Outreach / Knowledge Management Officer

VACANCY NOTICE Ref. No: EED/3

OUTREACH / KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT OFFICER

1. Main functions of the post:

• planning, developing, implementing and maintaining communication and PR strategies in liaison with Executive Director and other management staff;
• monitoring multilateral and bilateral activities in the area of the democracy agenda and building networks with other relevant stakeholders to seek synergy and find partners of cooperation for the EED activities;
•  establishing and maintaining relationships with media and key organizations in the field of democracy support;
• Planning and coordinating EED knowledge management activities.

2. Duties and Responsibilities:

Outreach / Knowledge Management Officer reports directly to the Executive Director of the EED and shall be responsible for (in addition to the above-mentioned):

• assisting and maintaining contacts of the Executive Director and other EED staff with external actors, including through exploitation of new social media;
• building brand and reputation of the EED with innovative PR campaigns that get wider attention for EED activities amongst key stakeholders;
• developing communication objectives and designing communication plans;
• developing knowledge management objectives and designing its plans;
• making decisions related to communication plans and managing communication budget;
• writing and editing speeches and articles as well as sourcing and managing speaking opportunities;
• supervising the production of handouts, brochures, leaflets, photographs, promotional videos, films and multimedia programs;
• commissioning relevant analyses and research;
• managing the PR aspect of a potential crisis situations;
• preparing answers to enquiries from individuals, media and other organizations and following up;
• researching, writing and disseminating of information and press releases to targeted media and other actors in close cooperation with the EED management;
• analysing media coverage;
• organising events including press conferences, media briefings and visits, interviews, open days, exhibitions, press tours and project launches; devising and coordinating photo opportunities;
• developing, maintaining and updating information on the EED's website as well as writing the EED’s newsletter/s, case studies and other relevant documents as required;
• gathering and maintaining database of journalist;
• performing other tasks for the Executive Director.

3. Key eligibility and selection criteria:

  a.      Conditions for eligibility:

• be a national or having permanent residence permit of one of the EU/EEA countries or Switzerland;
• be entitled to his/her full rights as a citizen;
• have completed any obligations imposed on him/her by the laws concerning military service;
• produces the appropriate character references as to his/her suitability for the performance of his/her duties;
• be physically fit to perform his/her duties;
• hold, or be in a position to obtain, a valid Personnel Security Clearance Certificate (national or EU PSC at CONFIDENTIAL and/or EU SECRET level).

b. Essential selection criteria:

Level and type of formal education

• master’s degree in International Affairs, Political or Social Science, Communications, PR, Journalism or related discipline;

   Professional experience

• at least eight (8) years of proven full-time professional experience in writing, editing, publication, graphic design and audio-visual production, preferably in the international setting;

• minimum of three (3) years at a similar position would be an asset;
• working experience in democracy-related projects and programs in government or international organisations or the civil society; 

Functional competencies

• good knowledge of the European Institutions and working mechanisms within the EU;
• good knowledge of grant-making and democracy support procedures;

• substantive understanding of political issues and trends in the EU Neighbourhood as well as EU policies towards the region;
• thorough knowledge of English and French; an adequate knowledge of other language(s) to the extent necessary for the performance of duties;
• ability to keep full confidentiality about all assigned tasks and related documentation;
• high degree of organisation and initiative, solid analytical skills and excellent interpersonal skills;
• solid ICT skills;
• high personal and professional culture;
• ability to work in multi-ethnic and multi-national environment;
• readiness for frequent duty travel;

• provide at least three (3) references as to the suitability for the performance of duties.

4. Application

Please make sure you meet all required qualifications and experience. Application must include a CV in the Europass format, cover letter, contact information for three (3) references and your net monthly salary requirements.

Failure to fully comply with one of the required information (CV, cover letter, references together with contact information and net monthly salary requirement)  shall result in the exclusion of the applicant concerned from the selection procedure.

Application should be made online using “apply for the job” panel. After successfully submitting your application you will receive an automatic email confirming receipt of your application.

In addition to it please send a copy of your CV as an attachment to email address:vacancies@democracyendowment.eu, with reference number and Outreach / Knowledge Management Officer in the subject line. Please no phone calls/emails/letters.

 Applications should be submitted no later than 15 April 2013, 12 noon (Brussels time)

The applications will not be returned to candidates but will be kept on file by the EED. The information provided in the applications is subject to EU legislation on protection of personal data and confidentiality of information.

5.      Terms of contract

Two-year fixed term contract (with the possibility of its extension) plus decent set of personal benefits .

Expected take up duty date: ASAP (no later than 1 July 2013)

Working place: EED HQ located in the centre of Brussels, Belgium