Communication Specialist at VSO. VSO is the world’s leading international development charity that works through volunteers to create a fair world for everyone.
At VSO we pride ourselves on doing development differently. We fight poverty not by sending aid, but by working through volunteers and partners to create long-lasting change in some of the world’s poorest regions.
We bring key stakeholders together to co-ordinate collective action, from local organisations to national governments. Our programmes in Africa and Asia focus on health, education and livelihoods, with an increasing emphasis on resilience, peace building, social accountability, gender and social inclusion.
Communication Specialist at VSO
POSITION: Communication Specialist
We’re not about delivering quick fixes, but instead we focus on long-lasting, sustainable change that will improve the lives of generations to come.
Skills, qualifications and experience
Skills, Knowledge and Experience:
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English; experience of developing compelling, high quality documentation,
• Guidance and practice notes; concept notes; case stories, presentations for different audiences. Strong representation skills.
• Relevant professional experience in a communication position.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Experience in developing print and digital communications materials.
Knowledge/qualifications:
• Bachelors or Master’s Degree in communications, public relations, journalism or a similar discipline.
• 3 years of experience in relevant position,
• Excellent oral and written communication skills,
• Desk and qualitative research skills,
• Understanding of multimedia communications,
• Sound working knowledge of digital and social media,
• Presentation and influencing skills in order to obtain buy-in of recommendations.
Skills/Abilities:
• Able to develop clear and realistic plans to deliver agreed objectives within deadlines, involving key individuals in the process.
• IT (MS office) proficiency.
• Able to travel, including work away from the home base for up to 50% of time, both within the country and occasionally internationally and some weekend and evening work.
Desirable Criteria:
• Proven experience in developing and implementing communications strategies
• Proven ability in delivering relevant content to digital and social media
• Strong in expressing creativity in all different communication channels and ability to quickly switch between them.
• Experience of working in a developing country and/or an NGO.
Competencies and Behaviour
At VSO we believe progress is only possible by working together. Whether you want to join us as an employee, or as a volunteer working in your own country, overseas or online, our selection process includes an assessment based on these core competencies:
• Ability to be open minded and respectful
• Ability to be resilient and adaptive to new situations
• Ability to facilitate positive change and build sustainable working relationships
• Ability to seek and share knowledge
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Equal Opportunities
VSO promotes equal opportunities and values a diverse workforce.
Allowance
As a VSO volunteer, you will be sharing your skills with local communities on a full time basis. VSO will cover your travel, vaccinations, accommodation, and medical insurance costs, along with a local living allowance which will be paid in local currency. This allowance meets reasonable living expenses in country, but will not be enough to send money home. You will also receive some financial support to contribute to your on-going expenses at home.
Accommodation
VSO works with some of the poorest communities in the world which means accommodation varies and will be basic.
Some background about VSO
Much has changed since VSO started 60 years ago. We’ve gone from being a UK charity to a truly global development organisation. In 2016/2017 alone, we worked with over 7,000 volunteers from all over the world and from all backgrounds to deliver services that had an impact on the lives of almost 2.6 million people in the 24 countries where we work. Our programmes focus on the areas of health, education and livelihoods, with an increasing emphasis on resilience building, social accountability, gender and social inclusion.
We believe progress is only possible when we work together and that strong partnerships are crucial to delivering positive change. That’s why we work with over 500 partner organisations, from local and national governments, to businesses, NGOs, funders, charities and community groups. Currently, over 30% of our people are recruited from within the country in which they work, and we continue to grow the share of community and national volunteers involved in our programmes. We also send increasing numbers of volunteers from one developing country to another. However, our vision has remained the same; to build a world without poverty.
The deadline for submitting the application is 25 July 2022.
