Operations support jobs

Reports to: Director of Research 

Responsible for (personnel): N/A 

Start date: June 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter

Based in: Candidates from any location where DMI has a permanent presence (London, Antananarivo, Kampala, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Mwanza, and Ouagadougou) are invited to apply. If successful, you will be expected to adhere to the working practices of the DMI office where you are subsequently based. If in the UK, you will be required to attend our London office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There may be occasional opportunities for international travel.

Type of role: Full time, permanent 

Salary: £35,000-45,000 per annum, dependent on experience, plus benefits. Benefits will be aligned with those in place at the DMI office in which the successful applicant is based. All DMI staff receive at least: any statutory pension contribution, 25 days annual leave, and private health insurance – more details can be given at interview.

Application deadline: 23:59 on 22nd April 2025

Date of first round interview: 30th April 2025

About DMI 

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, sexual and 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, FCDO, The Hilton Foundation, the Global Innovation Fund, Unorthodox Philanthropy, and the Mulago Foundation. 

We are an innovative 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. By working at DMI you will have a genuine, measurable impact on improving lives in low-income countries. 

DMI’s HQ is near Kings Cross in London and the organisation has a permanent presence in Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. It also currently works in Mauritania, Uganda and Cote d’Ivoire.

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 to recruit a Research Officer/Manager, whereby candidates from any location where DMI has a permanent presence (London, Antananarivo, Kampala, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Mwanza, and Ouagadougou) are invited to apply. The salary and title of this role is dependent experience, and DMI will consider outstanding Masters graduates through to post-doctoral level researchers. To succeed, you will need to demonstrate significant research experience and a highly proficient report writing abilities.

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

1. Designing and managing effective and scientifically robust evaluations (both quantitative and qualitative) for DMI projects.

2. Overseeing, advising, and supporting research teams in DMI’s national offices to conduct routine research activities (for example, focus groups to understand barriers to behaviour change) and other project specific research tasks.

3. Commissioning and managing external agencies (usually based in the country that we are working) to carry out surveys. This includes the competitive selection of an agency, often using a tendering process, liaising with the selected agency and ensuring that their work is of the highest scientific standards.

4. Contributing to writing and publishing reports based on data gathered and methodologies used during DMI projects. This will include articles for peer-reviewed academic journals and wider scientific publications.

5. Providing technical support to project design during the proposal phase, particularly in relation to the design of monitoring and evaluation elements.

6. Keeping abreast of the latest research evidence, theories, and concepts relevant to DMI’s campaign topics, and communicating trends and new ideas across the organisation.

7. Effectively communicating with, providing technical research support, and building the research capacity of colleagues (those with and without a research background) and sub-contractors in the areas of research methods, monitoring, process evaluation, and impact evaluation, analysis, and interpretation.

8. Other tasks as required by DMI.

Person specification 

Required knowledge, skills and experience  

1. Very strong intellectual ability, as evidenced by a research-focused postgraduate qualification and significant research experience in epidemiology, public health, health economics, social sciences, statistics, biomedical sciences, or an equivalent field.  The salary range is broad to reflect that we will consider outstanding Masters graduates through to post-doctoral level researchers. 

2. Excellent writing skills (in English), likely proven both by a publication record, and by an ability to communicate complex technical ideas to non-specialist audiences, both internally and externally.

3. Practical experience with, and good working knowledge of, statistical analysis software programmes, such as Stata, SPSS, R, or SAS, and strong general IT skills including questionnaire design, database development, and working with complex spreadsheets.

4. An inquisitive and open-minded approach, evidenced by knowledge and understanding of a broad range of research topics and a willingness to learn about new themes, approaches, and techniques when required.

5. Self-motivated with a high capacity for work, shown by the ability to cope with multiple concurrent professional priorities and tight deadlines. This will require strong organisational and time management skills but also the flexibility to understand the pressures, uncertainties, and difficulties of working in an international development context.

6. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Willingness and ability to take the initiative not only in identifying problems but also in suggesting and implementing solutions.

7. The ability to understand different cultural contexts, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa.

Desirable knowledge, skills and experience  

1. Language ability in French, Portuguese, or Swahili. Fluency in other languages spoken in DMI’s countries of operation is also desirable.

2. Practical experience of designing, monitoring, and evaluating programmes, preferably with some research experience in developing countries, and meeting the monitoring and evaluation requirements of global funders. Experience of data collection using PDAs/mobile phones/tablets would be useful.

3. Experience of working with geographically displaced colleagues (ideally in different countries).

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.