Senior Campaigns Manager (Zambia) at Development Media International

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. DMI recently published the results of its 5-year, £7m randomised controlled trial in West Africa which showed that 56% more children were taken for treatment for malaria, 73% more for diarrhoea and 39% more for pneumonia following exposure to our campaign. Modelling indicates that over 3000 lives were saved during the campaign and that our approach is one of the most cost-effective ways of saving children’s lives.

DMI has two priorities: first, to continue to generate ground-breaking research (we are conducting another randomised control trial in Burkina Faso, this time to measure our impact on contraceptive uptake), 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.

DMI has a permanent presence in Burkina Faso, Mozambique and Tanzania and will expand to Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia in 2019. Its regional operations include five more countries in West Africa as well as Burundi. DMI’s headquarters overlooks the Regents Canal in Hoxton, London and 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 GiveWell and was the first organisation to receive the maximum rating from Impact Matters. It is also endorsed by the Centre for Effective Altruism, Giving What We Can and The Life You Can Save.

Job description:

As part of a new DFID-funded Women in Sexual Health (WISH) consortium, DMI is working alongside Marie Stopes Zambia, the Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ) and Options to expand access to modern contraceptives and sexual and reproductive health services, particularly for the most underserved women and girls. DMI’s role primarily focuses on demand creation, and involves the production of radio and video content, as well as other media outputs.

DMI is looking for a Senior Campaign Manager to play a critical role the development and delivery of this campaign in Zambia. As a senior member of a newly established country team, the role holder will be expected to input into all aspects of DMIs programme, from design and production of campaign outputs, to engagement with local and national stakeholders and consortium partners.

In particular, the Senior Campaigns Manager will lead on the production, testing and distribution of campaign content. This will involve brokering close working relationships with a network of radio stations across the country; managing the development of scripts and translation into provincial languages; overseeing the production of radio content; organising the pre-testing of content at community-level; distributing content and ensuring it is being aired per the broadcast schedule.

This is an operational position, suited to someone with previous experience working in mass media, media production, or social behaviour change communications (SBCC). A proven track record of leading complex productions/projects would be a strong advantage. A commitment to promoting the sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls is critical.

The role will include extensive travel within Zambia; during the most intense campaign periods this could be up to 50% each month. There may also be some occasional travel to regional meetings outside Zambia (once or twice a year). The position is open to Zambian nationals who have the right to work in Zambia.

More specifically, the Senior Campaigns Manager’s role will include the following responsibilities:

Person specification:

• At least 5 years’ relevant professional experience working on national-level programmes in Zambia, whether in the private or NGO sector, ideally as part of a consortium;
• In-depth knowledge of media landscape in Zambia evidenced by prior experience working in mass media, radio production or on media-based SBCC campaigns;
• A proven track record of leading complex productions/projects;
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, including the ability to work with detailed planning documents such as project plans and broadcast schedules, and maintain accurate records of complex information;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills supporting engagement with stakeholders from community- to government-level;
• Self-motivated, able to manage own tasks, prioritise workload and deliver to deadlines;
• Strong intellectual ability, as evidenced by a good degree or similar qualifications in a relevant field and performance at interview.
• Commitment to promoting the sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls is critical.
• Able and willing to travel up to 50% within Zambia;
• Desirable knowledge, skills and experience
• Experience in global health/family planning /sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) programming;
• Experience working closely with the Ministry of Health, strong networks at regional or national level;
• Experience in radio production, script writing or the community radio sector;
• Experience or knowledge of qualitative research including focus group research;
• Ability to speak a number of Zambia’s regional languages.

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