[ecrea] ESF - Head of Communications

Position announcement

ESF is inviting applications for the position of Head of Communications

The European Science Foundation (ESF) provides a 
platform for its Member Organisations to advance 
European research and explore new directions for 
research at the European level. Established in 
1974 as an independent non-governmental 
organisation, the ESF currently serves 77 Member 
Organisations, including Research Funding 
Agencies, Research Performing Organisations and Academies, across 30 countries.

Mission of the Position

The mission of the position is to provide ESF 
Member Organisations, the European research 
community in general, the policymakers, the media 
and society at large with effective communication 
and to develop and lead an integrated 
communication strategy. The Head of 
Communications will understand and be able to 
communicate the role of the ESF in the European 
Research Area. He will deliver ESF communication 
and engagement strategies as well as identify and 
explore new avenues for communication to further 
raise the ESF profile and impact. He will manage 
a Communications unit providing a range of services to the ESF.

Position Responsibilities

The candidate should demonstrate abilities to: 
Further develop ESFs communication within the 
overall ESF Strategy Plan and its associated 
Communications Plan ( see www.esf.org/commsplan); 
Liaise with the Chief Executive Unit with regard 
to the development of science policy; Work 
closely with Science Units and Standing 
Committees with reference to science coordination 
activities; Liaise with ESF Member Organisations 
and external scientific bodies; Represent ESF in 
external meetings; Take responsibility for the 
management and achievement of budgets of specific 
activities in compliance with ESF Financial Rules 
and Delegated Financial Authority and providing 
necessary information to Administration and 
Finance allowing the regular presentation of 
financial reports; Manage a team of 
Communications Officers; Communicate to the team 
a clear vision, strategy and priorities of the 
ESF and how it affects the objectives of the 
unit. Motivating the team to seek challenges, 
reach the strategic objectives and perform in 
line with, or beyond expectations.

Profile and Competences required

The successful postholder should demonstrate the following competences:
Specific competences: Degree in communications or 
journalism and a background in science or 
equivalent experience in science journalism and 
communication plus in depth knowledge and minimum 
ten years experience of corporate communication, 
preferably in an international science-based 
environment; Good working knowledge of European 
and national research structures (especially ESF 
Member Organisations) and institutions, and 
European and international science policy would 
be an advantage; Proven experience in writing 
science stories for a variety of media; Proven 
creativity in communications strategy and 
implementation; Proven people management 
experience within a performance driven 
organisation; Proven experience with implementing 
projects within a budgetary and financial 
framework; High standard of spoken and written 
English, with a working knowledge of French or 
another European language being an advantage but 
not a requirement; Good working knowledge of MS 
Office systems and of electronic databases; 
Knowledge of corporate websites and corporate 
intranet portals (e.g. Content Management System like Typo3).
Inter-personal competences: Action-orientated, 
responsible and autonomous, creative and willing 
to take initiatives, and continuously 
improvement-minded; Leadership and motivational 
skills; Strong inter-personal and excellent 
communication skills within a multi-national 
context, including discretion, diplomacy and 
tolerance; Assertive with capability to guide 
decision-making procedures and to represent ESF 
in the scientific and science journalism 
community; Leadership and staff management 
skills; Proven organisational skills; Good 
presentational skills; Transparency in working 
and a team-orientated work ethic; Commitment to 
deliver on allocated tasks and respond in a 
timely manner to deadlines; Positive and 
constructive attitude; Capable of demonstrating 
the ESFs values: Excellence, Openness, 
Responsiveness, Pan-European approach, Ethical Awareness and Human Values.

Employment conditions

The full time position is offered for a three 
year term, with the possibility of a prolongation 
of two years, preferably starting September 2008. 
The place of work is Strasbourg and the job will 
involve a significant amount of travel, The 
salary level will be based on experience and 
qualifications of the successful candidate and 
will follow ESF terms and conditions and 
relocation policy. Please send your application 
by 9 July 2008 to ESF, Human Resources Unit
1 quai Lezay-Marnésia, BP 90015, F-67080 
Strasbourg or to (jobs /at/ esf.org) quoting the 
following reference identifier HOU-COM Interviews 
will be held in Strasbourg on 16 July 2008.

Further details at www.esf.org

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Nico Carpentier (Phd)
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Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Free University of Brussels
Centre for Studies on Media and Culture (CeMeSO)
Pleinlaan 2 - B-1050 Brussels - Belgium
T: ++ 32 (0)2-629.18.56
F: ++ 32 (0)2-629.36.84
Office: 5B.401a
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Katholieke Universiteit Brussel - Catholic University of Brussels
Vrijheidslaan 17 - B-1081 Brussel - Belgium
&
Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis
Boulevard du Jardin Botanique 43  - B-1000 Brussel - Belgium
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Sponsored links ;)
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European Communication Research and Education Association
Web: http://www.ecrea.eu
----------------------------
ECREA's Second European Communication Conference
Barcelona, 25-28 November 2008
http://www.ecrea2008barcelona.org/
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E-mail: (Nico.Carpentier /at/ vub.ac.be)
Web: http://homepages.vub.ac.be/~ncarpent/
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