Global Surge Team Roster: Emergency MEAL Coordinator

International Rescue Committee - New York, NY

Full-time - Mid Level

Remote - New York, NY

Social Assistance

About the position

The Emergency MEAL Coordinator is a key role within the IRC's Emergencies & Humanitarian Action Unit, responsible for leading and managing monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) efforts during emergency responses. This position focuses on ensuring that data and learning are effectively utilized to enhance program quality and inform evidence-based decision-making in humanitarian contexts. The coordinator will deploy to various locations, providing technical assistance, conducting needs assessments, and fostering capacity building among IRC and partner staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-sector team in the design, implementation, analysis, and reporting of rapid multi-sector needs assessments for new emergencies.
• Work with partnership team to ensure needs assessments include analysis of local systems and capacities.
• Develop clear Assessment Plans, budget, tools, and data collection schedules for organized data collection.
• Ensure effective set-up of tools for mobile data collection (Kobo, Commcare).
• Conduct daily data quality checks throughout the data collection phase.
• Produce qualitative and quantitative analysis of data for emergency response strategy/plan.
• Facilitate inclusion of IRC strategic partners and local stakeholders in the assessment process.
• Provide MEAL technical assistance to program teams during design and inception stages.
• Develop a MEAL budget and staffing structure responsive to planned activities and data requirements.
• Ensure effective set-up and use of data platforms for data collection, management, and presentation.
• Provide technical leadership for surveys and evaluations in coordination with program coordinators and external partners.
• Lead the expansion of mobile data technology and online dashboards for data collection and analysis.
• Implement accountability, client feedback, safeguarding, and response mechanisms based on regional standards.
• Support submission of data for quarterly HQ level Strategic Action Plan reporting.
• Establish and drive common strategies and approaches to MEAL that reflect IRC's Emergency and Humanitarian Action Strategy.
• Develop and strengthen capacity sharing partnerships with MEAL counterparts of partner agencies and local organizations.
• Shape and implement MEAL systems that meet IRC standards and practices.
• Lead MEAL functions across multiple sectors for effective emergency response coordination.
• Reinforce integration of cross-sectoral priorities in MEAL, including gender and protection.
• Champion an organizational culture where data is used for evidence-based decision making.
• Represent and coordinate with agencies, local governments, partners, and donors for best practice delivery.
• Support recruitment for an efficient MEAL team in new country emergencies.
• Supervise the MEAL team across multiple sectors and geographical areas.
• Coach, train, supervise, and mentor MEAL department staff.

Requirements

• A university degree in a relevant subject area (statistics, data management, social sciences, public health, economic development) or related experience.
• A minimum of 5 years of work experience within MEAL-related functions in diverse humanitarian contexts.
• Experience developing collaborative relationships with partner organizations for capacity strengthening around MEAL activities.
• Experience leading data collection and analysis for multi-sector and multi-donor funded humanitarian programs.
• Excellent understanding of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods.
• Proficiency with mobile data collection software such as Kobo, CommCare, and ODK Collect, and Microsoft Excel.
• Knowledge of Tableau, PowerBI, or GIS software is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to develop functional systems for utilizing routine and survey data in program quality improvement.
• Strong understanding of accountability mechanisms and ability to build responsive client feedback systems.
• Leadership experience and ability to transfer knowledge through training and mentoring.
• Excellent verbal and written data presentation and reporting skills.
• Fluency in written & spoken English; French and/or Arabic strongly preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Proficiency with SPSS, STATA, or similar software.
• Experience in humanitarian emergency settings.
• Knowledge of gender, protection, and safeguarding issues in humanitarian contexts.

Benefits

• Open to Remote work arrangement
• Opportunities for additional deployments if interested