Key Performance Areas:

Strategic Leadership and Oversight

• Provide technical leadership and oversight of all MERL activities across project staff at SR, Sub district, and Community and facility levels.
• Develop and implement a robust MERL system to capture and report high-quality, timely, valid, and verifiable programmatic data to the Principal Recipient (PR).
• Design and implement a data analytics framework for all Global Fund AYP grant activities and indicators.
• Develop and oversee a learning agenda to generate insights and lessons for PR and other stakeholders.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Data Management

• Conduct MERL needs assessments, baseline assessments, routine data quality assessments (RDQA), spot checks, program evaluations, and rapid assessments.
• Develop strategies to address MERL gaps in alignment with the Global Fund grant’s strategic objectives.
• Establish and maintain work plan tracking indicators and targets.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of a comprehensive project database and ensure accurate and timely storage of electronic files.
• Support the development of grant work plans, data collection tools, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and tracking progress against set targets.
• Oversee the grant close-out process, ensuring all MERL deliverables are met and documented effectively.

Capacity Building and Technical Support

• Provide MERL technical assistance on data analytics, reporting, and data utilization for decision-making at district, sub-district, and facility levels.
• Promote a culture of data usage and evidence-based decision-making through feedback, training, and capacity-building activities.
• Organize regular monthly and quarterly data review meetings at district, health facility, and community levels.

Information System Strengthening

• Strengthen national health information systems, including MyHope, KVAP, Goldmine, Lynx and others including TIER.Net to enhance data visibility via dashboards and cascade analysis.
• Support the implementation of quality improvement (QI) initiatives to improve adolescent and youth health service delivery at district, sub-district, and facility levels.
• Collaborate with provincial and district AYP program managers to ensure program and grant objectives are met.

Stakeholder Engagement and Reporting

• Build and maintain partnerships with all stakeholders, participating in district and sub-district MERL meetings, workshops, and discussions to provide ongoing technical support.
• Supervise and build the capacity of MERL staff at district and facility levels to comply with Global Fund MERL protocols and guidelines.
• Oversee data collection, validation, collation, storage, analysis, interpretation, visualization, and reporting at facility and community levels.
• Support grant evaluation activities and assist PR in identifying topics for operational research.
• Ensure compliance with MERL data quality requirements and timely submission of program reports.
• Assume any other duties as assigned by the Program Manager, and IHPS Senior Management.

Qualifications and Experience

• NQF Level 7 or higher qualification in Public Health, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Statistics, Health Informatics, Information Management, Data Management, or related fields. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be considered.
• 7–10 years of experience in designing, managing, and implementing results-based MERL activities, particularly in AYP, TB, and HIV programs.
• At least 5 years of supervisory experience.
• Hands-on experience in establishing and managing MERL systems for health programs and mentoring teams.
• At least three years of operational experience with national health information systems such as MyHope, KVAP, Goldmine, Lynx and others including TIER.Net
• Experience in donor-funded programs and a strong understanding of South Africa’s Department of Health systems, policies, and structures at national and provincial levels is an advantage.

Travel Requirements
Local travel is inherent to the position.