MEAL Specialist (Systems & Partnerships)

Описание

Title: MEAL Specialist (Systems & Partnerships)

Reports to: Program Implementation Manager

Location: Kharkiv, Ukraine

Hello, Hello!

So you’re interested in joining us? Welcome, we’re happy you’re here.

When you Join Alight, you’ll find…

A team withdeep experience in co-designing solutionsthat create new value around the world. We know we need to always be better, and we believe in the power andabundance of everyday people, everywhere, to change the world with us.

A culture ofradical accountabilityto our customers –as we help build a meaningful life for and with the displaced, we ask them what they want and then deliver on it.

An organization that refuses to settle for anything less than deliveringhuman-worthy services.

If you are looking to be part of a living, breathing, ever-changing organization full of disrupters and doers, then read on!

Our Purpose and Work in Europe and Ukraine

In Europe and Ukraine, Alight supports communities affected by the war through a combination of immediate assistance and longer-term recovery programs. Our work focuses on restoring safety, dignity, and resilience for people whose lives have been disrupted by prolonged conflict.

Alongside rapid, practical support that responds to urgent needs, we implement longer-term initiatives that strengthen mental health and psychosocial wellbeing, support veterans and their families, and help communities recover through access to energy, winterization, and essential services. We work closely with local partners, authorities, and international teams to design solutions that are context-driven, adaptable, and rooted in community priorities.

Our response in Ukraine and the region continues to evolve with the realities on the ground, shaped by close collaboration with our team based in Kharkiv, who work directly alongside communities to adapt and deliver programs where they are needed most.

Who We Are

We are on a journey to build Alight, a new platform of amazing people and organizations providing lifesaving services and creating breakthrough solutions for and with the displaced.

Alight is an Equal Opportunity Employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sexual expression, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status. Alight complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

We strive to represent the diverse communities we serve. Applicants who contribute to this diversity and those who bring lived experience with displacement are strongly encouraged to apply.

THE ROLE:

The MEAL Specialist at ALIGHT Ukraine acts as the architect of the mission’s data ecosystem. Their primary mission is to transition from fragmented reporting to a systematic, digital-first data pipeline for MHPSS activities. This role bridges the gap between ALIGHT’s global standards and the operational reality of national partners, ensuring high-quality, ethical, and real-time data for decision-making.

Primary Roles & Responsibilities:

Systematic Data Infrastructure (The Architect):

Workflow Automation: Design and maintain a standardized end-to-end data flow for MHPSS activities, ensuring data moves seamlessly from field collection to ALIGHT’s central dashboards.Standardized Toolkits: Develop a "Master Toolbox" of digital forms (KoboToolbox/ODK) for PSS groups, individual counseling, and outreach, ensuring 100% uniformity across all hubs.Database Management: Maintain a secure, encrypted SQL or Excel-based master database that consolidates data from multiple national partners .

National Partner Coordination & System Integration:

System Harmonization: Lead the technical onboarding of national partners into ALIGHT’s MEAL systems, ensuring their internal tools align with ALIGHT’s reporting requirements.Data Quality Audits (DQA): Implement a systematic monthly audit of partner data to identify gaps, outliers, or logical errors in MHPSS reporting.Partner Empowerment: Transition partners from "data providers" to "data users" by creating custom PowerBI/Excel dashboards for their specific use.

Specialized MHPSS Monitoring:

Ethical Data Safeguards: Enforce strict "Zero-Identification" protocols for MHPSS data, ensuring systematic anonymization of sensitive beneficiary files before analysis.Do-No-Harm Systematization: Integrate "Safe Identification and Referral" (SIR) tracking into all monitoring tools to ensure every protection risk identified is systematically followed up.MHPSS Indicator Tracking: Develop and maintain standardized monitoring indicators for psychosocial support activities, including psychological consultations, family resilience sessions, peer support activities, and capacity-building trainings.Service Quality Monitoring: Conduct regular data reviews to assess the quality, coverage, and utilization of psychosocial services delivered by partner organizationsActivity Monitoring Support: Support monitoring of direct MHPSS interventions, including psychosocial support groups, individual counseling sessions, psychoeducation activities, and community-based wellbeing initiatives.Field Monitoring Visits: Participate in field monitoring visits to observe MHPSS activities, verify reported outputs, and ensure adherence to ethical, technical, and protection standards in psychosocial service delivery.Implementation Verification: Verify reported outputs and participation data for MHPSS activities through regular cross-checking of attendance records, session reports, and monitoring tools.Beneficiary Participation Tracking: Monitor participation trends across different MHPSS activities to identify barriers to access and ensure inclusive participation of diverse beneficiary groups.Outcome Monitoring: Support the measurement of psychosocial wellbeing outcomes through appropriate monitoring tools (., wellbeing scales, satisfaction surveys, or feedback mechanisms).Referral System Monitoring: Track the functionality of referral pathways between MHPSS, protection, health, and social services to ensure beneficiaries receive timely and appropriate support.

Accountability & Learning:

Systematic Feedback Loops: Build and manage a centralized Community Response Mechanism (CRM) database that tracks the "Life of a Complaint" from receipt to final resolution.Learning Integration: Lead quarterly "Data-to-Action" workshops with partners to review systematic trends and adjust MHPSS program strategy based on evidence.Program Learning: Contribute to documenting lessons learned and emerging practices from MHPSS activities to inform program adaptation and future intervention design.

Qualifications & Expectations:

Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, public health, statistics, international development, psychology, or a related field.At least 3 years of relevant experience in MEAL, data management, or program monitoring, preferably in humanitarian or development settings.Practical experience with digital data collection tools such as KoboToolbox, ODK, or similar platforms.Strong skills in Excel and data management; familiarity with Power BI, dashboards, or basic database systems is an asset.Experience working with implementing or national partners and supporting consistent reporting across multiple teams or locations.Good understanding of data quality assurance, reporting processes, and ethical data handling, especially when working with sensitive information.Knowledge of MHPSS, protection, accountability, or community feedback mechanisms would be an advantage.Ability to work independently, organize priorities, and provide practical solutions in a fast-paced environment.Strong communication and coordination skills, with the ability to explain tools and processes clearly to non-technical colleagues and partners.Professional working proficiency in English and Ukrainian.

What we are looking for:

A hands-on and well-organized MEAL professional who can combine technical accuracy with practical field realities.Someone comfortable improving systems, spotting gaps, and supporting teams and partners to use data more effectively.A colleague who is proactive, reliable, and able to work with a high level of ownership while remaining collaborative and supportive.

What we offer:

Employment contractLife insurance and private medical careMeaningful work in a mission-driven organization supporting communities affected by the war in UkraineA collaborative, respectful, and supportive team cultureOpportunities to learn, grow, and contribute to programs with real impact on the ground

So, are you interested in joining us? Welcome, we are happy you are here!