Research Associate

Reports to: Head of Research

Responsible for (personnel): N/A

Start date: September 2026 or ASAP thereafter

Term: Full time, one-year fixed-term contract, with the possibility of extension.

Based in: The role is based at DMI's London office, with hybrid working in line with organisational policy. You will normally be expected to work from the London office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The role may also involve occasional international travel.

Salary: £34,000 per annum, dependent on experience, plus 5% pension contribution, 25 days annual leave, and private health insurance.

DMI is looking to recruit a Research Associate to join our research team in London. We welcome applications from early-career researchers with strong quantitative research and analytical skills who are interested in global health and applied research. Working closely with the Head of Research, the Research Associate will support the design, delivery, analysis, and dissemination of DMI's research and evaluation activities.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Conduct quantitative analysis of formative and evaluation data using appropriate statistical methods and software, including the analysis of randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental evaluations (e.g. difference-in-differences, interrupted time series, matching-based methods), and contribute to the interpretation and communication of research findings.
• Contribute to writing high-quality reports and research outputs based on data collected through DMI projects. This will include articles for peer-reviewed academic journals and wider scientific publications.
• With support, work with external research agencies (usually based in the country that we are working) to design and carry out surveys. This includes liaising with the selected agency, reviewing outputs, and ensuring that their work is of the highest scientific standards.
• Support research teams in DMI's national offices to plan and conduct routine research activities (e.g., focus groups to understand barriers to behaviour change) and other project-specific research tasks.
• Support the design of effective and rigorous evaluations (both quantitative and qualitative), including providing technical input into monitoring and evaluation approaches during proposal development.
• Support the wider research team in communicating with, providing technical research support, and building the research capacity of colleagues and sub-contractors in the areas of research methods, analysis, and interpretation.
• Keeping abreast of the latest research evidence, methods, theories, and concepts relevant to DMI’s campaign topics, and communicating trends and new ideas across the organisation.
• Other tasks as required by DMI.

Person Specification

Required knowledge, skills and experience:

• Very strong intellectual ability, with a Master's degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., epidemiology, public health, health economics, social sciences, statistics, biomedical sciences).
• 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.
• An inquisitive and open-minded approach, with demonstrated ability and willingness to learn quickly and apply new methods, tools, and subject knowledge across a range of topics.
• 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.
• Excellent writing skills in English, demonstrated through academic writing such as dissertations, reports, or publications.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to understand the pressures, uncertainties, and difficulties of working in an international development context.
• The ability to understand different cultural contexts, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa.

Desirable knowledge, skills and experience:

• Language ability in French (highly desirable). Fluency in other languages spoken in DMI’s countries of operation is also desirable.
• Some practical experience of designing, monitoring, and evaluating projects, preferably with some research experience in developing countries and/or geographically displaced colleagues.

Equality and inclusion

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.