Monitor, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Coordinator at Louisiana Public Health Institute – New Orleans, Louisiana

MEL COORDINATOR

Why is this a great job? (From the hiring manager) “This is an outstanding opportunity for an early-career evaluator to establish themselves professionally and learn under some of the most experienced evaluation experts in the region. You will work on both internal and external evaluation projects, with the support of a well-rounded and highly skilled team.”

ABOUT US
The Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) is a statewide, non-profit organization that has been promoting the health and well-being of Louisianians since 1997. Our 65+ employees work alongside 500+ partner organizations at the local, state, and national levels to leverage our broad expertise in public health to achieve our mission of ensuring that everyone has fair and just opportunities to be healthy and well.
Our strategic plan priority areas include Health Equity, Partnerships and Collaboration, A Healthier Louisiana, and A Thriving Organization. To learn more, visit www.lphi.org.

POSITION DETAILS

Job Title: MEL Coordinator
Salary: $47,000 - $53,000 (Paraprofessional 2)

• Salary is based on various factors unique to each candidate, including skill set, experience, qualifications, and other job-related reasons

Work Schedule: 40-hour work week

• LPHI offers traditional (M-F, 8 am-5 pm), flexible (for example, M-F 10 am-7pm), and compressed work schedules (for example, M-Th 8 am-7 pm). Schedule details finalized between employee and manager.

Location: This is a Louisiana-based, hybrid position with occasional (<10%) travel required

• LPHI maintains an office in New Orleans if the employee prefers to be full-time in-office
• Employee must reside in Louisiana during the time of employment

Team: MEL

Reports To: MEL Specialist II

Supervises: none

Benefits:

• LPHI contributes 7% of pre-tax salary to the employees’ 401k per pay period regardless of employee contribution, after six continuous months of employment
• 100% paid premiums for employee health (Core plan), dental, short-term disability, long-term disability and term life insurance beginning on the first day of the month, on or following one month of full-time employment
• 100% paid Employee Assistance Program
• 100% paid parking at 601 Tchoupitoulas Parking Garage
• Traditional, flexible, or compressed work schedules
• Resources committed to professional development
• Holidays, Vacation and Sick Days:
• 15+ paid holidays per year that includes Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break
• 10 vacation days accrued per year, years 0-2
• 15 vacation days accrued per year, years 3-5
• 20 vacation days accrued per year, year 6+
• 3 personal days
• 1 floating holiday (employee’s choice)
• 12 sick days

ABOUT THE POSITION

LPHI's Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team supports some of Louisiana's leading public health programs — from statewide tobacco prevention and cessation initiatives to community health needs assessments conducted on behalf of health systems across the state, to multi-site programs working to improve health outcomes in underserved communities. The MEL team is central to LPHI's ability to deliver rigorous, high-quality evaluation work and to compete for state and federal funding that makes that work possible.

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Coordinator is an entry-to-mid-level role on the MEL team, focused on supporting data collection, coordination, and monitoring across a portfolio of active projects including Whole Health Louisiana and Community Health Needs Assessments. This role is critical to keeping projects on track and ensuring that data coming into the team meets quality standards before it is used for analysis or reporting.

This position is well suited for someone who is organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable working across multiple projects simultaneously. No prior MEL experience is required, but a genuine interest in public health data and a commitment to accuracy and follow-through are essential.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Data Collection and Coordinator

• Coordinate data collection activities across various projects such as Community Health Needs Assessments, Whole Health Louisiana, including managing timelines, tracking submissions, and liaising with site contacts
• Maintain and update project monitoring systems, tracking logs, and data dashboards
• Support the development and administration of data collection tools, including surveys, REDCap forms, and tracking spreadsheets
• Conduct quality checks on incoming data and flag issues for review by senior staff
• Assist with instrument development and testing for community health needs assessments and other data collection efforts

Reporting and Deliverable Support

• Assist with the preparation of reports, data summaries, and funder deliverables as needed
• Pull and organize data to support analysis and reporting by senior MEL staff
• Help maintain funder reporting calendars and track submission deadlines
• Support development of data visualizations and dashboards that make program data accessible to stakeholders

Monitoring Systems and Data Management

• Maintain REDCap databases and other data management systems used across the MEL portfolio
• Ensure data is organized, labeled, and stored in accordance with LPHI's data management standards
• Support onboarding of new data collection systems and tools as projects come online
• Document data collection processes, workflows, and system updates for team reference

Team and Project Support

• Provide general project coordination support to MEL team members across assigned projects
• Participate in project meetings and contribute to team planning and coordination conversations
• Support the MEL team in preparing materials for funder site visits, convenings, and stakeholder meetings
• Participate actively in team and organization-wide meetings
• Perform other duties as assigned

ABOUT YOU

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Data Science, or a related field
• At least 1 year of experience in a data coordination, research coordination, or program support role — internship or practicum experience will be considered
• Experience with data collection tools and processes; REDCap experience preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and comfort working with data in a structured setting
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple project timelines at once
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Attention to detail, especially when it comes to data quality and accuracy

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Ability to collaborate effectively and build strong, positive relationships with colleagues and partners, both internal and external to LPHI.
• Exceptional emotional intelligence, including interpersonal skills and experience working with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrated learning orientation; ability to learn new subject areas quickly.
• Ability to champion and manage change.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver with excellent quality and impact.
• Ability to apply systems thinking and act strategically.
• Ability to model and inspire authentic leadership.
• Ability to effectively manage and successfully develop individuals and team.
• Commitment to public health and achieving health equity.
• Strong organizational skills required.
• Editing and revision skills are a plus.
• Ability to think proactively and function independently and must be able to work well in a team.
• Ability to maintain a highly detail-oriented approach while maintaining an appreciation of the long-term goals and objectives of the project.
• Proven and excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to utilize virtual meeting platforms, including but not limited to Microsoft Teams and Zoom to participate and coordinate meetings and activities in a virtual environment.

Your Impact at LPHI
The work you do at LPHI supports the organization’s ability to operate effectively and serve its mission. Your role contributes to how work gets done across teams—helping ensure efforts are organized, responsive, and aligned to organizational priorities that improve and advance health equity.

We value collaboration, respect for lived experience, and continuous learning, and we strive to create an environment where every team member can contribute fully to advancing Health Equity, strengthening Partnerships and Collaboration, building a Healthier Louisiana, and supporting a Thriving Organization.

How We Work

Work Environment & Physical Considerations:

We operate in a flexible work environment that includes both hybrid and fully remote roles, depending on position responsibilities and organizational needs. Our approach emphasizes trust, accountability, collaboration, and clear outcomes.

In all roles, employees can expect:

• Clear goals, priorities, and performance expectations
• Regular communication with supervisors and colleagues to support alignment and progress
• Thoughtful use of technology to enable effective collaboration and productivity
• Shared responsibility for maintaining a consistent organizational voice and upholding our values

Some positions require a hybrid schedule, with periodic onsite presence to support collaboration, relationship-building, and key meetings. Other positions are designated as fully remote. Work arrangements are determined by role requirements and may evolve over time based on operational needs.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement: Louisiana Public Health Institute is committed to accessibility and inclusion by providing reasonable accommodations and, when appropriate, flexible work arrangements, for qualified individuals with disabilities to support the job application process and performance of essential job functions consistent with applicable laws and organizational requirements. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at HumanResources@lphi.org.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement: Louisiana Public Health Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race (including hair texture and natural hair styles), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and religious grooming practices), sex (including pregnancy, perceived pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity (including transgender identity, status and transitioning), gender expression and sex stereotyping, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition or information (including genetic information), family care or medical leave status, military caregiver status, military status, veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, enrollment in a public assistance program, engaging in protected communications regarding employee wages, requesting a reasonable accommodation on the basis of disability or bona fide religious belief or practice, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any of these factors.

*As with all positions at LPHI, this position is funded through grant and/or contract funding, which is renewed under the provisions of the grantor of the contract. Positions are contingent upon the continuation of grant/contract funding.