Position Title: Director, Data Systems, MERL
Position Type: Regular Full-Time
Department: COO's Office (MOMENTUM)
Location: Washington, DC - Hybrid
Salary Range: $102,000 - $132,500 - $163,000
Note: The posted salary range reflects the full range of Corus' Director pay grade and does not represent the anticipated hiring salary for this position. The target hiring range for the Director, Data Systems, MERL is expected to fall between the minimum and midpoint of the pay grade, based on program budget, internal equity and experience.
Position Summary:Corus International is seeking a Director, Data Systems, MERL to join the MOMENTUM team in the Washington, DC office. This hybrid position is based at our headquarters in Washington, DC, with in-office days on Tuesday and Wednesday each week.
The Director, Data Systems, MERL reports to the Senior Director, Technical Services, MERL and serves as the technical and thought leader for monitoring, evaluation, and data systems management across the Lifesaving Health Assistance (LHA) program. LHA is a U.S. Department of State-funded, fixed-amount, performance-based award operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Mali, and South Sudan. the Director leads milestone tracking and verification, data quality assurance, and management of the project's data system. The Director also provides technical leadership and capacity building to country M&E teams and leads MERL data systems coordination across LHA and MIHR, including the DRC Ebola Response, to promote consistency, integration, and shared learning across data systems and MERL practices.
This position is funded through a specific project and is subject to the continued availability of funding.
Responsibilities:LHA MERL System Leadership and Milestone Verification- Direct day-to-day implementation of the LHA M&E Plan across all four project objectives: service delivery; health information systems, supply chains, laboratory networks; outbreak readiness and response; and sustainable transition.
- Oversee milestone verification, ensuring that required deliverables, supporting data sources, and documentation are complete and accurate before submission to DoS for payment.
- Direct target-setting and monitor progress against the Milestone Plan, identifying and escalating risks to achievement in a timely manner.
- Oversee baseline data collection during award start-up, leveraging existing DHIS2 records and routine data sources where feasible.
- Oversee periodic Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) and ensure timely implementation and follow-up of corrective actions with country teams.
- Direct preparation of milestone status updates and data inputs for quarterly and annual performance reports submitted to DoS.
Data Systems Management- Direct the configuration and management of the LHA data system, collaborating with country teams and the data system consultant to support the collection, storage, and reporting of milestone and performance data.
- Guide the extraction and integration of data from country DHIS2/HMIS instances into the project data system in accordance with data-sharing agreements and national data protection laws.
- Ensure the accuracy and currency of project data dictionaries, dashboards, and data-flow documentation to support reliable movement of data from facility and district levels through DoS reporting.
- Establish and enforce data security and access protocols, including the removal of personally identifiable information before data is shared.
- Coordinate with IMA's central Data and Data Management team on platform configuration, troubleshooting, and application of organization-wide data standards to LHA.
- Review and approve costs and invoices for the data system consultant and other MERL data systems-related contracts and advise on the LHA MERL data systems budget line and activity budgets within the Director's purview.
Global Health Security and Outbreak MERL Leadership- Direct M&E for outbreak readiness and response activities, including monitoring 7-1-7 timeliness milestones for detection, notification, and response; IDSR/EWARS reporting; and contact-tracing follow-up.
- Facilitate after-action and intra-action reviews following simulation exercises and activated outbreak responses, translating findings into actionable recommendations and improvements.
Country Technical Assistance and Capacity Building- Provide strategic technical assistance to country M&E focal points and data managers in DRC, Ethiopia, Mali, and South Sudan on data collection tools, DHIS2 use, and reporting.
- Facilitate quarterly data review meetings with country and HQ teams to assess data quality, review performance, and identify required follow-up actions.
- Design and deliver training and capacity-building initiatives for country teams on digital data collection tools, including DHIS2 Tracker, Kobo Toolbox, ODK, and similar platforms.
Reporting and Coordination- Coordinate responses to DoS data requests and provide data inputs for situation reports and other required documentation, as needed.
- Manage coordination of DoS-commissioned external evaluations, including timely data sharing and responses to evaluator inquiries.
Organizational MERL Practice- Engage with industry practice groups, including peers, partner organizations, and donors, to identify emerging trends, contribute to sector dialogue, and inform organizational approaches to MERL data systems.
- Represent the organization at strategic meetings, conferences, and other forums to advance its mission, share technical expertise, and cultivate partnerships.
- Champion shared learning and continuous improvement across LHA by promoting the use of evidence, lessons learned, and effective MERL practices.
Required Qualifications:- Master's degree in public health, epidemiology, statistics, information systems, or a related field and a minimum of 8 years of relevant and progressively responsible experience in monitoring and evaluation for international development or public health program; or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated expertise with DHIS2, including configuration, data extraction, and use for program reporting.
- MEL experience in fragile, conflict-affected, or other difficult operating contexts.
- Experience with digital data collection and management platforms (e.g., DHIS2 Tracker, KoboToolbox, ODK, or similar).
- Experience working on USG-funded (USAID, DoS, CDC, or similar) programs and familiarity with USG M&E and reporting requirements.
- English language fluency, written and verbal.
- Strong understanding of data architecture and data-flow design, including the movement of facility- and district-level data into national and project reporting systems.
- Working knowledge of Data Quality Assessment (DQA) methodologies and corrective-action processes.
- Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools, with advanced Excel skills.
- Ability to develop clear technical documentation, including data dictionaries, standard operating procedures, and guidance materials.
- Ability to balance technical rigor with practical field realities and operational constraints.
- Demonstrated collaboration, management, and leadership skills, including the ability to support diverse, geographically dispersed teams.
- Ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, and manage multiple country workstreams simultaneously.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to convey technical information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Ability to collaborate effectively across time zones with remote, multicultural teams.
- Must have authorization to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship now or in the future.
Preferred Qualifications:- Experience in global health security, outbreak preparedness, or emergency response MEL.
- Experience working in DRC, Ethiopia, Mali, or South Sudan.
- Experience with milestone/performance-based awards.
- Experience with Power BI, Tableau, Stata, or R.
- French language proficiency at the professional level or higher.
Physical and Mental Requirements:- The physical requirements that may be needed to execute responsibilities may include bending, standing, and walking, etc.
- The mental requirements that are essential to satisfactorily executing the responsibilities outlined in this job description include, but are not limited to: learning new tasks, comprehending, and retaining information, completing tasks independently, effectively communicating verbally and in writing, demonstrating proficiency in using computer software to perform assigned tasks.
Other Duties:This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities for the position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. All positions are required to perform any additional tasks assigned by the supervisor. Global positions that are bound by contracts will not be changed without notice and approval.
Working Conditions, Travel and Environment
- Corus has a hybrid work policy, allowing work to be done remotely; two days per week (Tuesday and Wednesday) in the office is required. The employee must be available to work outside normal office hours or weekends as required.
- This position must maintain regular overlap with the Eastern time zone (UTC-5/UTC-4) to support daily coordination with the LHA HQ teams.
- This position must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes (approximately 10%). While performing the duties of this job in different locations, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high-security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases.
- If applicable, must have authorization to work in the country of assignment.
As a member of the Corus Family, each employee is expected to:
- Foster a work environment where everyone feels valued and included.
- Support employees' evaluation and promotion processes based on skills and performance.
- Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all members of Corus family, stakeholders in general, and particularly for the communities we serve.
- Follow Corus Code of Conduct helping to prevent any type of abuse including workplace harassment, sexual abuse and exploitation, and trafficking in persons.
- Adhere to the Organizational Core Values.
