Communications Officer (Media relations and web)

Salary indication: £22,000 (+12 % pension)
Closing date: 7 August 2006

The BirdLife International Secretariat (Cambridge, UK)
is looking to appoint a new Communications Officer.
The position will be part of the organisation's
Communication team.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the
editing and maintenance of the BirdLife web site
(www.birdlife.org), which has become a major news
outlet in its own right for bird conservation news.
This is not a particularly technical role, as a
Content Management System is used to update the site -
although good computer literacy would be a advantage.

The successful candidate will also be responsible with
other staff on the promotion of BirdLife International
through the media. This will include writing press
releases and features, fielding enquiries from
journalists, and liaising with other BirdLife staff to
ensure a good flow of information around the
organisation.

Good written and editorial skills are essential.

Applications to:
Rosina Abudulai
Human Resources/Training Manager
BirdLife International
Email: rosina.abudulai@birdlife.org.uk

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Communications Officer
(Media relations and web)

DEPT: Network & Programme Department

REPORTING TO: Head of Communications

POSTED IN: Cambridge, UK

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

INSIDE BirdLife: Communications staff in BirdLife
Partners and the rest of the BirdLife Network,
Directors, BirdLife Heads of Division, all Secretariat
staff in Cambridge and Regional Offices, Staff of
Country Programmes, Directors and staff of BirdLife
Partners

OUTSIDE BirdLife: Senior media staff and environment
journalists, relevant corporate sector staff,
supporters of relevant public initiatives, campaign
and communication staff within other international
environment and conservation NGOs, and the general
public in collaboration with national BirdLife
Partners.
__________________________________________________________

OVERALL PURPOSE OF JOB:

To work with the BirdLife Secretariat and Partnership
to promote BirdLife's aims and identity through
communications and media activities, with a high
degree creativity and innovation.

The job involves leading on the BirdLife web site and
the press and media activities of BirdLife
International

MAIN DUTIES:

1. To edit, update and create content for the BirdLife
web site (including news stories and image editing),
and where appropriate assist other staff with the
process of uploading content to the site. 2. To
promote BirdLife's web communications channels and
strive for their constant improvement. 3. To act as
BirdLife's global focal point for media contacts and
ensure appropriate messages are communicated by the
best person within the BirdLife Network in a timely,
professional manner. 4. To write and distribute
BirdLife press releases to an appropriate network of
media contacts. 5. Ability to recognise news stories
and act swiftly to ensure they are developed to
represent BirdLife's views to interested media, often
at very short notice and requiring a high level of
personal initiative.
6. Respond to queries from journalists and other
media.
7. When necessary, act as a spokesperson for BirdLife,
representing the organisation's views and policies to
the media and general public.
8. To collect, re-package and promote news releases
and news stories from BirdLife Partners in order to
increase the profile of the BirdLife Partnership in
the media. 9. To assist the growth of communication
activities in developing BirdLife Partners through
advice, support and training. 10. To work closely with
and motivate Partners to value public campaign and
communication activities through participation in
network meetings and establishment of effective
working relations with Partner communications staff.
11. To monitor and appraise the effectiveness of
BirdLife's press and media activities, including its
web site (including analysis of web statistics for
www.birdlife.org and other page ranking tools such as
alexa.com). 12. To work alongside other BirdLife
Communications staff when required to assist in the
production/promotion of other materials (such as the
quarterly World Birdwatch magazine), or to assist with
particular campaigns etc (e.g. assisting the European
Media & Communications Officer)

OTHER DUTIES:
1. Contribute to the overall debate on Partner
development within the BirdLife network 2. Contribute
to the development of BirdLife's communication
objectives outlined in BirdLife 2000. 3. To promote
the distribution of communication materials (including
www.birdlife.org) through the BirdLife Partners,
Network, Regional Offices and Country Programmes 4.
Assist with the definition of annual expenditure
budgets for media and web activities and help
fundraising staff to find income for these projects 5.
Contribute to the review of funding opportunities for
activities relating to the main purpose of this job 6.
Inform the Head of Communications and Director of
Network and Programme about issues relating to the
development and progress of this job on a regular
basis 7. To work with other communications staff on a
review of communication skills and needs of the
BirdLife Partners, Network, Regional Offices and
Country Programmes 8. To work as part of the
communications team to develop an "added value" ethos
- enhancing Partner profile through promotion of their
affiliation to the BirdLife network 9. To manage and
offer editorial guidance to volunteer/freelance
BirdLife staff in the preparation of communications
material 10. Assist with the production/editing of
other BirdLife materials/publications where
appropriate (for example fundraising/advocacy
materials) 11. To answer general enquiries which come
through to the BirdLife Secretariat

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS - essential
1. Educated to Honours degree level or equivalent
2. At least three years experience in journalism/the
media, ideally with a focus on conservation, the
environment or development 3. Excellent oral and
written communication skills in English, with
excellent editorial skills 4. Excellent experience and
demonstrable success in dealing with press/media,
drafting press releases and getting the message across
to key target audiences. 5. Creativity, innovation and
an ability to translate ideas into targeted actions 6.
Passion and dedication for the environment and
wildlife conservation 7. Proven ability to motivate
and stimulate people 8. Working knowledge and
understanding of conservation NGOs and international
media 9. Knowledge of global environmental issues 10.
Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
11. Adequate computer skills and web literacy.

Desirable

" Knowledge and interest in international bird
conservation issues " Knowledge of legal and copyright
issues related to publishing (including on the web) "
Knowledge and experience of how the internet can best
be utilised by organisations like BirdLife " Although
some knowledge of HTML would be advantageous, the role
does not require specialised web coding or computer
technology expertise " Experience of a Content
Management System for the maintenance of a web site
would be beneficial " Good computer literacy with a
working knowledge of computer applications such as
Adobe Photoshop/Photoshop Elements (for the
preparation and dissemination of images in press
releases/through the web site etc) and Dreamweaver for
the editing of more complex web pages " Additional
knowledge of foreign languages would be desirable

LIMITS OF AUTHORITY:

Manage expenditure within agreed budget limits.

Prepared by: Adrian Long July 2006

Samuel Temidayo OSINUBI,
BirdLife International Africa Partnership Secretariat
P.O. Box 3502-00100, Nairobi, KENYA.
taymida@yahoo.co.uk
samuel.osinubi@birdlife.or.ke
+254 (0) 726 277 753

@Salawu,
Ise nla ni yii ooooooooh. This is a great post. Well, done.