Communications Manager
Hiring Organization:
Orangutan Tropical Peatland Research Project
Date Posted:
2013-01-20
Position Description:
OuTrop is looking for a new Communications Manager to help meet opportunities for maximising the outreach and impact of our research to all audiences, including our funders and non-academic groups. OuTrop’s field research project is based in the Sabangau research station located in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia (Borneo) and includes: three primate behaviour projects (Orang-utans, Gibbons and Maroon Langurs), biodiversity surveys, camera trapping, forestry research, regeneration research in our Seedling Nursery, and numerous student and short-term research projects.
The successful candidate will manage and coordinate our communications and non-academic outreach activities, including writing interesting and regular updates for our website, blog and other social networking media; updating and improving these online media; identifying opportunities to improve outreach and impact from our communications; coordinating the compilation of a) our monthly Funder Updates & b) our quarterly Project newsletters; improving communications with other organisations; and other tasks directed towards improving Project communications and the impact of our work. The successful candidate will also be expected to familiarise themselves with the full spectrum of OuTrop’s field research activities, in order to enable them to effectively fulfil the above duties, and to assist the Project Manager and Project Scientists in successfully achieving our research aims.
We are looking for a highly organized & highly motivated person, who can manage themselves for days in a row, with excellent written communication skills and ability to effectively communicate complex messages to general audiences, basic biological knowledge and a dedication to wildlife conservation. They must be able to manage a flexible, productive schedule from emails, phone communication and varying frequency of meetings. Previous experience of work in the tropics is desirable. The candidate needs to be flexible, patient, amicable (good social skills), able to work alone, contribute in a team to forest work, well organized and physically and mentally fit. Applicants must also have the ability to cope well under stress and to readily master new skills.
Duties include:
• Coordinating all team members to write interesting and regular updates for posting on the OuTrop website, blog, Twitter and Facebook sites;
• Identifying and writing interesting stories about the research activities of OuTrop and distributing these through the above internet and other media;
• Managing, improving and updating OuTrop’s website, blog, Twitter and Facebook accounts, and identifying opportunities for such revisions and updates;
• Identifying new opportunities for expanding OuTrop’s outreach to non-academic audiences;
• Coordinating the whole team in writing quarterly Project newsletters;
• Assisting the Directors, Project Manager and Project Scientists in preparing reports and other documents for distribution, including sending reminders etc;
• Contributing towards the writing and distribution of press releases;
• Assisting in maintaining, improving and developing communications with other organisations on a global basis;
• Assisting and helping manage advertising, recruitment and pre-arrival communications; and
• Carrying out field research, collecting data and learning all research protocols.
Qualifications/Experience:
Qualifications/Experience:
• Previous science communications experience and outputs
• Excellent ability to effectively communicate complex messages to general audiences
• Ability to design attractive templates for communications
• Under-graduate or post-graduate degree in Science Communications preferred; suitable applicants with training in Biology or other relevant topics will also be considered
• Fluent spoken and written English essential
• Excellent computing skills (including Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator, Publisher, Excel, Word, etc), and experience in website design and use of online communications technology
• Experience in tropical field research projects preferred, but not essential
• Previous experience of working in Indonesia and competence in the Indonesian language is preferred, but not essential.
Salary/funding:
• Anticipated GBP 200/month, commensurate with experience/to be negotiated.
• Local stipend to cover basic food and other minor costs in Palangka Raya.
Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
Support provided for positions:
• Accommodation in the Research camp in Sabangau and OuTrop Office/House in Palangka Raya, with all associated facilities.
• One set of international flights up to GBP 700 and one set of domestic flights from Jakarta to Palangka Raya will be reimbursed for each 12 month contract period.
• All visa-related costs will be covered by the Project
• Travel insurance up GBP 25/month will be covered by the Project.
• Candidates will generally be expected to provide a laptop/notebook that can be used for the purposes of this post.
Term of Appointment:
1 year (extendable upon agreement by both parties)
Application Deadline:
4th February 2013 or until the position is filled (references can be received up to 11th February 2013). Interviews are anticipated to start on 11th February 2013, with an aim for the applicant to start work in the field ASAP (May/June 2013, depending on length of time taken to obtain a visa).
Comments:
Please send a covering letter detailing why you believe you are suitable for the position, two references, an up-to-date CV and an example illustrating your ability in science communications, including both design and text elements (this can be made up based on a contemporary news story, if no previous examples are available), to OuTrop’s Managing Director, Dr Mark Harrison: info@outrop.com with the job title as the subject header.
Contact Information:
Dr Mark Harrison
Indonesia
Website:
http://www.outrop.com
E-mail Address:
info@outrop.com
