Quality Manager, USAID

The Quality Manager (QM) will lead overall quality management and performance monitoring on a large, complex, and high-visibility USAID contract piloting a new approach to helping the Agency meet its staffing and surge support needs. As an experienced and highly skilled senior leader, the QM will design and implement systematic quality assurance methods to ensure timely, effective, and high-quality contract performance, achievement of results, and continuous improvement. Applying a comprehensive adaptive management framework, the QM will establish systems and processes to monitor all areas of performance and closely track performance indicators. The QM's core responsibilities will include proactively addressing inefficiencies or areas for improvement as they arise, working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to design and implement solutions and mitigate performance problems. They will implement rigorous feedback loops and adapt management and operational systems and processes in real time to incorporate lessons. The QM will be responsible for implementing and updating the activity MEL Plan and for maintaining compliance with USAID standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee a system for quality assurance and continuous improvement that ensures timely, effective performance and achievement of results as specified in the contract.
• Establish and lead adaptive management processes to promote continuous improvement, continually adjusting program activities or processes as needed to incorporate real-time feedback and lessons learned and to remain responsive to USAID's evolving needs and priorities.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of an activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) plan to ensure progress towards stated goals.
• Participate in developing and updating the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan at the USG's invitation.
• Attend monthly meetings (or as often as needed) with USAID personnel to review program strengths, opportunities, aspirations, results, methods, and goals.
• Work closely with project leadership to ensure quality and timeliness of contract performance and closely track performance indicators, identifying areas for improvement and pre-emptively or rapid-responsively implementing solutions.
• Submit Quarterly Performance Reports including key achievements, problems, and management issues.
• Submit an annual report that compiles data from previous reports and documents progress, results, lessons learned, and indicators.
• Provide a final report summarizing program highlights, status of all staff contracts, funds obligated and disbursed, and performance issues at the completion of the contract.
• Collaborate effectively across relevant USAID offices to develop and implement robust MEL frameworks and learning agendas to measure impact and inform the implementation of strategies, policies, and programs.
• Provide overall leadership, technical expertise, and guidance on indicator development and performance monitoring, including reporting through the Annual Performance Plan Report and other standardized reporting exercises.
• Advise and direct USAID teams to create, implement, review, and monitor performance management plans (PMPs).
• Build a culture generating evidence and incorporating learning that leads to enhanced program effectiveness, scope, and scale. Work closely with relevant USAID stakeholders to integrate learning methodologies and practices to facilitate a learning culture.
• Support USAID in organizing and facilitating learning meetings and other learning and knowledge-sharing events.
• Lead the development and delivery of trainings on specific MEL topics and adaptive management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (ex., business, management science, public administration, non-profit operations, etc.) required; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible, directly relevant experience, including at least 5 years specifically for USAID.
• Experience leading comprehensive quality management initiatives or systems and applying adaptive management approaches, preferably for large or complex USAID programs.
• Demonstrated history with performance monitoring and Collaboration, Learning, and Adapting (CLA).
• Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to manage in accordance with the principles of ISO 9001 for Quality Management and ISO 56002 for Innovation, Risk, and Adaptive Management.
• Familiarity with the USG's various mechanisms for staffing and surge support (ex. ISCs, PSCs, etc.).
• Outstanding communications, interpersonal, and leadership skills. Ability to successfully manage key relationships with the client or other external stakeholders, including the ability to engage effectively with government officials on potentially sensitive or charged topics.
• Demonstrated experience developing performance indicators, assessing and tracking data quality, data management, and/or training in performance management topics.
• Demonstrated experience training/facilitating workshops with several types of stakeholders on M&E topics; proven ability to distill complex information down to usable and understandable information for stakeholders.