Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager

Job Description

Location: Vientiane, Laos | Full-time |Fixed term contract until 30 June 2028

• Long term strategic role on Australia’s flagship program investing in education
  development in Lao PDR.
• Creative and diverse role building on a well established and highly regarded MEL system.
• Opportunity to go beyond Program MEL by contributing to capacity building for the
  Ministry of Education and Sports in Lao PDR in evidence-based decision making.

Contribute to a world where people, communities and the planet thrive.

Tetra Tech International Development is a leading development consulting firm working with government, businesses, and NGOs to solve complex development challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. For more information please visit our website 

The Program

Phase 2 of the Basic Education Quality and Access in Lao PDR (BEQUAL) Program builds on the successful 7-year partnership between the Government of Australia and Government of Lao PDR in Phase 1 with the goal that “more primary school-aged children in Lao PDR, particularly those experiencing disadvantage, demonstrate increased engagement in learning and improved learning outcomes”.

BEQUAL Phase 2 continues to directly support the education priorities of the Lao Government described in the Education and Sports Sector Development Plan and is aligned to the strategic directions set out in Australia’s International Development Policy 2023.

BEQUAL Phase 1 (2015-2022) was focused on supporting MoES to revise the national primary curriculum to integrate a student-centred approach in which student engagement and learning is facilitated through activities, hands-on experience, and practical application. With BEQUAL support, MoES developed accompanying teaching and learning materials for teachers and students and rolled out nationwide curriculum orientation training for in-service teachers.

With the completion of the primary curriculum revision in school-year 2023-24, BEQUAL Phase 2 has shifted focus to establishing a system for teachers’ continuing professional development (CPD) that is school-based and responsive to locally-identified needs. Three Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) and 30 districts in their catchment areas are receiving targeted support to design and implement the new CPD system. BEQUAL Phase 2 continues to focus on ensuring gender equality and promoting inclusive education across all activities.

The opportunity

The MEL Manager is responsible for implementing the Program’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) system across all areas and themes. This includes planning, managing, and delivering program reports in various formats.

The MEL Manager will collaborate with stakeholders to monitor, evaluate, and report on the Program’s achievements and outcomes. They will also promote the use of MEL data for continuous improvement, ensuring that performance information informs strategic and operational decisions.

The MEL Manager will train and support Program staff and partners in the MEL system, as well as in data collection, analysis, and reporting. They will ensure compliance with DFAT MEL standards and work to incorporate Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) performance information throughout the program.

Your Role:

• Lead the BEQUAL Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team in Vientiane and other regions, and manage short-term research and evaluation contracts.
• Oversee the effective implementation of BEQUAL’s MEL system and Results Framework, ensuring they meet DFAT standards and the needs of BEQUAL and its partners.
• Lead the Inclusive Teaching and Learning Study, which is a mixed-method evaluation for BEQUAL 2.
• Prepare and ensure the quality of all Program reports, including digital dashboards and presentations, in collaboration with management and program staff.
• Assist BEQUAL and DFAT team members in developing and using monitoring methods and tools.
• Help the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) create effective MEL tools and data collection strategies.
• Support targeted research and analysis based on new priorities and preparations for a possible Phase 3.

About You:

You have a strong ability to design and direct inputs across a diverse program team, ensuring that MEL information is collected consistently and compiled coherently to reflect all BEQUAL activities. You work well as a senior member of the team and always focus on delivering results on time. You are an effective communicator who actively listens and engages with a diverse range of people and cultures.

You will possess:

• Extensive experience of establishing, implementing and improving MEL systems for large and complex international development programs, preferably in the education sector.
• Demonstrated capability to facilitate learning and feedback loops between delivery and strategy teams.
• Demonstrated ability to integrated GEDSI (including DFAT’s GEDSI expectations) into MEL tools and systems, activity designs, learning workshops, data analysis, and reporting.
• Extensive experience in research, survey design, data collection methods, and conducting advanced quantitative and qualitative data analysis for international development programs.
• Experience managing DFAT programs is desirable.

For a complete position description, please click here. Please use the Password: TetraTech2025.

How to Apply

Click the “Apply for job” button on the Tetra Tech International Development website.

Applications will only be accepted via the Tetra Tech
International Development Website. Emailed applications will be disregard.

Your completed application will include:

• Resume
• Cover letter (not exceeding two pages), outlining your suitability for the position by demonstrating how your experience, knowledge, skills, and personal attributes align with the selection criteria.

Applications for this position close AEST 11.59pm Sunday, 13 July 2025.

About the Organization

As a leading development consulting firm, Tetra Tech International Development works with people and communities to solve some of the world's most complex challenges to achieve a positive impact.

Working at Tetra Tech International Development means working within a values-led organisation that invests in flexible work environments built on trust, safety and well-being. Through unified systems, flexible and supportive workplaces, we provide the foundations required for our team to enjoy the work they do and deliver value every day. Read more about our culture, purpose and values here.

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