Job Description

DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA ASSISTANT

MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES / DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS (MSF) UK

Application checklist

Please check you have included the following in your application email to :

CV:

Letter of motivation (LoM): 

Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (please submit it in a separate document from your CV and LoM): 

Answers to the questions specified in the application pack: 

Recruitment timetable:

  • Closing date for applications:12pm (noon), Monday 16 March 2015
  • Interviews: 30th, 31st March and 1st April 2015
  • Start date: ASAP

MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES/DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS (MSF) UK

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Digital and Social Media Assistant

Department: Communications

Hours: Full time, 40 hours per week

Reports to: Digital Communications Officer

Location: London

Duration:2 years fixed term contract, possibility to extend

Salary:£29,525

COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

The department’s purpose is to raise the profile of the organisation and its causes amongst British and international audiences via increasingly diverse media to support MSF’s advocacy, recruitment and fundraising activities.

Communications staff are highly valued within the organisation and are expected to contribute actively to strategic and communication decisions. New technology involving web, audio-visual and other multi-media are central to our strategic vision. In particular, developments with social media have opened up exciting new channels to communicate directly with members of the public, staff and beneficiaries of our work around the world. There is also great potential to use these tools to better meet MSF’s fundraising, advocacy and recruitment aims.

The small but dynamic digital team sits in the heart of the communications department but works on behalf of the whole office and increasingly supports the work of our international colleagues directly.The digital team is responsible for content production, website design and management, online fundraising and marketing, as well as social media.

JOB PURPOSE

The Digital and Social Media Assistant will be responsible for updating and creating content on the MSF UK website, under the direction of the Digital Communications Officer, ensuring content is optimised for search engines, usability, accessibility and is error-free. This role will also manage day-to-day interactions with supporters and contacts via social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, and MSF blogsas well as provide support to the rest of the digital team, and the wider communications department.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Delivery of online communications for MSF UK

  • Edit and publish content using MSF content management system (CMS), according to MSF UK style guidelines, e.g.
  • on MSF UK website as directed by the Digital Communications Officer
  • on MSF blogging platform,including setting up new blogs and profiles and uploading posts, as directed by the International Blogging Coordinator
  • Deliver daily social media communications with supporters and interested parties, building relationships with key stakeholders online using existing social media platforms and following established protocols
  • Assist the Digital Communications Officer in the overall maintenance and improvement of good practice regarding the CMS, ensuring that content is published on schedule and to a high standard, in accordance with the MSF style guidelines

Analysis and initiative

  • Carry out Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) of content
  • Monitor and report on social media activity, both for regular reporting purposes and at the request of senior management.
  • Write and edit copy for optimal online use
  • Source, select and edit images from MSF projects around the world for online use, in collaboration with the Photo Editor
  • Contribute to the development of new online resources and projects as part of the digital team

Planning and Organising

  • Contribute to the development and delivery of social media strategies for MSF
  • Work closely with Digital Communications Officer employing audience insight and research results to shape and tailor content and communications for different audiences as well as building engagement with new audiences;
  • Participate in an out-of-hours emergency rota and on occasion cover for other members of the team as required.
  • Work with colleagues in fundraising to provide online support to personal-challenge and other fundraisers

Communicatingand Developing Others

  • Provide online and social media support to colleagues, including Friends of MSF student groups, where necessary delivering tailored training.
  • Assist MSF develop relationships with key social media ‘influencers’

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organisation.

PERSON SPECIFICATION (qualifications, experience and skills required):

Essential

  • Fluent spoken and written English with a thorough knowledge of English grammar
  • Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills
  • Warm and friendly interpersonal manner, suitable for social media communications with supporters and other stakeholders
  • Working knowledge and understanding of search engine optimisation (SEO)
  • Extensive knowledge and understanding of social media
  • Basic photo editing skills (Adobe Photoshop)
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work cooperatively in a dynamic but complex organisation
  • Flexibility and ability to work to very tight deadlines
  • Proven ability to manage projects independently
  • Capacity to take initiatives and seize opportunities
  • Motivated, pro-active, well-organised, reliable and willing to work flexibly
  • Good understanding of world affairs and humanitarian issues
  • Good news sense and judgement on sensitive topics
  • Understanding of and commitment to the aims and values of Médecins Sans Frontières

Desirable

  • Ability to read and understand French, German, Dutch, Spanish or Arabic would be desirable
  • Basic level of proficiency with HTML
  • Experience using a CMS

Candidates must hold an appropriate passport or permit to work in the UK

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Application questions

Thank you for your interest in working with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors without Borders (MSF) in London asDigital and Social Media Assistant. As part of your application for this role, please answer the following questions and send them in with your cover letter and CV. Please don't write more than 300 words for each as there will be time to discuss your ideas in more detail if you are invited in for interview.
1) Do the risks of social media outweigh the benefits for an international NGO like MSF?
2) What would you change about the MSF UK website (msf.org.uk)?
3) Sum up your application as a Tweet (Max 140 characters)

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