Senior Learning and Experiments Manager

Purpose<\/span><\/span><\/b>
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The Senior Learning and Experiments\nManager will play a critical role in strengthening SmartStart\u2019s capacity for\nlearning, adaptive management, and programme improvement. This role will lead\nthe design and implementation of developmental evaluations and rapid\nexperiments to enhance programme effectiveness and responsiveness. The Senior\nLearning and Experiments Manager will synthesise insights to support leadership\nand staff in sense\-making and decision\-making and foster a culture of\ncontinuous learning and innovation across SmartStart and its network.<\/span>
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The Senior Learning and Experiments\nManager is responsible for designing and facilitating reflective practices,\nlearning loops, and adaptive management processes to drive programme\nimprovements and strategic coherence. This role will enable SmartStart to\nbecome a more adaptive, data\-informed organisation, co\-creating the conditions\nfor network\-wide rapid learning and collective intelligence.<\/span>
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Key Responsibilities<\/span><\/span><\/b>
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Designing and Leading Rapid\nExperiments & Nimble Evaluations<\/span><\/span><\/b>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Together with the SDI team head, drive the\ndesign and execution of developmental evaluations and nimble experiments to\nimprove effectiveness and responsiveness.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Develop and implement fit\-for\-purpose monitoring\nand evaluation frameworks that align with SmartStart\u2019s strategic goals and\nlearning priorities.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Establish and refine key performance indicators\n(KPIs) and feedback mechanisms to track programme progress and impact.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Support teams to design and implement\nrapid\-cycle learning and experimentation processes to test and adapt programme\nmodels.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Ensure that evaluation findings and experimental\ninsights are synthesised into actionable recommendations.<\/span><\/span>
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Strengthening Monitoring and\nPerformance Measurement<\/span><\/span><\/b>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Together with the SDI team head, drive the\ndevelopment and management of monitoring frameworks and tools to track\nprogramme performance and network\-wide impact.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Enhance the use of data dashboards and\nperformance reports to support real\-time decision\-making.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Enable data collection, analysis, and\ninterpretation across SmartStart\u2019s network. <\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Build capacity across teams to engage with\nperformance data, identify gaps, and take corrective action.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Facilitate alignment between MERL frameworks and\nfunder expectations, reporting needs, and organizational strategy.<\/span><\/span>
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Supporting Systems Thinking and\nStrategic Coherence<\/span><\/span><\/b>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Synthesise data and insights to support\nleadership in sense\-making, decision\-making, and action\-taking.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Enable teams to apply systems thinking\napproaches to understand complex programme dynamics and improve strategic\nalignment.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Promote coherence and alignment between\nmonitoring, evaluation, learning, and strategy, seeking to ensure that\nSmartStarts theory of change is embedded into how decisions are made.<\/span><\/span>
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Enhancing Data\-Driven Decision\-Making<\/span><\/span><\/b>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Collaborate with the Data, Sense\-Making, and\nInsights Team to strengthen data governance, integrity, and accessibility.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Support the development of data feedback loops\nthat enable real\-time learning and adaptation.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Build team and partner capacity to engage with\nand interpret data for programme improvement and strategic decision\-making.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Ensure that MERL data is integrated into organizational\ndecision\-making and strategy development.<\/span><\/span>
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Supporting Network\-Wide Adaptive\nLearning and Innovation<\/span><\/span><\/b>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Co\-create the conditions for network\-wide rapid\nlearning, iterative experimentation, and collective intelligence.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Drive the use of insights from MERL activities\nto inform programme design, scaling decisions, and innovation.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Develop feedback mechanisms to ensure that\ninsights from experiments and evaluations are used to improve programme models.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Foster a culture of disciplined innovation and\nstructured experimentation across the network.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Develop and implement mechanisms for capturing\nand sharing lessons learned across the organization and network.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Facilitate learning exchanges and peer\-to\-peer\nknowledge\-sharing to build collective intelligence.<\/span><\/span>
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Cross\-Cutting\nResponsibilities<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Collaboration:<\/span><\/span><\/b> Work\nclosely with the Innovation & Learning Portfolio, Programme Teams, and\nDevelopment & Partnerships to align MERL activities with strategic\npriorities.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Capacity Building:<\/span><\/span><\/b> Develop\nand deliver training on MERL methodologies, adaptive management, and data\ninterpretation.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Ethics and Integrity:<\/span><\/span><\/b> Ensure that MERL activities adhere to data governance, ethical\nstandards, and regulatory requirements.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Change Management:<\/span><\/span><\/b> Support\nteams and partners in adopting MERL tools, frameworks, and practices.<\/span><\/span>
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Key Indicators of Success<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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TBD over time,\nbroad areas would include \-<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Improved Evaluation and Learning:<\/span><\/span><\/b> Increased use of evaluation findings and rapid experiment results to\ninform decision\-making, strategy and successful adoption of programme\ninnovations.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Enhanced Organizational Learning:<\/span><\/span><\/b> Greater engagement in reflective practices, learning loops, and\nadaptive management.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Strategic Decision\-Making:<\/span><\/span><\/b> Higher integration of data\-driven insights into programme adaptation\nand strategic planning.<\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Stronger Network Learning:<\/span><\/span><\/b> Increased peer\-to\-peer learning, knowledge\-sharing, and collective\nproblem\-solving across the network.<\/span><\/span>
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Requirements<\/h3>

Key Person Specifications<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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Qualifications and Experience<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Minimum master\u2019s degree or equivalent in\nMonitoring & Evaluation, Social Sciences, Public Policy, or a related\nfield.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>At least <\/span><\/span>5 years<\/span><\/span><\/b> of experience in MERL,\ndevelopmental evaluation, and/or adaptive management in complex organizational\ncontexts.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Experience conducting experiments/studies/evaluations\n(e.g. developmental evaluations, rapid\-cycle experiments etc.)<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Excellent English writing skills, with a proven\nability to synthesise complex data into actionable insights for strategic\ndecision\-making.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Experience working with social impact\norganisations, programmes, or networks.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Advantageous: Fluency in one or more African\nlanguages.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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Specific Knowledge and Skills<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Expertise in developmental evaluation, adaptive\nmanagement, and rapid\-cycle learning.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Strong analytical and synthesis skills, with the\nability to generate insights from complex data.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Knowledge of monitoring, evaluation, and\nlearning (MEL) frameworks and tools.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Capacity to design and facilitate reflective\npractices, learning loops, and adaptive strategies.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Familiarity with systems thinking and strategic\ncoherence approaches.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Strong stakeholder engagement and\ncapacity\-building skills.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Advantageous: Proficiency with data analysis and\nvisualization tools (e.g., Power BI) and Microsoft Dynamics 365 and/or similar\nCRM software.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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General\nKnowledge & Understanding and/or Skills & Abilities <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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Behaving\n& Learning<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/u> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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• Behaving trustworthily: being reliable,\n accepting, open, congruent (i.e.. integrity) <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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  • Learning curiously, incl. learning how by doing\n differently <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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    o<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Clear curiosity (asking questions, questioning assumptions, doing\ndifferently, trying things) <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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    o<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Track record of learning <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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    o<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Openness to & appetite for feedback <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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    • Familiarity with and curiosity about <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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      o<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Societal scale <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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      o<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Systems doing\-and\-thinking <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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      o<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Design thinking & iterative designing <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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      o<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Driving to succeed <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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      • Commitment to SmartStart\u2019s purpose and social\n justice internationally <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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        • Advantageous<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i>: experience in, or familiarity with,\n early learning, ECD, education, public health, etc. <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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          Relating & Adapting<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/u> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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          • Building trusting relationships <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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            • Playing role(s)\-across\-contexts adaptively <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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              • Creating the conditions for and facilitating\n people\u2019s thinking <\/span><\/span>diversely<\/span><\/span><\/i> and doing good work <\/span><\/span>together<\/span><\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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                • Co\-building & communicating coherence\n unendingly <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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                  • Reprioritizing continually <\/span><\/span><\/span>
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                    Developing Self<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/u> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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