Internet Society Foundation Job 2025: Apply for the leading the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) at the Foundation

About the Position

The Director of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) at the Foundation will join the Philanthropy team to further develop and enhance the implementation of an organization wide MEL system to support adaptive management and inform ongoing strategy refinement and responsiveness in philanthropic grantmaking and program priorities.

The person in this position will work with a team to develop and strengthen organizational learning methods and frameworks, sharpen theoretical underpinnings of the programs, and co-design and implement evaluations in support of ISOC and Foundation initiatives and thematic priorities. The Director will lead the Foundation’s MEL program and steward the learning and evaluation function with an orientation to results and grantee accountability for Philanthropy and will collaborate with ISOC’s Strategy and Impact efforts to ensure a MEL culture is built across the two organizations.

To ensure MEL systems are responsive to various program needs, align with ISOC and Foundation objectives and deliverables, and are efficiently and effectively implemented, the Director will manage a team of MEL professionals working closely with the Executive Director, the Philanthropy Programs team and others within the organization including ISOC’s Strategy, Alignment and Impact team.

The person in this position will consistently demonstrate the values of the organization: collaboration, passion, people, inclusiveness and respect. 

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Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Enhance and implement a monitoring, evaluation and learning strategy for the organization’s Impact Areas as they relate to the Foundation’s Philanthropy Granting Program:
  • Partner and collaborate with program staff and grantees to design and implement strategies that measure progress, outcomes, and impact at programmatic and organizational level, with a principal focus on maintaining innovation and supporting ISOC’s 2030 strategic goals.
  • Lead budget development and strategic resource allocation for impact learning and evaluation functions.
  • Work with MEL team to develop and refine impact metrics and indicators, research, and learning from impact strategies to support decision-making and action to enhance the effectiveness and impact of the Philanthropy team’s work.
  • Collect and report data and evidence, including traditional data, stories, and grantee voice, on appropriate quantitative and qualitative indicators, in line with program area goals and Theories of Change.
• Champion a learning culture throughout the Foundation and ISOC:
  • Steward the vision and implementation of the Foundation as a ‘learning organization’ by setting a learning agenda in collaboration with the Executive Director, Program Team members and other internal stakeholders within the Foundation and the Internet Society, particularly with the Strategy and Impact team at ISOC.
  • Participate in and lead internal reviews and learning huddles, visioning exercises, and strategic planning efforts.
  • Implement a systemized approach to maximizing collaboration between teams for learning, knowledge management, innovation, and impact.
  • Actively create opportunities to turn learning into collective knowledge, including using the Learning framework to support the Foundation and ISOC’s collaboration and collective impact.
  • Design and support in-person and virtual meetings and workshops, in which learning is a key component, for both internal stakeholders and grantees.
  • Translate the objectives of the annual plan and success measures into measurable indicators that are easily understood and collectively supported by Philanthropy teams and other stakeholders.
  • Synthesize programmatic data, as well as analyze changes and patterns in the internal and external environment, to develop recommendations that inform strategic decision making.
  • Provide analysis of knowledge products (e.g. evaluations, qualitative findings, surveys, etc.) as input into the program teams’ annual planning process.
  • Participate in Foundation meetings, including Board and strategic advisory meetings, retreats, and other meetings as requested by the Executive Director.
• Direct research and data collection and analysis that inform strategic decisions and assess impact:
  • Ensure uptake and use of multiple types of data, centering grantee voice and lived experience in the learning and evaluation process.
  • Infuse best practices around philanthropic learning, impact and evaluation, ensuring approaches are inclusive, equitable, and serve the Foundation’s purpose.
  • Partner with leadership and communications team to effectively communicate results of research and impact learning, both internally and externally.
  • Provide thought leadership and expertise on the learning and evaluation activities occurring across ISOC, the Foundation and related work in the field.
  • Leverage a results orientation to manage a team of internal and external evaluators.
• Contribute to Thought Leadership:
  • In coordination with the Communications team, support the effective dissemination of findings, conclusions, recommendations and lessons learned from evaluations to intended audiences with a view to improving the Foundation’s strategy/impact and contributing to wider sector learning.
  • Engage in writing, public speaking, convening, and networking in the philanthropic sector on the Foundation’s strategy, learning, and impact.
  • Promote a culture of learning across program teams by embedding learning questions, facilitating reflection sessions, and using MEL data to guide strategic decisions.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree in applied research, monitoring and evaluation, social science, or other related fields preferred.
• 10 to 12 years total work experience with ideally 8 years’ leadership experience in program evaluation and measurement, including design and implementation of assessment projects.
• 3 to 5 years of management experience; has a proven background in leading and developing geographically dispersed teams.
• Significant experience measuring complex outcomes such as behavior change, empowerment, and digital transition, using mixed methods and participatory evaluation approaches.
• Track record of effectively analyzing issues, thinking creatively and strategically about solutions, and implementing potential opportunities. Adaptive capacity and knowledge of systems thinking.
• Deep understanding of, and experience with Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning in a philanthropic environment. Experience designing and delivering MEL and reporting capacity-strengthening activities for grantees and staff, including training on indicators, data collection, analysis, and use.
• Demonstrated experience in developing Theory of Change with teams.
• Experience working collaboratively and effectively through influence with internal and external stakeholders including senior level executives, program directors and community partners.
• Excellent interpersonal skills which include a team-oriented approach, collaborative style, and a strong focus on execution and results while achieving efficiencies.
• Demonstrated commitment to organizational values including: collaboration, people, passion, inclusiveness and respect.
• Adept in establishing credibility and influencing among various constituencies, and a deep knowledge of the skills and practices necessary to inspire collaboration among diverse groups internally and externally.
• Serve as an internal consultant and leader within the Foundation to improve learning and performance. Ability to work as a team member in a collegial environment where differing viewpoints and give and take are expected and encouraged.
• Experience presenting data and research findings to a non-technical audience clearly and concisely, with an appreciation for the visual representation of data and the power of storytelling.
• Excellent writing, speaking, and presentation skills with ability to synthesize and summarize findings and recommendations to diverse audiences.
• Ability to think creatively and prioritize strategically about the broad goals of the Foundation while remaining focused on the detail-oriented work and follow-through required by the position.
• Ability to adapt to shifting priorities and deadlines, while engaging effectively with other teams
• Knowledge of current trends and practices for MEL in the philanthropy and grantmaking sector, including Systems Change and Trust-Based Philanthropy
• Knowledge of research and current trends in Internet-related issues across geographies.
• French and Spanish language skills preferred.
• Ability to travel, including international travel.
• Passion for, and demonstrated commitment to, a more accessible and trustworthy internet for all.

What You’ll Love About ISOC (Benefis)

• Make an Impact. We have an exciting vision and mission to bring the internet to everyone!
• Great Company Culture. We are a global team and live our values of collaboration, inclusion, respect, people and passion in all of our HR programs including our new recognition program!
• Holiday/Vacation. Generous paid time off and paid public holidays.
• Benefits. Based on local in-country guidelines.
• Give back. Get paid to volunteer in your community!
• Professional Development and Educational Benefits. Annual company contribution towards professional development or higher education.
• Flexible Work Models. Flexible work-from-home.

Compensation and benefits for this position will be paid in local currency and based on the country and geographic location’s local salary and benefits market data for the position. Exact pay will be based on factors including but not limited to relevant qualifications, experience, geographic location, education, business and organizational needs.

How To Apply