Manager, Research Monitoring and Evaluation

World Change Starts with Educated Children® IMPORTANT: All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the country where the position is located. Room to Read is not able to provide sponsorship.

Position Overview: The Manager, Research, Monitoring & Evaluation (RM&E) will provide strategic and technical leadership for Room to Read’s research, monitoring, evaluation, data management and learning activities in Rwanda, and will dedicate approximately 50% of time to RM&E technical support for designated countries and projects across the Africa region. Regional countries, projects and deliverables will be set annually through the Annual Planning and Budgeting (AP&B) process and agreed with the Global Office RM&E team and relevant Country Directors. The Manager will ensure that high-quality evidence is generated, analyzed and used to strengthen program quality, learning, decision-making and scale. The position will collaborate closely with Country Office program teams, regional colleagues and the Global Office RM&E team to strengthen research, monitoring systems, data quality and evidence use. In supported countries, this role provides technical support to Country Office RM&E staff and does not take over their responsibilities. Country Offices continue to own their RM&E plans, data and reporting, and the Global Office RM&E team continues to set standards and lead global evaluations.

Geographic Scope: Rwanda Country Office (approx. 50% Level of efforts (LOE)) and designated countries/projects in the Africa region (approx. 50% LOE)

Duties & Responsibilities: RM&E Strategy and Leadership Lead development and implementation of RM&E strategies, annual plans and priorities for Rwanda, and contribute to RM&E work plans for assigned regional countries/projects in coordination with CO and GO leadership. Ensure RM&E approaches align with program objectives and Room to Read standards, guidance and tools. Promote evidence-based decision-making, program improvement and organizational learning. Research and Evaluation Lead quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method research and evaluations in Rwanda, and support studies led by the Global Office RM&E team or other Country Offices in assigned countries. Develop and review research designs, sampling strategies, data collection tools and analysis plans. Oversee research and evaluation activities, including external consultants and research partners where required. Coordinate Rwanda’s participation, and support assigned countries’ participation, in global and multi-country research led by the Global Office RM&E team. Lead analysis, interpretation and dissemination of findings. Monitoring, Data Quality and Evidence Use Strengthen monitoring frameworks, indicators, tools and reporting processes in Rwanda and assigned countries, aligned with global indicator definitions and approved AP&B plans. Ensure timely, accurate and complete program data and oversee data-quality assurance. Analyze monitoring data to identify trends, gaps and opportunities for program improvement. Support digital data collection (including SurveyCTO form development and management), dashboards and data visualization using organizational systems rather than parallel ones. Translate findings into actionable recommendations, reports, briefs and presentations. Facilitate structured data reviews (i.e., Learning to Action) with program teams that result in documented decisions and follow-up actions. Regional Technical Support and Capacity Strengthening (approx. 50% LOE) Train, coach and mentor RM&E and program staff and relevant partners. Provide technical assistance to designated countries/projects on AP&B-approved RM&E work, including program monitoring, SurveyCTO, evaluation (administration, enumerator training, data quality), analysis and reporting. Support adaptation of global RM&E approaches to country contexts. Promote knowledge exchange and consistent RM&E practices across supported countries. Agree an annual regional support plan with the Country Director and Global Office RM&E team that specifies countries, deliverables and level of effort, and report progress quarterly. Serve as the first-line technical contact for Country Office RM&E teams on the countries and tasks assigned in the annual regional support plan only, coordinating with existing Global Office RM&E support and escalating priorities and issues to the Global Office RM&E team as needed. Coordinate with Global Office RM&E colleagues, including global evaluation leads, to avoid duplication and ensure Country Offices receive consistent technical advice. Partnerships and Collaboration Build relationships with government, research institutions, development partners and other stakeholders. Represent Room to Read in relevant research, evaluation and education forums. Provide RM&E technical inputs to proposals, concept notes, donor reporting and program design. Promote dissemination and use of evidence for program improvement and scale. Review of Regional Responsibilities The regional component will be reviewed after periodically to assess value added to supported Country Offices, workload balance between Rwanda and regional responsibilities, and whether countries, scope or level of effort should be adjusted.

Qualifications: Required Master’s degree in education, monitoring and evaluation, statistics, economics, development studies, research methods or related field. Minimum 7 years of relevant RM&E experience, preferably in education or international development. Strong quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method research skills. Proficiency in STATA, R or equivalent statistical analysis software. Hands-on experience with digital data collection (SurveyCTO or similar), data-quality assurance and data visualization. Experience managing research/evaluations and providing technical assistance or capacity building across multiple countries or projects. Strong analytical, project management, communication and report-writing skills. Excellent written and spoken Kinyarwanda and English. Speaking French is an added advantage. Ability to work effectively across cultures and travel within Rwanda and the region. Preferred Experience in foundational literacy assessments (e.g., EGRA), government education systems, multi-country RM&E, SurveyCTO or similar platforms, and Power BI/data visualization.

Compensation: Room to Read offers competitive compensation and benefits. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, fun and rapidly growing organization that is changing transforming the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Room to Read is a Child Safe Organization. Read is a child-safe organization

• all personnel must adhere to Room to Read’s Child Protection Policy, Child Protection Code of Conduct and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy. Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds. Child Protection Principles Room to Read is committed to the education and welfare of children and protecting them from abuse and exploitation Room to Read has zero tolerance for child abuse and exploitation. All children have the right to be free from abuse and exploitation, including neglect, maltreatment, and physical, mental or sexual violence, injury or abuse. All children should be treated with respect and dignity. The well-being of the child is Room to Read’s first priority when dealing with all identified or suspected cases of child abuse. Room to Read shall integrate child protection into all its organizational strategies, structures and work practices. Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Principles Room to Read Representatives must create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. Room to Read has zero tolerance for adult sexual exploitation and abuse. Sexual exploitation and abuse are serious violations of fundamental human rights and will not be accepted or tolerated. All adults should be treated with respect and dignity. Room to Read implements a survivor-centered approach, putting the survivor’s rights and dignity at the forefront. Survivors referred to available professional assistance (e.g. mental health counselling), upon consent. About Room to Read:  Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read envisions a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, where all children have room to read, learn and grow – creating lasting change. Through our Literacy Portfolio, we train and coach teachers of the early grades in literacy instruction
• create and publish quality books and curricular materials in local languages
• and establish children’s libraries filled with diverse children’s books that can be enjoyed at school and home. Our Gender Equality Portfolio supports adolescents, particularly girls, in developing life skills that promote gender equality, helping them to pursue lifelong learning and make informed decisions. We support young people of all genders to overcome gender biases and build the knowledge and skills to create a gender-equal world. Room to Read collaborates with local communities, partner organizations, publishers, and governments to test and implement innovative models that can be integrated into the education system to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. To date, Room to Read has benefited more than 50 million children in 28 countries. Learn more at www.roomtoread.org. Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read is creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality through education.