Purpose of Position  

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager plays a crucial role in leading the design, implementation, and ongoing refinement of the Katalis MEL system in alignment with IA-CEPA objectives, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) requirements, and Palladium standards. This position is responsible for ensuring the generation and utilisation of high-quality and inclusive evidence that supports adaptive management, accountability, and learning across program investments. 

The MEL Manager oversees monitoring and evaluation at program, activity, and strategic levels, which includes performance tracking, safeguarding, risk monitoring, and adherence to DFAT reporting standards. By adhering to utilisation-focused and Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles, this role integrates MEL as an essential management function, thereby enhancing decision-making and maximising Katalis' impact on inclusive trade, investment, and skills development outcomes. 

Primary Responsibilities   

• Provide strategic leadership for the design, operationalisation, and continuous improvement of the Katalis’ MEL system, aligned with the Program Theory of Change, results framework, and DFAT standards.
• Ensure the MEL system effectively monitors and reports results across both pillars, including policy and institutional reform (Pillar 1) and private sector performance, investment mobilisation, inclusion, and scalability (Pillar 2).
• Establish and maintain integrated MEL tools that clearly link outputs, intermediate outcomes, and end-of-program outcomes using proportionate qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Lead rigorous measurement of outcomes and systemic change, including policy influence, institutional performance, business investment, innovation, inclusion, and market-level outcomes.
• Develop, manage, and refine key performance indicators (KPIs), ensuring appropriate disaggregation by gender, disability, geography, and sector, supported by robust data quality assurance processes.
• Provide hands-on technical MEL leadership to program teams, supporting the development of results chains, indicators, monitoring plans, and the analysis and use of performance data for decision-making.
• Design and manage strategic evaluations and learning activities, including outcome harvesting, contribution analysis, thematic studies, and DFAT-mandated Mid-Term and End-of-Program Evaluations.
• Develop, manage and lead a functional MEL team and improve their capacities to deliver high-quality impact assessments, analysis and reporting.   
• Embed structured learning and adaptive management processes, including regular performance reviews, reflection sessions, and learning loops across policy reform and business innovation activities.
• Translate MEL findings into clear, decision-relevant knowledge products and communicate insights effectively to DFAT, Government of Indonesia counterparts, and program partners.

• Integrate MEL with program risk management, safeguarding and GEDSI frameworks, promote ethical and inclusive measurement practice, and strengthen MEL capability across staff, partners, and counterparts.

  Please refer to the Terms of Reference (ToR) to learn more about the role: MEL Manager.pdf

Minimum Education and Experience Required 

• Postgraduate qualification in Monitoring and Evaluation, Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years’ progressively responsible experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning for large, complex donor‑funded development programs, preferably DFAT‑funded or DFAT‑aligned programs.
• Demonstrated experience leading the design and implementation of program‑wide MEL systems, including theories of change, results frameworks, indicators, baselines, targets, and data quality assurance processes.
• Proven expertise in utilization‑focused and adaptive MEL approaches, including outcome harvesting, contribution analysis, and learning‑driven program adaptation.
• Substantial experience measuring policy reform, institutional performance, private sector engagement, and market‑level or systemic change outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience leading or managing strategic evaluations, including Mid‑Term Reviews and End‑of‑Program Evaluations.
• Strong analytical skills, with demonstrated ability to generate and synthesize high‑quality quantitative and qualitative evidence and translate findings into clear, decision‑relevant insights for senior stakeholders.
• Proven experience integrating MEL with risk management, safeguarding (including PSEAH and child protection), and GEDSI frameworks, consistent with DFAT standards.
• Demonstrated capability to lead, mentor, and build MEL capacity among multidisciplinary teams, partners, and counterparts.
• Experience working with or within the Government of Indonesia institutions, or in Indonesia‑based programs.
• Familiarity with DFAT performance and reporting requirements, including six‑monthly, annual, and evaluation reporting.
• Experience using digital MEL systems, dashboards, or data visualization tools to support adaptive management and reporting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Bahasa Indonesia. 

Core Capabilities  

Palladium’s Core Capability Framework for APAC Projects outlines the standard of performance and behaviors expected at each level within the organization. It also provides a benchmark for assessing areas of potential strength as well as the identification of potential skill gaps or areas for development and improvement.   

It is recommended that all employees are familiar with the capabilities expected of them at their level, and that managers use the framework as a tool for measuring performance and providing continuous feedback and coaching to their team members.   

Our capabilities link to a number of other processes, policies and guidelines including:  

• Performance management/ performance excellence - setting and maintaining standards and helping employees excel and develop
• Career Pathways including our Career Progression Framework
• Organizational design – identifying any skills gaps, outlining job roles and responsibilities
• Development, growth, learning, and training   
• Sustainable business – going beyond compliance to ensure sustainable and ethical considerations are woven throughout everything we do.  This aligns equity, diversity and inclusion; safeguarding; and environmental objectives 

How to Apply 
Click "Apply Now"

The MEL Manager must comply with DFAT’s PSEAH Policy, Child Protection Policy, Fraud Control Framework, and Palladium’s Code of Conduct.  

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status. 

Women are encouraged to apply.