| 1 March 2006
Friends of the Earth Europe is looking for a new
Junior Press/Media/Information Officer
(Closing date of application: 20.03.2006)
1) Person specification - a talented communicator
- Educated to degree standard or able to demonstrate equivalent level of analytical and research skills.
Internship experience at press desks of NGOs, PR agencies, government institutions or corporations
- Journalistic experience (freelance, etc.)
- Knowledge and understanding of journalists’ needs and of the media.
- Excellent command of the English language with English mother tongue.
- Verbal and written talent appropriate to the need to communicate clearly and effectively with a wide range of media and staff.
- Identification with the mission of Friends of the Earth.
- Flexibility and multi-tasking.
- Ability to use a wide range of information and communication technology systems (including Dreamweaver and Access).
Assets:
- Knowledge and understanding of, and the ability to work within, the Brussels political environment
- Experience in working in a busy press office or as a qualified journalist
- Experience of media management techniques and the creative development of media strategies
- Experience in building and forming relationships across a wide range of professional and operational boundaries within an organisation and with external organisations
- Languages: French and other EU languages
2) Job purpose
- Develop, implement and sustain FoEE media strategy with appropriate political awareness and sensitivities.
- Use, and advise upon, effective pro-active skills to communicate FoEE policies and positions to Brussels-based print, radio and television media organisations.
- Respond to media enquiries quickly and efficiently to sustain positive coverage of FoEE policies and positions.
- Assist with core communications tasks including writing articles, presentations and reports and website updating.
- Support the Event Manager, replace her when needed.
3) Principal accountabilities
- Use political awareness and communications skills to develop and implement a wide range of media strategies covering specialist campaign areas.
- Take responsibility for the day-to-day management of press relations and the press database.
- Be pro-active in generating news coverage including writing/editing press releases and articles as well as providing briefings for the media and speeches for the Director.
- Respond to media enquiries effectively and accurately ensuring that responses meet the agreed line.
- Contribute to the regular updating of the FoEE website and its media section in particular.
- Work closely with Campaigners on the communication of, and responses to, policies and positions.
- Work closely with Events Manager to maximize coverage of events by media (and photo journalists).
- Work closely with Head of Communications and Networking on effective joint presentation of FoEE policies and positions, in writing and orally, to internal and external audiences including writing/editing articles for The Bulletin (twice yearly newsletter for EU audiences), Network News (monthly e-zine for member groups) and the FoEE Annual Report, presenting to visiting journalists, contributing to the preparation of plans and reports to member groups and funders.
- Work closely with the Media Officer of Friends of the Earth International to develop synergies and share best practice in areas including message development, media training, press review techniques, media guidelines, spokesperson training and image downloads.
- Work closely with press officers from FoEE member groups to coordinate press activities, promote FoEE policies and positions in national media and to promote the policies and positions of member groups to Brussels based media (in line with agreed procedure).
- Work with appropriate EU institutions and other Brussels bodies to communicate FoEE policies and positions.
- Coordinate closely with Green 10 on press releases, publication, information and press activities.
- Manage the monitoring of news relevant to FoEE and its campaigns to provide correction or amplification where necessary as well as to ensure a comprehensive press clipping service and the creation of an annual FoEE media highlights dossier.
4) Key relationships
- Accountable to: Head of Communications and Networking
- Principal contacts: Campaigners, Events Manager, Head of Communications and Networking, Director, Brussels based media, external organizations, press officers from member groups and FoEI press officer, press/information officers from Green 10 (ten environmental Brussels-based NGOs).
5) Employment conditions
- Location: Friends of the Earth Office in Brussels
- One year contract from 01.05.2006 till 30.04.2007 subject to prolongation
- Conditions according to Belgian legislation for holiday and thirteenth month payments
- 5 days/week, 37.5 hour working week, Compensation days for weekends/public holidays worked
- Salary 1,500 Euro gross + benefits
- Luncheon vouchers
- Pension contribution
- The person will be coached by the Head of Communications/Networking and the Director
- After three years, the person could become a senior Press/Media/Information Officer
Junior positions at FoEE give young people a chance to gain experience in a European environmental NGO and in Brussels. The position has full social benefits but the salary lies between the compensation we pay to our interns and that of a normal campaigner position. The salary is subject to review after one year.
6) Recruitment procedure
If you are interested in applying for the position of Junior Press/Media/Information Officer, Friends of the Earth Europe, please note the following procedure.
Send your motivating letter, CV with photo and copies of articles and press releases by email to:
junior.officer@foeeurope.org by 5pm on Monday 20 March 2006
Candidates will be informed on the evening of Thursday 23 March if they are invited for an interview. Please provide a contact telephone number or email address that we can use to reach you in the event that you will be called to an interview. As we anticipate a great deal of interest in this position we will unfortunately be unable to respond to all applicants. We will therefore only contact candidates who have been short listed for interview.
First interviews will be held in Brussels on the mornings of Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 March. Second (and final) interviews will be held on Thursday 30 March. Travel expenses and hotel costs, where necessary, can be reimbursed. Please do not confirm any reservations without our approval. We will book hotel rooms as necessary.
The recruitment procedure will consist of an interview and job-related exercises, followed (if successful) by a second interview and checking of references. You will be informed on the evening of Wednesday 29 March if you have been short listed for second interview. Interviews will take the form of a panel and will last 30 minutes for first interviews and 30 minutes for second interviews. The successful candidate will be expected to take up the position on 1 May 2006.
For specific questions related to this position please email joanna.dober@foeeurope.org. Do not send your applications to this email.
Thank you for the interest you have shown in working with Friends of the Earth Europe.
www.foeeurope.org
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