Digital Communication Officer

Are you passionate about human rights, Indigenous Peoples, and tropical forests?  Do you lie awake wondering how you can use your digital communication skills to create positive change in the world? If so, you might be who we’re looking for!

The role

We are recruiting a Digital Communication Officer to join our global human rights charity of 50+ dedicated staff. In this job, you will play a key role in supporting all aspects of our communication work, as well as supporting platforms to amplify the voice of those we work with, including day-to-day management of our social media channels. In addition, we are launching a new website in 2023, and this role will include migrating existing content, and developing new content for our website, so excellent website skills are a must.

You will input into content for a wide variety of audiences, from policy makers in the UN system, to local and indigenous communities, our key supporters and our partners and staff. With support from senior communication staff, you will review, edit, publish, and write content across multiple channels, with a focus on our website, social media, and newsletters. In addition, you will use your communication skills and attention to detail to support other staff to produce high quality digital content, and to create spaces for the voices of our partners. 

As the successful candidate, you will have a degree in a relevant subject and/or two to three years’ experience in aspects of communication, preferably with a focus on human rights and/or indigenous issues. You will be fluent in written and spoken English, and preference will be given to those with an additional working knowledge of French and/or Spanish. You will be working as part of a small team engaged in collaborative work across our organisation and the wider movement, therefore excellent people skills and the ability to work under pressure are a must.

Location: Our head office is in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, UK. We would prefer candidates to spend some time in the office, but location is negotiable for the right candidate.

Reporting to: Communications & Media Manager

About us

Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) is an international NGO that supports indigenous and forest peoples to assert their rights to control and manage their territories and forests.

We work with forest peoples in South and Central America, Africa, and Asia, to help them secure their rights, build up their own organisations and negotiate with governments and companies to ensure that any economic and conservation activities on their lands respect their rights to self-determination. For more information see our website via the Apply button. 

FPP is made up of more than 50 dedicated and diverse staff from around the globe, all committed to working together with forest peoples, allies and partners. Within FPP, you will have the opportunity to input into multiple projects and ideas through regular knowledge exchange with other staff and partners, so a passion for working with people from many and varied backgrounds is essential.

Key responsibilities:

Communication

• Provide creative, editorial, and operational support for communication projects and our publications team
• Plan and create compelling multimedia communications materials, with a focus on social media / digital in close collaboration with the programme staff and country teams.
• Input into communication strategies, tools, and applications with the team to increase engagement and audience monitoring and retention
• Maintain and manage social media accounts, regularly contributing to key messaging with inputs from the wider FPP team
• Provide input into developing the website to provide trusted and powerful online content, and be responsible for large amounts of web content, including website migration
• Assist with copywriting, proofreading and production of our publications including monthly newsletters
• Provide communication support for our project and fundraising efforts

Media

• Assist with all aspects of promotion of our media work, articles, and blogs across a variety of social media / digital channels
• Help to monitor and report on relevant press coverage, including news stories which would benefit from indigenous peoples’ perspective
• Help to maintain our media lists of key journalists and media outlets covering indigenous, human rights and conservation issues

Principles

• Work with respect for the right to self-determination of forest peoples
• Create space for ‘local voice’ and ensure FPP’s own communications complements and supports (but does not replace, dominate or subsume) the voices of forest peoples and their community-based or civil society organisations
• Support the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent, and champion how this relates to communications outputs

Terms

• Salary in the range of £25,375 - £27,525 pa (pro rata for PT) depending on qualifications and experience
• Location: Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, UK
• This is a permanent contract. Benefits include:
• 25 days leave (pro rata for part-time), plus all public holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year when the office is closed
• Time off in lieu and flexible working hours

Person Specification

Essential requirements

• Degree in journalism, communication, and/or equivalent relevant experience in a digital communications role, ideally within an NGO, advocacy or international context
• Excellent written and spoken English, with some experience of writing and editing copy for print or digital media. A strong preference will be given for those with a working knowledge of either French and/or Spanish.
• Experience with a range of digital communication tools, including social media and website content management systems
• Excellent organisational skills, a positive attitude, the ability to take direction and to work under pressure, and flexibility to prioritise multiple tasks at the last minute
• Interest in human rights, environmental protection and international affairs, and a core commitment to FPP’s vision, mission and values
• The skill to work in a multi-disciplinary team, with a proactive approach to developing the role

Desirable requirements

• Experience of communications work in multilingual contexts and environments, preferably with Indigenous Peoples or local communities
• A working knowledge (written and spoken) of French and/or Spanish would be advantageous
• Photography and/or videography skills, including knowledge of video editing, Adobe InDesign and/or Photoshop experience
• Previous experience with website content management systems including Drupal, Wordpress, and Wix

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button above.

Closing date: 19 April 2022, 23:59 UK Time (BST)

Interview dates: w/c 25 April 2022

We regret that we are unable to contact those candidates who are not short-listed