Principal policy advisor jobs

Title: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor (Qualitative Evidence) 

Salary: £41,000 to £56,000 per annum 

Location: UK remote - with occasional travel to Haywards Heath, when required 

Contract: 24-month Fixed-Term Contract 

Hours: This is a full-time 35 hours per week 

Responsibilities 

About the role 

We are seeking an experienced Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor to provide sound technical advice and guidance to ensure high quality qualitative outcome measurement tools and approaches in line with our increasing portfolio in disability and social inclusion in order to continuously improve Sightsavers’ evidence base. 

As the MEL Advisor you will lead qualitative project baseline and endline data collection, coordination, reporting and learning to improve the quality of our programmes and Sightsavers impact. You will maintain and further develop Sightsavers’ qualitative outcome monitoring approach across our thematic areas and ensure high quality data collection, analysis and reporting.

Sightsavers has developed and introduced a MEL framework to measure the organisation’s strategic progress - Learning Accountability and Monitoring Progress (LAMP). The post holder will support its processes and make a significant contribution to understanding progress using qualitative evidence. 

Responsibilities include: 

Developing and strengthening practices 

• Lead on the strengthening and design of innovative and participatory monitoring and evaluation methodologies and tools to assess outcomes and impact of programmes; support the integration of successful approaches in routine MEL practice.

• Lead on the piloting, implementation and revision of Sightsavers MEL approaches in existing and new projects including strong links with LAMP; support MEL team members to implement appropriate tools. 

• Contribute to Country Office, Regional and Global capacity building plans and provide MEL-focused training and facilitation.

Technical Support and guidance 

• Strengthen the use of Theories of Change (ToC) within projects through participating in their development and ensuring clear relationships between ToC and baselines and endlines. 

• Provide technical support to logframe development during the project design process ensuring strong links with LAMP, particularly for social inclusion and inclusive education projects. 

• Contribute to project MEL planning by ensuring continuity between baseline and endline data collection tools, and annual monitoring tools. 

• Ensure the accurate design of evidence gathering elements, including clear and robust rationale, budgets and resourcing. 

• Maintain open lines of communication among internal stakeholders about project progress and escalate risk when needed. A key focus is to assist institutional funding and senior management with communications on project progress and challenges. 

Evidence generation and learning 

• Lead Country and Global teams to conduct evidence generation activities to support strategic direction including, project baseline, annual and endline data collection, reporting and learning at project and portfolio (strategy) level 

• Analyse, consolidate and disseminate indicator baseline and endline data, provide technical support to donor reporting when necessary 

• Support the integration of needs and opinions expressed by people and communities we serve 

• Collaborate with MEL team members to analyse performance data, write reports and provide recommendations 

• Ensure that learning from project baselines contributes to project design, implementation and improvements in MEL practice

• Support the design, delivery and dissemination of learning, particularly around inclusion, within and between relevant thematic areas 

The post holder is expected to travel up to eight weeks a year locally and internationally. The role offers flexible working from home and the office to be agreed upon with the line manager. 

Skills and Experience 

As the successful candidate you will possess a degree in a relevant field or subject (international development, public health, social sciences), or equivalent learning and experience. You will have a background in the comprehensive design and delivery of outcome focussed qualitative approaches/techniques including participatory MEL, tool development, data collection, analysis and reporting, and have experience of analysing rich qualitative data from multiple sources including the use of appropriate analysis methods and data analysis software tools. 

Further required knowledge, skills and experience include: 

Essential 

• Experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning gained within the international development sector in programme countries.

• Excellent technical skills in monitoring, evaluation and learning: developing and using theories of change, designing MEL plans, designing logframes, managing oversight processes, sharing evidence and communicating learning, data quality assessment.

• Experience producing analytical reports and communication materials of good quality for a wide range of audiences, particularly using qualitative data. 

• Excellent self-management and initiative with proven ability to independently manage large, complex pieces of work with multiple stakeholders in a high-pressure environment working to competing deadlines. 

• Ability to build and manage strong, effective working relationships with internal and external audiences on complex international development projects (working with multiple countries and continents) 

• Ability to balance attention to detail with understanding the big picture. 

• Sound knowledge of Microsoft Office products and relevant use of artificial intelligence (AI) software 

Desirable 

• Fluency in other Sightsavers’ languages e.g. French, Portuguese, Bengali, Kiswahili. 

• Experience in MEL for social inclusion and/or education programmes and inclusive data skills. Disability data skills are an asset. 

• Skilled in efficient working practices within a geographically disbursed team. 

• Experience of planning, monitoring and evaluating flexible adaptive programmes. 

• Understanding of operational research methodologies and approaches 

This is a highly varied and involved role, and the above is not an exhaustive list of duties or required professional skills. Please see the Job Description for full details.  

Candidates are welcome to demonstrate their ability to match the person specification by expanding on how their experience, training and/or qualifications might have provided them with the knowledge or skills required for the role. Successful candidates will be appointed on merit. 

Benefits 

Sightsavers offers some fantastic benefits. Our comprehensive benefits package includes generous annual leave allowance, pension, season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym memberships and wellness discounts. If you choose to work in or are visiting our collaborative, modern office space, you will find it an easy 20-minute train journey from Brighton or 45 minutes from London. 

Next steps 

To apply for this exciting new opportunity, please submit your CV via our recruitment portal. We are particularly interested in learning of your motivations for applying.

Please note that there will be an expectation that you can occasionally visit our modern and collaborative offices in Haywards Heath, West Sussex (RH16 3BW). 

Closing date: 21 September 2025 

As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applications from all sections of the community. Sightsavers is a Disability Confident Leader and qualified people with a disability are particularly encouraged to apply.

Sightsavers is an employer that does not tolerate any form of harassment and has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. All potential candidates will be subjected to rigorous background checks and controls. 

World Jewish Relief launched the Specialist Training and Employment Programme (STEP) for refugees in 2016 and today we are the largest provider of specialist employment support to people who have experienced forced migration in the UK. 

STEP aims to support refugees and others who have experienced forced migration to overcome the complex barriers they face in preparing for, and ultimately finding, work in the UK. We work with individuals, regardless of their background or proximity to the labour market, helping them develop the skills and access the opportunities they need to secure sustainable and meaningful employment.

We deliver STEP through both online and in-person programmes across the UK. Our work includes targeted support for women refugees, Afghan nationals, Ukrainians, and people who have come through the asylum system.

Our flagship in-person programme is delivered in partnership with a network of expert local delivery partners — including local authorities and NGOs — to ensure high-quality, community-based support.

We now have an exciting opportunity for a Programme Officer, who will be central to the smooth delivery and coordination of the STEP In-Person Programme. You will work closely with a network of expert partners, including local authorities and NGOs, to ensure high-quality, accessible support is delivered within communities.

You will be responsible for a range of programme and partnership management tasks, including oversight of grant payments, data and impact reporting, delivery partner support, and internal training and induction. You will also contribute to the design and delivery of specialist strands of STEP, including our pilot programme for people seeking asylum and our Experts by Experience Board. You will work closely with the STEP Programme Manager to implement the programme’s current delivery and help shape its future direction into 2025 and beyond.

About you

We are looking for candidates who have:

• Experience of working in a programme delivery or coordination role, particularly supporting refugees or other marginalised groups into employment
• Experience supporting or managing external partnerships or stakeholders
• Experience organising, planning and facilitating training and workshops
• Excellent administrative and organisational skills
• Strong Excel and data handling skills and confidence using Microsoft Office and CRM databases
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to build effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders
• Willingness to travel within the UK for partner meetings and events

​Benefits

We offer a range of benefits including:

• 23 days holiday pro rata plus bank holidays and Jewish holidays.
• Pension scheme – we contribute 5% to the World Jewish Relief pension scheme.
• Life Insurance – up to 3 times salary to nominated beneficiaries.
• Health Cash Plan – cash back to cover the costs of dental treatment, optical care, specialist consultations and a range of complementary therapies.
• Enhanced maternity & paternity pay.
• Employee Assistance Programme – free, confidential advice or support with any personal or work. related concerns or free counselling if needed.
• On Friday the office closes at 3pm.
• We encourage flexible working and offer a range of flexible working options

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

World Jewish Relief values equity, diversity and inclusion in our workplace and we encourage applications from candidates of all ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, genders, sex, sexual orientations, ages, disability, faiths (or non), marital status (or non), that meet the criteria set out for this role.

We are striving to build a team reflective of the communities we work with. People with experience of forced migration are experts by experience and are particularly encouraged to apply for this position. If you have first-hand experience of forced migration, please let us know in your application. Additionally, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all the requirements that are listed within the person specification.

We respect that people’s identity is not defined by their past experiences and do not expect candidates to describe their lived experience during the interview process unless they wish to do so.

You don’t need to be Jewish to work for us, but you must be committed to our faith-based values of Justice, Kindness, Repairing the World and Welcoming the Stranger. We are inspired by these values to work beyond our community, recognising the dignity and potential of all people.

To apply

Please upload your CV and a cover letter which outlines why this role appeals to you and how you meet the criteria in the person specification. Please refer to the person specification which shows which criteria will be assessed in your CV and cover letter.

Interviews will be held remotely week commencing 29th September 2025.