The Transnational Institute (TNI) in Amsterdam is looking for maternity leave cover for our Webmaster. It is a key function within the Communications Unit as the internet is perhaps the most significant means of external communications for TNI. The Webmaster is responsible for ensuring the maintenance and development of an up-to-date and well visited TNI website, and an effective online presence more broadly.
ABOUT THE FUNCTION
Position of this function
The Webmaster is part of the Communications Unit. S/he works under the strategic direction of the Communications Manager and in his/her absence, the Director. S/he takes her editorial lead from the Communications Manager, with whom s/he liaises very closely. S/he collaborates closely and pro-actively on web-related matters with those project staff specifically assigned communication tasks.
Main tasks
Ensure the timely publication of all TNI outputs on the TNI website
Ensure that outputs of (Associate) Fellows are published at least on their biographical section of the TNI website
Maintain a fresh and dynamic look for the TNI homepage
Promote TNI and its outputs through social networking sites, blogosphere, etc.
Work with TNI's technical provider to respond to any bugs and coordinate any necessary short-term improvements
On a monthly basis collect accurate, annually comparable statistics for TNI’s website, TNI News, online press coverage, academic citations, and broader online presence (social networking cites, blogsphere, links etc), which can be assessed against benchmarks and annual targets set
Monitor the (forthcoming) output of the Institute's projects, staff, (associate) Fellows and Associates and put together the TNI News (sent every 3 weeks)
Attend monthly cross-organisational Editorial and Communications meetings • Assist within the Communications Unit as required
Functional Demands
Aspect: Knowledge
Knowledge of content management software, preferably Drupal
Basic knowledge of html
Knowledge of the use of online means of outreach is essential for this function
Knowledge needs to be put into practice continuously
Basis knowledge of web analytics software, in our case Google Analytics
Aspect: Responsibility
The Webmaster is considered to occupy a relatively senior position within the organisation and as such is expected to be sufficiently responsible and competent to be able to work with a minimum of supervision. The Webmaster is expected to show initiative, to consult as appropriate before taking decisions in relation to his/her area of responsibility, to support other colleagues depending on his/her cooperation for the success of their own work, and to ask for support when s/he needs it. S/he is expected to keep daily timesheets, which shall be analysed and discussed along with a short report at monthly meetings with the Communications Coordinator or, in his/her absence, the Director.
Aspect: Communication skills
Updating the website requires an ability to write clear titles and short, pithy teasers that will attract people to the content. The Webmaster is at the hub of contacts with people both within the office and virtually, those internal to the organisation as well as external relations. Internally, it is important that s/he maintains good communications with all TNI stakeholders and is able to elicit maximum cooperation through being seen to provide an excellent outreach service. This includes being prepared to negotiate different priorities. Externally, it is crucial that s/he always be polite, diplomatic and professional in her communications.
Aspect: Information management skills
The Webmaster is at the hub of coordinating information outputs and outreach. For this, s/he needs to have strong information management skills, manage deadlines well and stay focused on priorities.
Aspect: Ability to manage stress.
TNI works on a broad range of issues, involving a complex set of networks internationally with their own priorities and paces which can impact on TNI’s own planning. TNI is concerned with political matters which often manifest in ways that are both unpredictable and demand an immediate response. The Webmaster must be able to handle stressful situations.
Period: 3.5 Months from 15 March to 30 June 2013
Application deadline: January 15 2013
Mail your application to: Rozemarijn Vermeulen rvermeulen@tni.org
For more information on the job: Tessa Kersten tessa@tni.org
ABOUT TNI AND THE COMMUNICATIONS UNIT
Mission and Values of TNI
The Transnational Institute (TNI) in Amsterdam envisions a democratic, equitable, peaceful and environmentally sustainable world. TNI’s mission is to further this vision through providing intellectual and organizational support to progressive transnational networks of NGOs and social movements concerned with global problems including poverty and marginalization, social injustice, environmental degradation, militarism and conflict. TNI supports, as a priority, partners in countries that fall within the OECD’s list of Development Assistance Countries. All TNI’s work starts from the perspective of the Global South. We focus on the interests of the Global South, that is, the poorest, most oppressed and marginalised people in society and devote particular attention to the power structures that favour the rich over the poor.
TNI refuses discrimination in all forms (race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, physical or mental disability); we are committed to non-violence; doing no harm; equitable social, economic and cultural rights of all human beings; democratic organisation and representation; and ways of producing, distributing, and consuming that take account of social and environmental costs and serve to minimise such costs. We are a not-for profit organization and work in the public interest. We further believe in the value of publishing our information in the public domain. TNI’s values guide its own internal operations and practice, as well as its policies concerning partners and its general operation in the world.
Purpose of the Communications Unit
The purpose of the TNI Communications Unit is to promote TNI, its programmes, outputs and associated fellows in the public domain, such that the efforts to reach the target groups and achieve the objectives of TNI and its programmes are effectively supported. Stakeholders in an effective Unit include all staff, (associate) fellows and Associates, the TNI Board, TNI funders and partners in joint programmes. Members of the unit include the Webmaster, the Communications Manager (responsible for publications), the Spanish translator and those with specific communication responsibilities within TNI projects.
Key indicators of success of the Unit include:
Consistently positive external feedback on the relevance and quality of information TNI produces
Positive web traffic statistics eg. rising numbers of unique visitors, spending longer on more of our pages, and returning regularly, reduced 'bounce' rates;
Rising numbers of friends and followers on social media (facebook, twitter etc); with increased interaction (shares, likes, RTs)
Rising numbers of positive citations and quality coverage of TNI (and Fellows’) research and analysis in the press internationally, with a fair spread across TNI work areas (drugs, trade & investment, public services etc)
Rising number of subscribers to TNI News and other such e-services
Information at http://www.tni.org/job/webmaster-maternity-cover
