JOB TITLE: Communications and Campaigns Officer

JOB TITLE: Communications and Campaigns Officer

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Media & PR Manager

LOCATION: Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, UK

CONTRACT: 2 years with possibility of extension. The position is subject to a six month probationary period.

HOURS: 37.5 hours per week

SALARY: Around £17,000 depending on experience

Are you passionate about changing the way we treat animals? Do you want to help reduce damage to our environment? Do you want to get people to enjoy healthy vegan food that looks good and tastes great?

In November 2014 The Vegan Society celebrated its 70th Anniversary. 2015 will be a very interesting political year. We aim to significantly expand our campaigns, advocacy, policy and education work. The Vegan Society makes veganism more accessible and an easily adopted approach by supporting individuals, policy and decision makers, caterers, manufacturers, health care professionals and the media. Can you help us raise our profile through campaigns and publications?

The role

The Communications and Campaigns Officer will contribute to campaigns to lobby and influence policy within industry, retailers, government and other public bodies. The role will include working on publications such as leaflets, the annual review and other resources, and you will be the Editor of The Vegan magazine, which will continue to be developed into a professional and engaging publication. You will work closely with the rest of the staff in the Communications department.

The successful candidate will have excellent writing skills and a positive, can-do attitude with the ability to lead on campaigning issues relating to food, environment, the rights of other animals, education and health policy. The individual will also be able to identify effective and creative ways to enhance The Vegan Society’s profile and communications.

The application deadline is 12 February at 9AM. Please send completed application forms to .

What we offer

·  A fun and supportive team

·  A solution-focused atmosphere and hard working environment

·  Flexible working hours

·  Employee Assistance Programme and health cash-back scheme

·  Cycle-to-work scheme

·  Childcare vouchers scheme

·  Animal companion compassionate leave

·  Generous annual leave entitlement

·  Office location in the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The knowledge, skills, and/or ability required to carry out the role effectively (and which may be developed) are listed below.

ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
Knowledge
·  Basic knowledge of vegan nutrition and health
·  Thorough understanding of available communication channels and their benefits and drawbacks
·  Understanding of corporate identity and branding issues / ·  Understanding of working in/with NGOs or small charitable organisations
·  Good knowledge of environmental and/or non-human animal issues within the EU
Education / qualifications & training
·  Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline / ·  Postgraduate qualification
Skills & abilities
·  Experience of writing copy for magazines, newsletters, websites etc.
·  Excellent written English (including grammar, spelling, creative writing)
·  Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with a wide variety of internal and external people
·  Good project management skills
·  Experience of successfully implementing campaigns
·  Creative thinker
·  Computer literate with strong MS Office skills, including the ability to analyse and manipulate data
·  Ability to manage multiple priorities and work to deadlines
·  Work successfully to targets, delivering objectives and desired outcomes / ·  Experience of interpreting and using scientific literature
·  Experience of video journalism, including editing
·  Experience of using image manipulation software
·  Desktop publishing skills
Personal qualities
·  Positive and confident disposition
·  Assertive and articulate
·  Work well under pressure and able to juggle several projects at once
·  Approachable and adaptable, team player
·  Flexible to travel within the UK with advance agreement
·  Willingness and ability to undertake appropriate training and development as required
·  Flexibility to occasionally work out of hours to meet deadlines
·  Adhere to a vegan diet for the duration of employment with The Vegan Society

DUTIES & KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy and Planning (10%)

·  Work with the Media and PR Manager to contribute towards communication plans for major projects in the Communications and Programmes department

·  Work with the Media and PR Manager at every stage of planning The Vegan magazine

Campaigning (40%)

·  Develop and deliver innovative and motivating campaigns to build awareness of the use and exploitation of other animals, and environment and sustainability problems in relation to food production and consumption by involving new and existing supporters

·  Communicate The Vegan Society’s campaigning work including writing for publications, making presentations and attending events

·  Work closely with the Media and PR Manager to assist in securing media coverage in support of our campaigning objectives

·  Research and translate complex data and messages to be understandable and engaging to a diverse audience

·  In liaison with the Senior Advocacy and Policy Officer, keep up to date with key legislation and the Parliamentary process/timetable in order to take part in effective public campaigning

Communications (40%)

·  Editor of The Vegan magazine and lead on further developing the magazine in line with the strategy

·  Identify and action opportunities for The Vegan Society messages to be communicated to appropriate audiences and gather story leads on an on-going basis

·  Responsibility for ensuring that communications including publications and online content is consistent across the organisation

·  Compose, edit, design, record, produce publications such as newsletters, leaflets and brochures

·  Assist the Web and Digital Communications Officer with digital copy

·  Suggest areas for improvement and development in Vegan Society communications

Monitoring and Evaluation (10%)

·  Responsibility for ensuring effective documentation of The Vegan Society projects, including gathering stories and communicating these for print and digital publication, internally and externally

·  In consultation with the Media & PR Manager contribute to an evaluation strategy for measuring the impact of behaviour change campaigns

·  Provide monthly progress reports to the Media & PR Manager

The job description is not exhaustive and you may be asked to carry out additional tasks which are appropriate to your job role, as required by your line manager.