Research and Project Coordinator and Research Officer

BBC Media Action • Contract • Lusaka, Zambia • 1d ago

JOB ADVERT - RESEARCH POSITIONS

BBC Media Action is the international development charity of the BBC. BBC Media Action is registered as an international non-governmental organisation in Zambia.

BBC Media Action uses media and communications to reduce poverty and promote human rights. To achieve this, BBC Media Action partners with civil society, local media and governments to:

Produce creative programmes in multi-media formats which inform and engage audiences around key development issues.
Strengthen the media sector by building professional capacity and infrastructure.

We work in partnership to provide access to useful, timely, reliable information. We help people make sense of events, engage in dialogue, and take action to improve their lives. Our work in Zambia, to effect change, falls into two main thematic areas: governance and health.

We are looking to recruit for two positions for our media and information environment monitoring project in partnership with NDI to support the 2026 elections in Zambia. The project combines social media monitoring and social listening, traditional media monitoring (implemented with partners), narrative tracking and analysis, stakeholder engagement and public dissemination.

The aim of the project is to generate timely, evidence-based insights on Election-related narratives and information flows, misinformation and disinformation risks, media balance, bias, and representation.

These insights will be shared with stakeholders, media houses, and the public to support informed dialogue and improved media practice.

These roles involve frequent travel working with partners across a number of districts.

1. Research and Project Coordinator: Media Monitoring - 8 Months

The Research and Project Coordinator will lead the day-to-day coordination and implementation of the media monitoring project, with a strong focus on research, social listening, and narrative analysis.

The role will also oversee the quality and integrity of traditional media monitoring conducted by partners, particularly MISA Zambia, ensuring methodological consistency, data quality, and alignment with project objectives.

Essential skills and experience

· Minimum 4–5 years’ experience in project management, research, or media development

· Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social sciences, statistics or similar required.

· Strong experience in qualitative and quantitative research

· Demonstrated experience in media monitoring, content analysis, or social media analysis

· Experience managing donor-funded projects

· Experience in quality assurance of research or monitoring processes

· Experience working with or managing research or implementation partners

· Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret complex data and narratives

· Experience with social listening tools or digital analytics platforms

· Strong report writing and presentation skills

· Excellent organisational and time management skills

· Ability to work independently and meet tight deadlines

· Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills

· Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); knowledge of SPSS or similar is an advantage.

Desirable skills and experience

· Experience working on elections, governance, or media development projects

· Understanding of misinformation and disinformation ecosystems

· Experience working with media houses or journalists

· Knowledge of Zambia’s media and political landscape

· Experience in training or mentoring

· Knowledge of local languages

A valid driving license strongly preferred.

2. Research Officer: Social Listening and Media Analysis - 6 months

The Research Officer will lead the day-to-day implementation of social listening and social media monitoring activities. The role will focus on tracking narratives, analysing online content, identifying emerging risks, and producing regular analytical outputs.

This is a highly analytical and hands-on role requiring strong attention to detail, curiosity about online behaviour, and the ability to turn large volumes of data into clear insights.

Essential skills and experience

A minimum of 2–3 years’ relevant experience in research, media monitoring, digital analysis, or a related field (or a combination of relevant academic training and practical experience)
Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social sciences, statistics or similar required
Strong interest in social media, digital trends, and online behaviour

· Experience in data collection, analysis, and interpretation

· Strong analytical thinking and attention to detail

· Ability to identify patterns and trends in large volumes of data

· Experience with Excel (data cleaning, sorting, basic analysis)

· Strong written communication skills, especially in report writing

· Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines

· Strong organisational and time management skills

· Good understanding of Zambia’s media and political context

Desirable skills and experience

· Experience with social listening tools (e.g., Brandwatch or similar platforms) Experience in content analysis, narrative analysis, or digital research

· Understanding of misinformation and disinformation ecosystems

· Experience working on governance, elections, or media development projects

· Basic knowledge of statistical tools (e.g., SPSS)

· Knowledge of local languages

A valid driving license strongly preferred.

Core competencies for both positions

· Analytical thinking

· Planning and organization

· Decision making

· Communication and influencing

· Teamwork and relationship management

· Resilience and adaptability

· Professional integrity

Application procedure

Applicants should send a motivational letter and CV in one document (do not separate the letterand the CV) which clearly states the applicant’s name and the position being applied for in the subject line starting with the applicant’s name. Do not send certificates at this stage. The deadline for submitting applications is the Friday 10^th of April at 17:00 hours. Only email applications and applications which follow instructions will be accepted. Interviews scheduled for mid-April. Start date shortly thereafter.