Closing date: 27 Apr 2016
Position Title: Senior Communications Expert
Position Location: The Senior Communications Expert will be home-based with travel to Colombo. In Sri Lanka, the Senior Communications Expert will work from DRI’s offices.
Contract Period: May 2016 – June 2016: maximum of 14 working days
Background
Democracy Reporting International (DRI) is a non-partisan, independent, not-for-profit organisation registered in Berlin. DRI promotes political participation of citizens, accountability of state bodies and the development of democratic institutions world-wide. DRI is launching a two-year project aimed at strengthening democratic consolidation in Sri Lanka by informing the reform process with comparative expertise and by generating broad stakeholder participation through the incentive of the EU’s system of trade preference (GSP+).
Objective and Role
The Senior Communications Expert will provide technical support on external reporting of reforms to the Parliament of Sri Lanka, its Constitutional Assembly, and special committees. Specifically, the Expert will be expected to:
• Support the Constitutional Assembly in establishing a communication strategy
• Support to the parliament in the establishment of a public and outreach office
• Assist in creating campaigns to engage target groups in dialogue and support increased transparency during the constitutional process
• Support awareness-raising and identify outreach activities for specific stakeholders
• Provide insight into the institutional and technical resources needed to engage with the public and citizens via traditional and digital media
• Upon request, deliver workshops or trainings on communications, advocacy, digital and traditional PR campaigns, etc.
• Other tasks as required (TBD)
Qualifications
• University degree in media, communications, public relations, law, social and/or political science, public administration or related discipline
• Proficiency in written and oral English
General professional experience
• At least 10 years of professional experience working in media or communications and public relations (PR)
Specific professional experience
• Experience in external communications, development and implementation of communication strategies related to political reforms
• Practical experience training public/state institutions and parliamentarians on communications, advocacy, public policy campaigns, etc., is an asset
• Detailed knowledge of digital media, including social media campaigns (Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter) and outreach strategies is an asset
• A strong understanding of the third parties and audiences targeted by public/state institutions and parliament
• Experience in liaising with civil society, think tanks, public administration, and others
• Experience with international parliamentary practices in the areas of communication/PR is an asset
• IT skills, including graphics and data visualisation, are an asset
Closing date for applications: 27 April 2016. Early applications are encouraged.
How to apply:
For interested applicants, please send your application (cover letter and CV) to asia@democracy-reporting.org with “Senior Communications Expert (Sri Lanka)” as the subject heading and supporting documents in the following format: SURNAME_FIRSTNAME_DOCUMENTNAME.
Only successful candidates will be contacted for an interview.