Who We Are
IREX is a global development and education organization. We strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world—where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people, and communities thrive. With a projected annual portfolio of more than $150 million and more than 750 staff worldwide, we work with partners in more than 100 countries in four areas essential to progress: cultivating leaders, empowering youth, strengthening institutions, and increasing access to quality education and information.
The Supporting Independent Media in Syria (SIMS) program fosters sustainable independent media in Syria and empowers Syrians of diverse backgrounds by offering reliable, locally relevant sources that promote accountability, counter extremist narratives, promote gender equity, and encourage social cohesion. Working in partnership with media outlets in Syria and in exile, SIMS provides training, coaching, and mentoring to improve partners’ capacity in journalism, production, technical skills, and management to ensure their sustainability and to provide access for Syrians to high-quality, unbiased, and accurate information. SIMS also provides infrastructure and equipment support to media partners, and regular monitoring, research and feedback on their television, radio, and social media content.
As part of the SIMS team, the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Officer (MEL Officer) will support all project MEL activities including tracking progress on activity indicators, the development of project work products, including but not limited to, data collection tools, reports, and other MEL products/documents. The MEL Officer will play a key role in quantitative and qualitative research activities, be responsible for the analysis and presentation of SIMS social media data, and will support the Editorial & Training Team and Program Team across MEL activities.
The MEL Officer is an in-person position in Istanbul, Turkey.
We are doers. Our decades of on-the-ground experience help us create greater impact, practical recommendations, and lasting partnerships.
Are you the next member of our team?
Your Background & Skills
- Bachelor’s Degree in statistics, public policy, international development, economics, social sciences, or related field.
- Minimum of 3 to 4 years of relevant experience in a MEL position supporting the execution of MEL activities on development projects. Previous experience in media development is preferred.
- Very good command of English Language and Arabic is required.
- Experience in designing, implementing, and operating project M&E systems from project initiation to closeout stages.
- Experience in planning and managing surveys, assessments, and studies.
- Experience in developing and refining data collection tools. Previous experience in the use of social media analytical tools is preferred.
- Experience in analyzing quantitative and qualitative data.
- Experience with data quality assessments and oversight.
- Good knowledge of program implementation, monitoring and evaluation techniques and practices.
- Demonstrated ability to liaise with relevant partners.
- Ability to perform a variety of conceptual analyses required for the formulation, administration and evaluation of projects.
- Excellent analytical skills.
- Ability to work in a team and good interpersonal skills.
- Good computer applications skills.
- Good organizational skills.
- Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.
- Ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Ability to collect and input data- into computerized databases and spreadsheets and analyze data and information.
- You must have unrestricted authorization to work in Turkey.
Your Daily Tasks
- Supporting the data collection, collation, storage, analysis, and reporting activities, ensuring that data is high quality and audit worthy.
- Conducting the data entry, aggregation and cleaning in MEL databases.
- Regularly review data collection processes, perform data quality assessments, and adjust as needed.
- Verifying the program’s data quality and accuracy.
- Contribute to and support the effective use of data and information management systems.
- Monitoring and reporting on project indicators.
- Supporting the interpretation of the data for reporting, adaptive management, and learning purposes.
- Development of MEL-related workplans and ensure they are up to date in accordance with project activities.
- Participating in qualitative data collection (FGDs, in-depth interviews and cases studies) and quantitative research.
- Design and prepare research and evaluation findings for different audiences, including for project partners.
- Supporting the development of various indicators’ data collection tools and testing.
- Collecting and analyzing data from project training activities.
- Responsible for supporting the preparation and review of program reports in collaboration with program staff.
- Undertake such other duties and tasks as may lie within the scope of this role to ensure the effective delivery of projects.
- Liaise and coordinate with research consultants, project partners, and Editorial & Training and Program teams to ensure high-quality data gathering and dissemination.
- Build robust relationships with all project stakeholders.
- Contribute to gathering information for proposals, cost extensions, or new phases of the program, including drafting sections of the narrative and attachments as needed.
- Collaborate effectively with team members, fostering a positive and cohesive work environment to achieve shared project goals.
- Other support duties as needed.
You Will Get:
Committed, passionate, collaborative, and mission-driven colleagues who make IREX a good place to work. You will receive best-in-class learning, development, and growth opportunities, as well as a comprehensive benefits package designed to help you thrive. This includes a well-being and employee assistance program, health coverage, a flexible work schedule, a generous PTO policy, a technology stipend, a diverse and inclusive work environment, and many more benefits.
We conduct background checks on all successful candidates.
This position is not eligible for Immigration Sponsorship.
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
EOE – Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.