Application Guide

How to Apply for Director, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

at Cure Blindness Project

🏢 About Cure Blindness Project

Cure Blindness Project stands out for its tangible global impact, having restored sight to over 1.6 million people and trained more than 20,100 eye health professionals across 30+ countries. Their focus on building sustainable, cost-effective eye care systems in underserved areas offers a unique opportunity to contribute to scalable solutions that address preventable blindness worldwide.

About This Role

As Director of MEL, you'll lead the design and management of monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems to measure the impact of sight-restoring programs across diverse regions. This role is crucial for driving data-informed decisions, demonstrating effectiveness to donors, and ensuring that Cure Blindness Project's interventions continuously improve and adapt based on evidence.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing data from ongoing eye care programs across different regions, meeting with regional teams to discuss data collection challenges, developing MEL frameworks for new initiatives, and creating dashboards in Salesforce to visualize impact metrics for leadership. You'd also spend time coaching team members and ensuring data quality standards are maintained across all reporting systems.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Cure Blindness Project Is Looking For

  • Has 10+ years of MEL leadership experience in NGOs or international organizations, with specific expertise in donor-funded projects (preferably in vision care or healthcare)
  • Possesses 5+ years of proven management experience, including coaching teams and building partner capacity in data collection and analysis
  • Demonstrates strong quantitative and qualitative research skills, with experience overseeing data quality and developing MEL frameworks for complex programs
  • Has practical experience with Salesforce or similar platforms for creating dashboards that inform programmatic decisions

📝 Tips for Applying to Cure Blindness Project

1

Quantify your impact in previous MEL roles—specifically mention how many programs you've evaluated, data systems you've designed, or teams you've managed

2

Highlight any experience with vision care, healthcare, or global health programs, as this is a preferred qualification for Cure Blindness Project

3

Demonstrate your understanding of donor reporting requirements by mentioning specific donors (like USAID, WHO, or foundations) you've worked with

4

Include examples of how you've used MEL data to drive program adaptation or strategic decisions in past roles

5

Tailor your resume to show progression in MEL leadership, emphasizing the 10+ years requirement and 5+ years of management experience

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience designing and implementing MEL systems for international health programs, specifically mentioning any work in vision care if applicable', "Examples of how you've used data to demonstrate program effectiveness to donors and inform organizational strategy", 'Your approach to building partner capacity and managing teams across diverse cultural contexts', 'Experience with Salesforce or similar platforms for creating dashboards that support data-driven decision making']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review Cure Blindness Project's annual reports and impact data to understand their current MEL approach and reporting structure
  • → Study their geographic footprint across 30+ countries to understand the diversity of contexts where MEL systems would need to function
  • → Research their major donors and funding partners to understand reporting requirements and expectations
  • → Look into current trends in global eye care and vision health to understand the broader context of their work
Visit Cure Blindness Project's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design a MEL framework to measure the long-term impact of sight-restoring surgeries across different regions?
2 Describe your experience managing MEL teams remotely and building capacity with local partners in underserved areas
3 How have you previously ensured data quality and integrity in complex, multi-country programs?
4 What strategies would you use to translate MEL findings into actionable recommendations for program adaptation?
5 How would you approach creating Salesforce dashboards that provide real-time insights for program managers and leadership?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with generic MEL experience without highlighting specific healthcare or international development context
  • Failing to demonstrate the required 10+ years of leadership experience in MEL roles within NGOs or international organizations
  • Not providing concrete examples of managing teams or building partner capacity in data collection and analysis

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Cure Blindness Project!

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