Country: Turkey
Closing date: 20 Apr 2017
Position:
Communications Officer (MENA region)
Location:
Turkey (Gaziantep)
Application Deadline:
April 20 2017 (23:59 hrs)
Duration:
Full-time for 12 months with possibility for extension
Start Date:
May 2017
SPARK develops higher education and entrepreneurship to empower young, ambitious people to lead their fragile and conflict-affected societies into prosperity. SPARK is a dynamic and growing, international not-for-profit development organisation with 80 staff members, in more than 15 offices around the world. SPARK supports refugees in the Middle-East by providing them with scholarships in universities and higher education institutions in the region. SPARK also supports young entrepreneurs in fragile states, to start or grow their own businesses. SPARK is currently looking for an:
Communications officer (MENA region)
SPARK is responding to the dire higher education crisis both in Syria and the surrounding host countries (Turkey, Gaziantep; Jordan; Lebanon, Beirut; Iraq/KRD, Erbil) by offering supplemented short courses and scholarships to address the different needs of Syrian refugees.
We are looking for an enthusiastic communications officer who can manage all communications of the EU scholarship programme. And as such work closely with the local SPARK offices in the region.
This means that you are the first contact person for our donor in the MENA region. Together with our donor you will develop a communication strategy and plan, and implement this in collaboration with SPARK staff in the field offices – and in close contact with headquarters in Amsterdam. It will be your goal to set up both internal and external communications in this region, in order meet the demands of our donor, and in addition to increase visibility of SPARK. You will closely work with our Regional Communications Coordinator MENA and Regional Programme Manager.
We expect our communications officer to be knowledgeable and experienced in communication strategies, event organising, public relations and online media (social and website). Your writing skills in English and Arabic need to be excellent. And we expect you to be flexible and a team worker.
SPARK offers the coordinator the opportunity to work with young and inspiring people from various countries, and to challenge him/herself within the context of a vibrant and growing NGO.
Main tasks and Responsibilities:
● Develop and implement communication plan scholarship programme EU
● Coordinate all comms with EU for scholarship programme
● Social media (promotion, increase interactivity, storytelling)
● Website (edit, increase traffic, support registration)
● Collection of stories (in order to use them for communication)
● Develop network of journalists
● Contact with SPARK staff
● Reporting to Regional Comms Coordinator and Programme Manager
Requirements and skills:
● BA or MA degree (or other relevant education)
● Excellent English and Arabic language skills
● Proven editing and writing skills
● Journalistic skills: not afraid of picking up the phone and giving someone a call
● Social media knowledge and experience are essential; in particular, digital advocacy
● Familiarity with Google Drive/Docs/Analytics/SEO/Adwords etc.
● Experienced with WordPress and MailChimp (basic knowledge of html preferred)
● Experience with graphic design preferred
● Good communication and social skills and the ability to work in a multicultural setting
● Proven organisational skills and the ability to work independently
● Preferably available from April, May 2017
SPARK Offers:
● Remuneration: 1910 euro (gross);
● International working experience;
● Dynamic and inspiring environment;
● Opportunity to take initiative and realise your ideas and plans;
● Full-time contract.
How to apply:
To apply, email your CV and letter of motivation in English to vacancy[at]spark-online.org with Reference: Communications officer (MENA) Turkey. For further information about the vacancy, contact Simon van Melick: s.van.melick[at]spark-online.org. Deadline: 20 April 2017 (23.59 hrs)
**Due to a large volume of applicants, we cannot respond to every applicant. After the deadline for application we will screen all applications and invite selected applicants for the first round of interviews. There may be a delay between the deadline and the moment we contact selected applicants.
