Monitoring and evaluation managers provide oversight for a program's planning, evaluation, knowledge management and monitoring. They identify performance indicators, develop quality assurance strategies, train program employees, maintain contact with program partners and ensure all program aspects comply with institutional requirements.
Although monitoring and evaluation managers often come from diverse academic backgrounds, having an advanced degree in public policy, business administration or development related studies, and strong facilitation and training skills makes you desirable to employers. As of July 2022, monitoring and evaluation manager salary averaged $63,612 per year, according to Salary.com.
Program indicators are signs that show specific changes after introduction of certain conditions, as explained by UNDP. As a monitoring and evaluation manager, it's your duty to establish or identify suitable indicators for the program you're monitoring. For example, if you work for a nonprofit organization that is implementing a rural economic development program, you can establish performance indicators. To do this, you typically would need to determine the objectives of the project and amount of resources and time required to implement it. Good indicators are usually specific, measurable and relevant.
Advertisement Article continues below this adMonitoring and evaluation manager jobs are responsible for regulatory compliance. These professionals must ensure a program or project adheres to relevant legal regulations, industry standards and organizational policies. They often conduct regular inspections to detect areas that violate the guidelines and initiates corrective measures. For instance, a monitoring and evaluation manager providing oversight for a community wellness program ensures that all participants –social workers and health clinics – adhere to ethical issues in community interventions by urging them to avoid discrimination and respect individuals civil, human and legal rights.
Monitoring and evaluation officer skills include strategic planning, data analytics, project management, conflict resolution and communication, according to American University. For example, it is the job of a monitoring and evaluation manager to maintain positive contact between an employer and program partners, funders and other stakeholders. The manager might develop an effective communication framework to enable all parties to share and access all knowledge and information. When necessary, the manager can be tasked with evaluating the partnerships to confirm whether they still share common values, vision and objectives, as well as identify any underlying conflicts.
Advertisement Article continues below this adMonitoring and evaluation managers who work for multinational organizations with many projects are often responsible for supervising a team of workers in their departments. To ensure efficient monitoring and evaluation of all projects, the manager might allocate duties to junior staffers and direct them to compile progress reports. The manager also can organize and coordinate training programs for program personnel to help update their skills, technical abilities and professional knowledge, all of which are crucial for maintaining high monitoring and evaluation management standards.