Job openings/Communications Associate (Public Policy)

JOB TITLE

Communications Associate [CLOSED]

REPORTS TO

Education Programs Manager

EMPLOYMENT DURATION

June 2010 to September 2011. The Wikimedia Foundation is currently expanding. As as we grow we are likely to have frequent positions open up. Though limited in duration, this grant based position is a potential opportunity to explore mutual fit for continued employment.

About Wikimedia's Public Outreach department and the Public Policy Initiative

With more than 100,000 active contributors globally, Wikipedia is one of the world's most successful experiments in peer production. Volunteers have always made a collective effort to recruit new contributors, by welcoming new users, developing tutorials and help pages, creating promotional materials, meeting face-to-face, and so on. The Public Outreach department of the Wikimedia Foundation works in collaboration with volunteers and with the Foundation's 20+ worldwide chapters to determine and foster the most effective approaches to public outreach.

With our Public Policy Initiative, we are developing a flexible model for reaching out to one specific target group: subject matter experts. Professors and students of U.S. public policy will be solicited to participate in writing and improving articles on the English language Wikipedia, and actively supported in their efforts throughout the 2010–2011 academic year. We will thoroughly evaluate and document the initiative, providing a template for our volunteers to replicate its approach in other disciplines and other geographic areas.

JOB PURPOSE

The Communications Associate is an integral member of the Public Policy project team. The primary role of the Communications Associate is to support the Public Policy Initiative with key communications activities: including management, design and development of communication plans and communications products (e.g., project newsletter, Wiki page) as well as messaging for project stakeholders, organizations, and the Wikimedia volunteer community.

The Communications Associate will work closely and collaboratively with the Public Policy project team, providing a broad range of communications support.

RESPONSIBILITIES


 * Develop communication support products: including speaking points, issues briefs, press releases, blog and social media posts, Q&As, and reports/summaries.
 * Assist in the development of systems to manage incoming data: including user stories, supporting quotes, and best practices for the Public Policy Initiative.
 * Update and maintain several informational wikis.
 * Research prospective speaking opportunities for the Public Policy Initiative.
 * Coordinate speaking events for Wikimedia staff and volunteers.
 * Work with education sector media to direct conversations regarding the Public Policy Initiative.
 * Other duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS


 * 2 - 4 years experience in a communications role within a university or non-profit setting.
 * Experience working closely with academic communities including students, faculty, administrators and staff at major universities is a major plus.
 * Exceptional verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills are a must.
 * Experience working with or as part of large volunteer communities is a major plus.
 * Experience working with a wide variety of communications tools is a must: for example, mailing lists, IRC, instant messaging.
 * Commitment in supporting the Foundation's mission to support the expansion of free knowledge globally.
 * High degree of comfort with communications technologies: including office software, web applications, design/illustration software, and databases.
 * Must be able to work well with people with a very wide diversity of demographic and cultural characteristics.
 * Must flourish in an environment that is highly transparent and collaborative.
 * Experience working with AP style guides; other style guide familiarity would be an asset.
 * Ability to travel up to 25% of the time for this position.