The Evidence and Learning Manager is responsible for the design and delivery of monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) for selected portfolios supported by Comic Relief’s corporate and institutional funding partners. Working internally and with the partners we fund (UK and internationally), the successful candidate will be someone who knows their way around a MEL framework, who has experience of commissioning or undertaking a variety of evidence outputs, and who is familiar with the challenges and opportunities for getting evidence into use. Although you have technical MEL experience, you will also be someone who is interested in the bigger picture, keen to explore what motivates people to change how they behave, to understand sector-level or donor drivers of change, and to design support solutions that are genuinely useful in contributing to systemic change. The postholder is likely to be pragmatic, able to develop practical, accessible support within a restricted budget, and willing to contribute constructive interim outputs to what is a long-term mission. 

Key responsibilities:

• Design and manage monitoring, evaluation and learning activities related to issue-specific funding portfolios co-funded by Comic Relief’s funding partners, including corporate partners, institutional donors, and trusts and foundations

• Creatively find ways to unlock the inherent power of communities and organisations by ensuring that people with lived or learnt experience are actively engaged in the way evidence and learning activities are designed and implemented 

• Engage with the Investment teams to develop and implement learning ambitions and frameworks for existing funding programmes and that insights generated are used to inform strategic decision making

• Support funded partners collectively to monitor, evaluate and learn from their work

• Prepare inputs to reports, meetings and strategic planning, ensuring that learning is well documented in relation to co-funded programmes and shared internally and externally where relevant

• Support the development of new funding programmes by providing inputs into the overall evidence and learning strategy and advising on MEL options

• Recruit and manage external consultants to deliver specific evaluation and learning projects as required

Essential Education and Competencies:

• Experience and a strong understanding of processes, approaches, tools and methodologies that facilitate formal and informal monitoring, evaluation and organisational learning practice within organisations of different scales and in different contexts. This should include knowledge of large-scale institutional funders such as the Department for International Development

• A deep understanding and critical engagement with the politics of evidence and a proven ability to apply analysis of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and power to evidence and learning

• Understanding and experience of working in one or more of the following thematic areas: early childhood development; gender justice; housing and shelter; refugees and people on the move; and mental health

• Exceptional analysis and sense-making skills, underpinned with sound judgement under pressure, and the ability to identify solutions to address delivery risks and issues.

• Excellent facilitation skills, ability to promote critical thinking and reflective practice and encourage learning

• Experience of successfully supporting organisations to plan and implement quality improvements, including through monitoring, evaluation and learning

• Experience of designing and delivering interventions using at least two of the following: collective intelligence and learning; human centred design; behavioural insights; adaptive management; user participation and co-design.

• Experience of commissioning and managing external consultants to deliver evidence and learning outputs

• Effective relationship builder, with strong emotional intelligence and experience of working in collaborative, multicultural and cross sector environments alongside individuals and organisations with diverse perspectives

• Strong planner with outstanding attention to detail and the ability to manage and prioritise a diverse workload

Occasional Travel may be required within this role.

Inclusivity at Comic Relief

We recognise diversity and inclusion are a source of strength in achieving our mission. We therefore welcome everyone, trusting what makes us different brings creativity, styles and experiences to help us collectively do our best work. That’s regardless of your gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, and cultural identity. We especially welcome those from under-represented groups in modern grant-making and fundraising. We are on a journey, but if you join our team you will be part of a community that is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where we want you to:

• Be valued for being yourself

• Do your best work, and be supported to break down barriers so you can succeed

• Be heard, respected, and treated as an equal, whatever your level, experience or background

• Be part of a team that is committed to making this happen – with our colleagues, partners, and contributors.

Comic Relief is committed to preventing and protecting all people from harm in their interactions with us. We expect all those that act in our name to uphold our approach to doing no harm