Communications Coordinator

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About Wikimedia UK

Wikimedia UK is the national charity that promotes and supports Wikipedia, its sister projects, and other open educational resources in the UK. "Open" refers to information which is available for copying, reuse and modification, including for commercial uses, without cost or restriction other than attribution. Following the principles of Wikipedia, volunteers have a central role in all our activities.

We were established in 2008 and are one of over forty similar associations in countries around the world, recognised by the Wikimedia Foundation but operationally and legally independent. We work with individuals, cultural and educational institutions, businesses and media companies to make freely licensed content available and to help other people re-use open content. We seek to have a close relationship with other open content organisations in the UK, and with the global community of Wikimedia readers and editors.

Our annual budget is around £600,000 and we have around 250 members. There are approximately 15 million people in the UK who regularly use Wikimedia projects and 15,000 people who regularly contribute to them. We have recently undergone a process of refocusing of our activities, we are now entering an exciting new phase where we want to build on large scale partnerships with external organisations.

We are looking for a dynamic, creative and flexible Communications Coordinator to plan and deliver a wide range of communications activities for Wikimedia UK, the national chapter for the global Wikimedia movement. This will include producing engaging online content, keeping the WMUK community informed and developing new approaches to sharing our impact, as well as fielding media enquiries and supporting the Chief Executive in fundraising and advocacy work. The successful candidate will bring relevant experience in a communications role and an understanding of working with volunteers, and will need to have excellent written and oral communication skills. A commitment to opening up access to knowledge is essential.

If you would like to ask any questions about this position, contact Lucy Crompton-Reid at lucy.crompton-reid@wikimedia.org.uk or 020 7065 0990.

Job Description

Job Title:	Communications Coordinator
Hours:	Full time (35 hours per week)
Location:	Central London
Reporting to:	Head of Development and Communications
Benefits:	25 days annual leave plus public holidays, generous pension scheme
Purpose of job:	To plan and deliver a wide range of communications activities for Wikimedia UK, produce engaging content online and keep the WMUK community, funders, partners and the wider general public informed about our work and impact.

Main Duties

1. Planning and Management

• To support the development of the communications strategy and lead on the creation and delivery of communications activity plans, including budgets
• To play a key role in engaging volunteers in the delivery of our communications strategy, managing and directing their work in consultation with the Chief Executive
• To fulfil the reporting requirements of the role, including providing updates for inclusion in the Chief Executive’s Quarterly Board Report

2. Marketing

• To play a key role in the development of Wikimedia UK’s brand and identity, as distinct from Wikipedia, and act as an internal and external brand ambassador
• To lead on the creation of publications about WMUK, such as the Annual Review
• To manage the design and production of printed materials and merchandise
• To support and advise the programme team and other staff as relevant in promoting specific events, projects, partnerships or programmes

3. Digital Communications

• To manage the online public profile of Wikimedia UK, including ensuring that content on the public-facing wiki pages is accurate and up-to-date, developing and maintaining the *Wikimedia UK website, commissioning new digital content, and managing the charity’s blog and social media channels
• To oversee the Open Coalition website on behalf of Wikimedia UK and partners

4. Volunteer, Member and Fundraising Communications

• To work with the rest of the staff team to develop and maintain effective communication channels with Wikimedia UK volunteers and the wider community
• To support the development and delivery of Member Communications
• To support the Chief Executive in developing and delivering fundraising communications activities, with a particular emphasis on correspondence with donors
• To work with the programmes team and other staff on the creation and distribution of a regular newsletter for donors, members and volunteers

5. Press and PR

• To act as the initial point of contact for any media enquiries, responding or directing the enquiry to another member of the staff team, board, volunteer or the Wikimedia Foundation as appropriate
• To build relationships with the media, seeking positive opportunities to promote the work and impact of the charity, and working with the Chief Executive to develop media campaigns - including drafting and disseminating press releases
• To support the Chief Executive and other staff to ensure that WMUK responds quickly and effectively to all external profile opportunities and threats as appropriate

6. Advocacy

• To develop an understanding of advocacy and public policy within the Wikimedia UK context, and to provide support to the Chief Executive, volunteers and partners in this work, as directed by the Senior Management Team
• To act as an ambassador for the organisation, speaking at events and conferences as agreed with the CEO, and identifying opportunities for the CEO, other staff, board members and volunteers to speak at or attend relevant events and conferences

Person specification

Essential Experience

• Experience of holding a varied communications role, preferably within a charitable or not-for-profit environment
• Experience of managing and uploading web content
• Experience of developing communications plans that incorporate digital channels
• Experience of working effectively with volunteers
• Experience of writing clear and engaging content for different audiences
• Experience of dealing with the media is desirable

Essential Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours

• A high level of written and oral communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively and build positive relationships with other staff, trustees, volunteers, external partners and the media
• Good software skills, including web content management systems, word processing, spreadsheets, databases and preferably desktop publishing
• An understanding of internet technologies, in particular wikis
• An understanding of, and sympathy with, the aims and values of Wikimedia UK, and of the open knowledge movement
• Flexible approach, with the capability to be a team player and identify and manage opportunities and risk
• A willingness to take initiative and the ability manage own workload and time
• Some flexibility regarding out of hours work, for example to attend events or respond to press enquiries
• An appreciation of the UK’s cultural and linguistic diversity

How to apply

To apply for this position please complete this application form (Open Office version here and Microsoft Word version here). You are welcome to include a CV if you would like to however CVs without a completed application form will not be accepted. Please send completed applications by email to karla.marte@wikimedia.org.uk with Communications Coordinator application in the subject line. All communications relating to this vacancy will be dealt with in confidence. Please ensure you give details of why you feel you would be the best candidate for this post with reference to the key tasks and your relevant experience, using examples. Please also explain your understanding of and commitment to the Wikimedia ethos with personal examples to demonstrate this. We will need two referees whom we can approach following an accepted job offer.

Deadline for applications: Midnight on Wednesday 10th February 2016. We will confirm all interviews by Wednesday 17th February. If you haven’t heard from us by that date, you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

Background information

• Equal Opportunities: Wikimedia UK has a commitment to achieving equality of opportunity in both services to our members and clients, and in the employment of people, and expects all employees and volunteers to understand and promote its policies in their own work.

• Fire, Health and Safety: Wikimedia UK is committed to a healthy and safe working environment and expects all its employees to consider and integrate health and safety in all work activities.

• Sustainable Development: Wikimedia UK is committed to the principles of sustainable development and all employees are expected, in so far as possible, to maintain work practices in line with the principles of sustainable development.

• Continuing Professional Development: Wikimedia UK is committed to the continuing professional development of all its staff and volunteers. Employees are expected to develop learning plans in conjunction with their line manager in order to undertake training or other career development opportunities that they feel would develop their work and the operation of the Charity.

• Data Protection: Wikimedia UK holds sensitive data on its members, volunteers, donors and those using its services. All employees are required to maintain an awareness of data protection responsibilities, and to execute all relevant duties with tact, discretion and due respect to confidentiality of clients, members and staff.