Senior Evaluation Specialist Job Description

About the role

The Senior Evaluation Specialist will join Bodhi's international roster of evaluation specialists, leading and contributing to complex multi-country evaluations for UN agencies, bilateral donors, INGOs, and foundations. This role requires exceptional technical expertise in evaluation methodologies, proven leadership in managing diverse evaluation teams, and the ability to synthesise complex data into actionable insights that drive programme improvement and organisational learning. The Senior Evaluator will work across fragile and conflict-affected contexts, applying rigorous mixed-methods approaches whilst ensuring cultural sensitivity and conflict-aware evaluation practices.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Evaluation Leadership & Design

• Lead the design and implementation of complex multi-country evaluations, including baseline, midline, endline, and impact evaluations

• Develop comprehensive evaluation frameworks integrating OECD-DAC criteria with innovative evaluation approaches

• Design and apply advanced evaluation methodologies including Outcome Harvesting, Contribution Analysis, Process Tracing, and Most Significant Change techniques

• Develop robust Theories of Change and evaluate their validity through systematic evidence collection

• Lead realist evaluations examining what works, for whom, and under what circumstances

• Design quasi-experimental evaluation approaches where randomised designs are not feasible

Technical Excellence

• Apply and adapt international evaluation standards including UNEG norms, ALNAP criteria, and IOE (Independent Office of Evaluation) guidelines

• Conduct meta-evaluations and synthesis studies across multiple projects and contexts

• Integrate gender-transformative and feminist evaluation approaches, ensuring GESI considerations are central to evaluation design

• Apply conflict-sensitive evaluation methods in fragile contexts, ensuring Do No Harm principles

• Design participatory evaluation processes that meaningfully engage beneficiaries and marginalised groups

• Develop innovative mixed-methods approaches combining quantitative and qualitative data collection

Team Management & Capacity Building

• Lead and mentor multi-disciplinary evaluation teams across multiple countries

• Build capacity of national evaluators and research partners, promoting localisation

• Facilitate participatory analysis workshops and validation sessions with stakeholders

• Provide quality assurance for evaluation products ensuring academic rigour and practical utility

• Support junior evaluators in developing advanced methodological skills

Client Engagement & Communication

• Serve as primary technical focal point for high-value, strategic evaluation assignments

• Present evaluation findings to senior stakeholders including government officials, donor representatives, and boards

• Facilitate utilisation-focused dissemination ensuring evaluation findings influence policy and practice

• Write high-quality evaluation reports that balance rigour with accessibility

• Develop evaluation briefs, infographics, and presentations for diverse audiences

Technical Competencies

Evaluation Expertise:

• Master's degree required, PhD strongly preferred in evaluation, social sciences, international development, or related field

• Minimum 10 years of evaluation experience, ideally 15+ years, with progressive leadership responsibilities

• Demonstrated expertise in:

  • OECD-DAC evaluation criteria and their application in complex contexts

  • Theory-based evaluation approaches (Theory of Change, Realist Evaluation)

  • Outcome Harvesting and outcome mapping methodologies

  • Contribution Analysis and impact attribution methods

  • Most Significant Change and participatory evaluation techniques

  • Quasi-experimental designs and counterfactual analysis

  • Complexity-aware evaluation approaches

  • Utilisation-focused and developmental evaluation

Sectoral Knowledge:

• Deep expertise in at least two of the following sectors: governance, peacebuilding, humanitarian response, health systems, education, gender equality, climate adaptation, economic development

• Understanding of international development architecture and donor requirements

• Experience with UN evaluation systems, World Bank IEG standards, or bilateral donor evaluation frameworks

• Knowledge of Grand Bargain commitments and localisation agenda

Methodological Skills:

• Advanced quantitative analysis skills including statistical software (STATA, R, or SPSS)

• Expertise in qualitative data analysis including use of NVivo or similar software

• Experience with innovative data collection methods including mobile data collection, remote monitoring, and digital approaches

• Ability to triangulate multiple data sources and synthesise complex evidence

Core Competencies

Leadership & Innovation:

• Intellectual leadership in evaluation practice, contributing to methodological advancement

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision whilst managing complex stakeholder relationships

• Strategic thinking linking evaluation to broader organisational learning and adaptive management

• Innovation in applying evaluation methods to address complex development challenges

Communication & Influence:

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English and French (full professional proficiency required)

• Additional UN languages (Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Chinese) highly desirable

• Proven ability to communicate complex findings to non-technical audiences

• Strong facilitation skills for multi-stakeholder processes

• Publication record in peer-reviewed journals or evaluation practice publications desirable

Cultural Competence & Adaptability:

• Extensive experience working in diverse cultural contexts, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA, and Asia

• Ability to work effectively in fragile and conflict-affected settings

• Commitment to decolonising evaluation practice and promoting locally-led evaluation

• Flexibility to travel internationally at short notice

Ethical Standards:

• Uncompromising commitment to evaluation ethics and independence

• Understanding of safeguarding, PSEAH, and protection principles in evaluation

• Commitment to feminist evaluation principles and inclusive practices

Benefits

• Competitive international consultancy rates commensurate with experience

• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge evaluations with leading development organisations

• Professional development opportunities

• Collaboration with a global network of evaluation specialists

• Flexible working arrangements

How to apply

Application Requirements

Please click here and submit:

• Comprehensive project-based CV demonstrating evaluation expertise

• Cover letter addressing specific evaluation experience and methodological expertise

• Two examples of evaluation reports you have led (executive summaries acceptable)

• Three professional references including at least one from a recent evaluation client

• Daily rate expectations in GBP/EUR/USD

We look forward to receiving your application and learning more about how you can contribute to our team. For more information about our organisation and the work we do, please visit our website at Bodhi Global Analysis.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications on a rolling basis and may close the advert early for exceptional candidates.

Bodhi is committed to diversity in its workforce and strongly encourages applications from women evaluators and evaluators from the Global South. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply, particularly those who bring lived experience from the regions where we work. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religious beliefs, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, socioeconomic background or disability.