How to apply for Senior Development Officer

About Evidence Action

Evidence Action scales cost-effective, evidence-based programs that reduce poverty in Africa and Asia. It has reached over 500 million people and works with governments to deploy proven health interventions. The Deworm the World program alone has delivered over 2 billion treatments and generated more than $23 billion in lifetime productivity gains.

About the role

As a Senior Development Officer on the Growth Team, you will help raise funds for programs like Deworm the World and Safe Water Now. The role is remote (US) and full-time. You will work with high-caliber colleagues to support the expansion of evidence-based global health interventions.

A typical day

A typical day might involve drafting a proposal for a foundation donor, meeting with the Growth Team to review fundraising targets, and coordinating with program staff to get updated impact data. You will likely spend time on email and video calls with colleagues in different time zones.

Who Evidence Action is looking for

• Has experience in fundraising or business development, preferably in global health or international development.
• Can communicate complex evidence-based programs to donors and partners clearly.
• Is comfortable working remotely and across time zones with teams in 11 countries.
• Has a track record of meeting fundraising targets or building donor relationships.

Tips for this application

• Read the full job description on Evidence Action's website to understand the Growth Team's specific goals.
• In your resume, quantify your fundraising results: amounts raised, number of donors, or growth percentages.
• Mention Evidence Action's programs by name (Deworm the World, Safe Water Now) in your application to show you have done basic research.
• Use the cover letter to explain why you want to work on evidence-based global health, not just any nonprofit.
• Check if the role requires travel or specific donor portfolio experience, and address that directly in your materials.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your experience raising funds for global health or poverty reduction programs.', 'How you have used data or evidence to make a case to donors.', 'Your ability to work remotely and collaborate with teams across multiple countries.', "Why Evidence Action's model of scaling proven interventions appeals to you."]

Research before applying

• Read Evidence Action's annual reports and impact statements on their website.
• Look up the Deworm the World and Safe Water Now programs to understand their scale and results.
• Research the Growth Team's role within Evidence Action and any recent fundraising campaigns.
• Check LinkedIn for current Senior Development Officers at Evidence Action to see their backgrounds.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would approach a donor who is unfamiliar with evidence-based global health.
• A time you had to explain complex research to a non-expert audience.
• Your experience managing a donor portfolio or fundraising pipeline.
• How you prioritize competing deadlines in a remote work environment.
• What you know about Evidence Action's Deworm the World or Safe Water Now programs.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic cover letter that does not mention Evidence Action or its programs.
• Focusing only on your passion for global health without showing fundraising results.
• Ignoring the remote nature of the role and not addressing how you manage remote work.