Position Description

Making Cents International is recruiting for an Evaluation Team Leader for a USAID-funded impact evaluation (IE) of the Serbia Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Activity. The SME Activity is currently being competed and the impact evaluation is expected to follow the Activity from its inception throughout its implementation. Design and implementation of the IE will be closely coordinated with USAID/Serbia and the Activity implementing partner.

This position is contingent upon winning a contract award.

Responsibilities

The Evaluation Team Leader is responsible for the overall management of the impact evaluation and provides overall technical leadership support for the IE, with guidance from the Principal Investigator as needed. The Team Lead is the primary liaison with USAID/ Serbia. The Evaluation Team Leader will:

• Oversee inception activities for the IE, including a scoping trip. The scoping trip will include 1) an evidence review summarizing findings on SME interventions, 2) an evaluation design workshop with USAID and the Activity implementing partner; and 3) an inception report that presents preliminary findings from the scoping trip. Other consultative meetings will take place as necessary.
• Lead the development of a workplan that includes a draft timeline, evaluation milestones, schedule of field visits and data collection efforts, and proposed IE methodology.
• Collaborate with the implementing partner of the SME Activity and its local partners to incorporate IE tasks with the Activity and monitor if interventions are in compliance with methodological requirements.
• Lead workshops and presentations on IE findings, including a mid-term briefing, interim meetings to provide regular updates on IE implementation, and final presentations to USAID/Serbia, other key stakeholders in Serbia, and USAID/Washington.
• Oversee development of deliverables, including the IE design proposal, a mid-term report, and draft and final evaluation reports.
• Periodic travel to Serbia as COVID-19 protocols permit, including an initial scoping trip, field visits to ensure adherence to quality standards and an in-person mid-term briefing and final presentation for USAID/Serbia. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Masters/PhD) in evaluation, economics, or related discipline with an emphasis on economic development evaluation, SME development program evaluation
• Minimum 10 years’ experience and expertise leading, supervising and managing economic development evaluation teams, including managing impact evaluations in the sector
• Ability to work with various counterparts, implementing partners, and host country government stakeholders
• Ability to travel to remote and challenging areas to conduct evaluation activities and provide technical expertise
• Minimum 5 years of this experience in developing countries, and minimum 2 years ‘experience in the region (Serbia or the Balkans)
• Excellent interpersonal skills and teamwork
• Superior written and oral communication skills in English