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Position title:
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Monitoring, Evaluation & Knowledge Management Specialist
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Reports to:
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Lead Technical Advisor, WCS Mongolia
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Country Program
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WCS Mongolia
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Location:
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Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (with frequent travel to project sites)
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Position type:
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Full-time
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WCS ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding, and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat, and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of vulnerable rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct use of natural resources.
WCS MONGOLIA PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
Established in Ulaanbaatar in 2003, WCS Mongolia has dedicated over two decades to the conservation of Mongolia’s rich wildlife and expansive landscapes. The organization focuses on science-driven, landscape-level conservation, with key efforts in the Southern Gobi and Eastern Steppe, alongside emerging initiatives in Central Mongolia. In addition to regional projects, WCS Mongolia engages in national-level conservation efforts, collaborating with governments, communities, NGOs, and industries to promote biodiversity preservation, landscape connectivity, and sustainable resource management. In 2024, WCS Mongolia launched a five-year strategy focused on three key pillars: enhancing ecological function, strengthening landscape connectivity, and building resilience to climate change. These pillars guide the organization’s work, with the overarching vision of ensuring Mongolia’s ecological integrity for future generations.
PROJECT BACKGROUND:
The GEF-funded project "Rehabilitating and conserving the mountain landscapes in the Khangai region of Mongolia for improved ecosystem services and community livelihoods" is implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and executed by WCS Mongolia as the Operational Partner, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) and other relevant government agencies. WCS Mongolia is responsible for the day-to-day management of the project, ensuring technical implementation, operational oversight, and compliance with GEF and FAO policies and procedures, with the project scheduled to run from 2025 to 2030.
The project focuses on the Khangai region, a critical mountain landscape in Mongolia, with the goal of restoring ecosystems, enhancing ecosystem services like water and soil health, and improving the resilience of local communities through sustainable land management and climate adaptation strategies. It aims to improve livelihoods while addressing biodiversity conservation and the impacts of climate change.
The governance structure of the project includes a Project Steering Committee (PSC), which provides strategic guidance and approves work plans and budgets. FAO, as the GEF Implementing Agency, provides oversight and ensures the project adheres to GEF policies and technical, operational and financial standards. The Government of Mongolia plays a vital role in supporting policy alignment and facilitating implementation at both the national and local levels.
JOB SUMMARY:
Project title: Rehabilitating and conserving the mountain landscapes in the Khangai region of Mongolia for improved ecosystem services and community livelihoods
Implementation agency: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Mongolia
Execution agency: WCS Mongolia/Operational Partner
Government partner: Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC)
Funded by: Global Environment Facility (GEF)
The Monitoring, Evaluation & Knowledge Management Specialist will play a vital role within the WCS Khangai team, leading all knowledge management and M&E activities for the project focused on restoring degraded lands and promoting sustainable natural resource management in Mongolia. The Specialist will develop and implement a gender-responsive M&E system aligned with the project’s detailed results framework, tracking progress on restoration, biodiversity conservation, livelihood improvement, and social safeguards. They will coordinate data collection, reporting, and analysis with government agencies, communities, and partners, support adaptive management, and build capacity in M&E and knowledge sharing. Additionally, the Specialist will lead knowledge management efforts, ensuring systematic documentation, synthesis, and dissemination of project results, lessons learned, and best practices to promote organizational learning and stakeholder engagement. The Specialist is expected to work closely with the broader WCS operation and program teams, as well as with FAO as Implementation agency, by fostering collaboration and ensuring their work contributes effectively to the organizations’ and national strategic objectives.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop, implement, and manage the project’s comprehensive M&E plan aligned with the Results Framework, project indicators, and targets, ensuring all data is systematically collected, analyzed, and reported, in close collaboration with the Lead Technical Advisor.
- Track progress on all core and component-level indicators, including land restoration areas, biodiversity benefits, sustainable land management, greenhouse gas emissions mitigated, community livelihood impacts, and knowledge management, disaggregated by gender where applicable, working with the Lead Technical Advisor and Community Engagement expert.
- Coordinate with WCS, government agencies, and partners to collect data from multiple sources such as land use and cover data, government reports, CBNRM groups, and project field reports, in coordination with the Community Engagement expert to facilitate community data collection. Where appropriate, incorporate satellite/remote sensing data and digital data collection tools to enhance monitoring accuracy and efficiency.
- Conduct regular monitoring visits to project sites to verify progress, assess implementation quality, and support field teams.
- Use results-based monitoring (RBM) principles to measure progress against baseline, mid-term, and final targets, identifying gaps and recommending adaptive actions.
- Monitor implementation of environmental and social safeguards, including ESMP, ESMF, and the Gender Action Plan, ensuring compliance and integration of gender-sensitive indicators in M&E, working alongside the Community Engagement expert.
- Facilitate capacity building by training government staff, partners, and community groups on M&E methodologies, data collection tools, and reporting standards to enhance data quality and ownership.
- Lead coordination and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders (including multi-stakeholder task forces) to harmonize data collection approaches, improve data quality, and ensure timely submission of M&E data and reports aligned with project timelines.
- Lead knowledge management activities including the systematic documentation, synthesis, and dissemination of project outcomes, innovations, lessons learned, and best practices through knowledge products, policy briefs, case studies, and stakeholder exchanges.
- Support the design and maintenance of knowledge-sharing platforms and communities of practice to foster cross-program learning, stakeholder engagement, and scaling of successful approaches.
- Prepare and contribute to regular project progress reports, evaluation documents, and knowledge products that clearly present results, lessons learned, and recommendations, supporting organizational learning and strategic decision-making.
- Support the implementation and monitoring of grievance redress mechanisms (GRM) related to project activities, collaborating with the Community Engagement expert.
- Promote adaptive management by using M&E and knowledge management findings to recommend and support corrective actions; regularly update the M&E plan and tools to reflect emerging challenges and lessons.
- Ensure M&E activities contribute to organizational learning and align with the organizations and Mongolia’s strategic priorities, fostering cross-program collaboration and knowledge sharing.
- As appropriate, contribute to wider WCS Mongolia and organizations’ monitoring, evaluation, and knowledge-sharing initiatives to enhance cross-program learning and alignment with organizational priorities.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Education and Qualification:
- Master’s Degree in a relevant field such as International Relations, Social Sciences, Statistics, Development Studies, Environmental Science, or related disciplines.
- At least 5 years of professional experience in monitoring and evaluation within development, conservation, or natural resource management projects.
Technical Skills and Experience:
- Proven expertise in designing, implementing, and managing M&E systems aligned with project results frameworks and indicators.
- Strong experience monitoring implementation of environmental and social safeguards, including Gender Action Plans and social safeguard frameworks.
- Ability to integrate gender-sensitive and social safeguard indicators into M&E frameworks and ensure compliance.
- Skilled in analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data to assess project performance and support adaptive management.
- Preferred: Proficiency in statistical analysis and relevant software/tools for data collection, management, and reporting.
Other Competencies:
- Excellent analytical, report writing, and communication skills, with the ability to present complex data clearly and concisely.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with diverse, multidisciplinary teams and external partners.
- Fluency in English and Mongolian (spoken and written) is essential.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
- Submit your 1) CV in English, 2) one-page cover letter in English explaining your interest in and suitability for this position, 3) Diploma copies, and 4) at least 2 reference letters provided by previous line managers, all in one pdf file;
- The subject line of your email submission with “Application – Monitoring, Evaluation & Knowledge Management Specialist” and interested applicants should submit the application to the following email address:
- Applications should be sent on or before 5:00pm Friday, 15th of August 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted;
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Mongolia Program
201 San Business Center, Amar Street-29, Small ring road, Sukhbaatar district, Ulaanbaatar 14200, Mongolia. Tel: +976-11-323719