable children by enabling their families to create sustainable livelihoods, and fight and cope with climate change.

The IKEA Foundation is funded by INGKA Foundation, owner of the Ingka Group of companies. The IKEA Foundation is independent from the retail business with a sole focus on creating brighter lives on a liveable planet through philanthropy and grantmaking. Learn more at www.ikeafoundation.org.

Having built a talented and enthusiastic team of MEL professionals, we are now seeking an interim MEL manager (maternity leave cover for six months) to strengthen the team and build capacity in our livelihoods work.

Role

The role of MEL is to promote learning and evidence-informed grant making and eventually optimizing the impact of the Foundation. The interim MEL Manager will provide support primarily to our Renewable Energy portfolio.

As interim MEL Manager, you will be part of a small team that is committed to make a difference. You work closely with the renewable energy portfolio team and contribute to the further development and evolution of the IKEA Foundation’s MEL function, being an active member and leader in strategic and operational initiatives. You will be reporting into the acting Chief Impact Officer. This interim assignment is a maternity leave cover for six months.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute the MEL annual plan in a manner that conforms to the IKEA Foundation values and MEL policies and procedures. Contribute to ongoing reflection and iteration about the role of the MEL in the context of foundation’s strategy refresh and changing contexts in which we work.
  • Synthesize and present evidence relating to theories of change at portfolio and grant level as part of strategic planning and due diligence procedures.
  • Identify key performance indicators with partners, build partner capability to report on them in a timely manner, and monitor the partner jointly with the portfolio teams for learning and course correction purposes.
  • Collaborate closely with portfolio teams to enable them to include MEL insights in their grantmaking.
  • Lead organisational and partner focused learning events as assigned.
  • Undertake in-house assessments, or commission evaluations relating to results, outcomes, and impacts.
  • Develop and continuously improve the measurement and reporting systems.
  • Present or assist in the presentation of findings to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Participate in or lead organisational improvement efforts as requested.
  • Develop and maintain excellent internal and external relationships with key partners such as programmes teams and grantees to bring a fresh, inquisitive approach to ambitious and potentially transformative projects.
  • Engage in regular dialogue with partners about measurement frameworks, finding new yet realistic ways to build shared knowledge and learning for complex social change initiatives.

Profile

You will be required to demonstrate experience and achievement against most of the following areas:

  • A Master’s degree or similar in MEL or a relevant discipline.
  • At least five years’ experience in implementing grant-level monitoring, evaluation and learning, including livelihoods.
  • Experience in managing complex and multi-stakeholder assignments.
  • Experience in conducting and commissioning independent evaluations.
  • Comfort leading group discussions and taking responsibility to execute assignments.
  • Experience in portfolio-related projects and MEL capacity building.
  • Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trustful relationships both internally and externally.

You are:

  • Motivated by living and sharing the values of the IKEA Foundation.
  • A strategic and analytical thinker, with a strong goal orientation and creative problem-solving abilities.
  • A systems thinker; or have exposure or experience in incorporating system thinking into MEL work.
  • Results oriented, while bringing a patient, mentoring approach to collaboration.
  • Able to speak to expert and non-expert audiences, while refraining from jargon and frame complex issues in clear and simple language.
  • Understanding of the fact that internal and external partners are at different starting points in terms of MEL capacity.
  • Able to work well under pressure, take responsibility and show initiative.
  • Able to see opportunities, follow-up on them and bring parties together.
  • Fluent in English, oral and written.
  • Excellent communication and cross-cultural skills.
  • Able to work independently and as part of a team and eager to take up all kinds of tasks and take initiative.

What we offer

At the IKEA Foundation, you are welcome no matter where you come from, what you believe, and what you look like. We are interested to see what you can bring to the Foundation. We are convinced that our different views, talents, and personalities make us better at understanding ourselves and our partners, and inspire us to think differently. If you feel like you might not tick all the boxes for this role and this is the reason you hesitate to apply, we would like to encourage you to still give it a chance. Perhaps your unique background could spark a great idea of how to create a better everyday life for the many people.

We offer a dynamic working environment amongst co-workers from different nationalities. Amongst these nationalities, we share a single culture and set of values. You will be able to contribute to constantly improving the grantmaking experience at the IKEA Foundation. In doing so, you will have the opportunity to work with innovative solutions and you will be challenged to come up with ideas for improvements in all areas. The better we can support our co-workers and partners, the more time and energy they can spend on the causes that we support!

How to apply

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest and their CV, in English, to jobs@ikeafoundation.org. The successful candidate must be based in the Netherlands, have a valid work permit and either be self-employed or work through an agency. We are looking for someone to start as soon as possible.