SCAR is seeking to appoint a Communications and Information Officer to work in the SCAR Secretariat.
Background
Formed in 1958, the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) is an interdisciplinary body of the International Science Council (ISC), and currently includes 44 member countries and 9 ISC unions. SCAR is a Company limited by Guarantee and registered as a Charity in the United Kingdom. The Directors of the Charity are the President and Vice-Presidents.
SCAR’s vision is to be an engaged, active, forward-looking organization that promotes, facilitates, and delivers scientific excellence and evidence-based policy advice on globally significant issues in, from and about Antarctica. This is a crucial and exciting time for SCAR as the role of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean in the Earth System, and the importance of understanding and conserving Antarctic systems, gather momentum on the international scientific and geopolitical stages.
SCAR has established a Secretariat in Cambridge, UK, staffed by an Executive Director, Executive Officer and Administrative Officer.
Communications and Information Officer
Job Details
| Job title | Part-time Communications and Information Officer |
| Job reference | SCAR 2018/PO |
| Date posted | 20 September 2018 |
| Application closing date | 22 October 2018, 18:00 BST |
| Location | Cambridge, UK |
| Salary | The starting salary will be from £22,000 up to £25,000 pro rata depending on qualifications and experience |
| Working hours | Half-time position (2.5 days) – with the possibility of increasing to 3 days per week in 2019 |
| Package | Flexible working, pension scheme, generous holiday allowances |
| Type of contract | Fixed Term Appointment to 31 December 2020 |
| Jobe category/type | Professional |
| Reporting to | SCAR Executive Director |
The Role
As the SCAR Communications and Information Officer, you will help us promote SCAR’s activities both within the Antarctic research community and beyond. You will play a key role in growing our social media presence. You will also assist with preparations for SCAR meetings and conferences. You will support the smooth running of the Secretariat by further developing its internal information management systems and helping maintain SCAR’s website. You should have at least a first degree in a science-related subject (or equivalent work experience) and ideally some experience of working within an office environment. Experience of working within a research environment would be an additional advantage. You will need to have excellent IT skills and to demonstrate good written communication skills. You will also need to be highly organised and be able to juggle multiple tasks at once, often to tight deadlines.
Key criteria
Essential
- A Bachelor’s degree in a science-related subject (including social sciences) OR equivalent relevant work experience.
- Good written communication skills.
- Experience of using social media for promotion and dissemination of content.
- Excellent IT/technical skills and a high level of proficiency with Microsoft Office software (particularly Excel).
- Ability to rapidly familiarize with new IT systems and interfaces.
- Highly organized ; able to multitask and meet tight deadlines ; experience of working effectively within a team.
Desirable
- Experience of writing content for the web.
- Experience of writing or editing information on technical subjects (see below *)
- Experience of website maintenance/back-end website management.
- Experience of working in an office environment.
- Experience of working within an organization with links to polar science/earth sciences more broadly.
The successful candidate is expected to assume the post as soon as possible after the interview (to be held during the week of 5th November 2018).
What we can offer you
- The opportunity to help facilitate vital international research on Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and to become a part of a vibrant international community.
- The opportunity to play a key role in shaping SCAR’s communications within the Antarctic research community and beyond, to other research communities and wider publics.
- The opportunity to develop /refine valuable IT and communications skills as part of a small and friendly team.
- A beautiful and historic office setting in the heart of Cambridge at the Scott Polar Research Institute, home to a diverse community of researchers interacting closely with SCAR.
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role and for application requirements.
Informal enquiries can be made to the SCAR Secretariat via [email protected]
* a broad range of outputs are considered relevant – e.g. news articles, web content, press releases, internal operational documents and memos, research reports. Sole authorship is preferred; if you need any advice, please mail [email protected].