Senior Coordinator, MERL

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This position was posted on June 16, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Role Overview:

Last Mile Health (LMH) prioritizes evidence and data. We are seeking a Senior Coordinator, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) for Malawi, if you have experience leading innovative MERL for community health programs.

Since 2020, Last Mile Health has partnered with Malawi’s Ministry of Health to establish an integrated community health system. This collaboration equips community health workers (CHWs) with the necessary skills and tools to deliver effective, integrated, and high-quality Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services to remote and rural populations, ensuring patient-centered and dignified care. Our strategy empowers women and children in Malawi to make informed health choices and access sustainable, high-quality maternal and neonatal care.

Reporting directly to the MERL Specialist, the Senior Coordinator, MERL is a vital member of the Malawi MERL team. This role focuses on strengthening LMH's internal capacity for evidence generation, research, and learning beyond single-project scopes. The Senior Coordinator will support MERL for Malawi team projects, contributing to the development and implementation of research protocols, data collection systems, and evidence dissemination processes in close collaboration with the Malawi Programs team. Furthermore, this position will contribute to broader evidence generation efforts that inform LMH’s strategic priorities in Malawi and globally.

The Malawi MERL team and the Senior Coordinator, MERL will also collaborate with LMH’s Global MERL team to uphold organizational standards, address research and learning objectives, and participate in a shared MERL Community of Practice across the organization.

This is a 24-month fixed-term role with potential for renewal. Applicants must be currently located and authorized to work in Malawi. This position is based on-site in Lilongwe, Malawi.

What You'll Do

Support the MERL Specialist and Team

• Conduct data analysis for routine MERL and survey-based data collection initiatives.
• Assist in developing and implementing research protocols and MERL plans for Malawi programs and projects, incorporating learning or evaluation questions, methodologies, indicators, targets (where applicable), and analytics.
• Contribute to the design of evaluation studies, including household surveys, and oversee their execution.
• Adapt or develop data collection tools (e.g., surveys, key informant interview guides, focus group guides) and facilitate their implementation, including troubleshooting data collection challenges and analyzing the data.
• Share findings with program teams through regular data review sessions and collaborate on using these insights to refine strategies, strengthen programs, and improve activities.
• Contribute to or collaborate on costing studies (e.g., cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit) and workforce resource mapping.
• Support the development and maintenance of MERL data management systems and databases.
• Document standard operating procedures (SOPs) for data collection, entry, cleaning, analysis, and management.
• Create data visualizations and dashboards to clearly communicate findings to program teams, executive leadership, donors, and Ministries of Health.
• Provide support for other MERL activities as requested by the MERL Specialist.

Collaborate with Malawi and Global Teams as Appropriate

• Participate in Malawi country team and MERL team meetings and events.
• Engage in quarterly meetings with other Future Fit funding projects for shared learning.
• Regularly collaborate with program teams to ensure MERL plans remain fit-for-purpose and responsive to evolving programmatic needs.
• Engage with external research and MERL partners, including academic institutions, government counterparts, and peer NGOs, as relevant.
• Collaborate with the Global MERL team on MERL planning, practice, and Community of Practice activities.

What You'll Bring

• A Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Monitoring and Evaluation, Epidemiology, Health Policy, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree is a significant advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in public health and/or international development, with progressively responsible experience leading MERL activities for community health programs.
• Strong experience applying both quantitative and qualitative MERL methodologies and analytical tools, with an understanding of how to integrate equity principles into MERL activities.
• Proven experience collaborating with Ministries of Health, ideally with direct experience working with the Ministry of Health in Malawi.
• Experience producing high-quality MERL outputs such as reports, publications, white papers, toolkits, factsheets, and data visualizations, while fostering a culture of learning and data utilization.
• Proficiency in designing ODK or KoboToolbox data collection tools and using data analysis software like Excel, Stata, SPSS, R, or QGIS.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate and work with DHIS2 platforms, including data extraction and analysis.
• Experience developing and implementing logic models, MEL/MERL plans, and data quality assurance protocols.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to lead inclusive and culturally appropriate discussions across diverse geographies and contexts.
• Experience contributing to grant and proposal development, as well as meeting donor reporting requirements.

You'll Impress Us If You Have

• Experience working in a remote or distributed setting, with a willingness to travel to program sites as needed.
• A track record of partnering with and coaching program or implementation teams to enhance data utilization and evidence-based decision-making.
• Experience coordinating and collaborating effectively with colleagues working across multiple countries and time zones.
• A demonstrated commitment to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion, with the ability to foster inclusive work practices.

Compensation Information

At Last Mile Health, we are committed to rewarding our employees equitably and transparently. Our compensation model is clear, consistent, and applied without regard to identity or personal relationships. We make this model fully transparent to ensure everyone has access to all compensation-related information, reflecting our values and commitments to our employees. We welcome your questions during the hiring process.

Overview of Last Mile Health’s Compensation Model:

Before applying, please review our approach to compensation and benefits in each country of operation via the provided link.

Compensation for This Position:

Band: MWI-2

Salary Range (Malawi): $23,119 - $32,367 USD per annum, commensurate with experience in an equivalent role. Please note that this compensation is subject to statutory taxes.

About Last Mile Health:

Last Mile Health partners with governments to design, scale, strengthen, and sustain high-quality community health systems. These systems empower teams of community and frontline health workers to deliver life-saving primary healthcare to the world’s most remote communities. LMH is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Learn more at www.lastmilehealth.org.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at LMH. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

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