Research Manager

Reports to: Country Operations Manager

Responsible for: N/A

Start date: 4 April 2023

Term: 12-month contract (ending 31 March 2024) with possibility to extend if new projects are confirmed

Based in: Lusaka

Application deadline: 12 March 2023

Development Media International (DMI) delivers media campaigns aimed at changing behaviours, promoting health and saving lives in developing countries. We are the first organisation to scientifically demonstrate that mass media can increase life-saving behaviours (see the results of our RCT that proved our interventions can save thousands of children’s lives, here).

DMI has two priorities: first, to continue to generate ground-breaking research, second, to take our proven strategies to scale, saving as many lives as possible. We work across a range of health issues, including child survival, reproductive health, nutrition, hygiene, and early childhood development. DMI works in close partnership with leading experts in health, including WHO, UNICEF and LSHTM and has been funded by some of the world’s most prestigious organisations including the Wellcome Trust, DFID, Comic Relief, the Global Innovation Fund, Unorthodox Philanthropy, and the Mulago Foundation.

We are an innovative and rapidly growing organisation, working at the nexus between science and creativity. DMI has demonstrated that knowledge is not only a human right but is also the key to saving lives in a cost-effective way. Our intellectual rigour, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn from both our successes and mistakes, makes us distinct. Our ethos is non-hierarchical: all our staff are intellectually high-powered, and we have a “best idea wins” culture. By working at DMI you will have a genuine, measurable impact on improving lives in low-income countries.

DMI has a permanent presence in Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Tanzania and also currently works in Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia. Our headquarters in London provides the strategic direction for the whole organisation.

DMI is ranked as one of the most cost-effective non-profit organisations in the world by The Life You Can Save.

Job Description

DMI is looking for a motivated and experienced Research Manager to join its team in Zambia. The successful applicant will be working alongside two Campaign Managers under the direction of the Country Operations Manager.

The Research Manager will lead mixed-methods research activities in Zambia with support and supervision from research staff at DMI UK.

More specifically, the Research Manager role will include the following responsibilities:

1. Conduct qualitative research on social and behaviour change communication campaigns (formative research, pretesting campaign materials, and feedback research) in Zambia on various public health topics, in particular mental health, working in collaboration with the research and creative teams at DMI UK;
2. Plan and coordinate the implementation of quantitative research studies and lead/assist in training a pool of research assistants for data collection, obtaining all necessary ethical and administrative approvals to conduct field research, piloting survey instruments, and overseeing data collection;
3. Work with DMI’s creative and production teams to help them understand the local context and ensure that all campaign materials accurately represent local culture and address key barriers to behaviour change;
4. Establish strong working relationships with relevant government authorities and liaise with them as required, for example for the acquisition of routinely collected data for topics of interest from the Zambian Ministry of Health;
5. Concisely synthesize data and write research reports in English as well as preparing briefing notes on topics related to health behaviour in accordance with evidence-based literature reviews and departmental guidelines and policies;
6. Plan and coordinate research trips under the supervision of the DMI Zambia Country Operations Manager;
7. Other duties as required by DMI

Person Specification

Required knowledge, skills and experience

1. Strong intellectual ability as evidenced by a research-focused Masters in epidemiology, public health, social sciences, or a related discipline, and at least five years of adequate experience in applied research.
2. Experience in reviewing literature and writing summaries of key findings.
3. Experience of conducting quantitative and qualitative research including study design, data collection, piloting survey instruments, managing and training research assistants, analysis and report writing.
4. High capacity for work, shown by the ability to cope with multiple concurrent professional priorities and tight deadlines. This will require strong organisational skills but also the flexibility to understand the pressures, uncertainties, and difficulties of working in an international development context.
5. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
6. Willingness and ability to take the initiative to identify problems and propose and implement solutions.
7. Proficiency in English and Tonga.
8. Self-motivated with good time-management skills, an ability to plan, manage and prioritise a varied workload, with an eye for detail and a concern for accuracy, together with the ability to keep sight of the broader picture.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience

1. PhD in epidemiology, public health, social sciences, or a related discipline
2. Experience and knowledge of mental health research, internationally and in Zambia.
3. Experience of analysing quantitative data.
4. Proficiency in Nyanja and Bemba languages.
5. Registration/accreditation from NHRA

DMI is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

DMI operates a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and is committed to the protection and safeguarding of vulnerable individuals. Where appropriate, successful candidates will undergo background and reference checks. All DMI employees will be required to self-declare prior issues of sexual or other misconduct, termination of past employment, criminal records, and concerns registered with government authorities regarding contact with children.