Communications Associate

Communications

Open Society Foundation–London

Application Deadline: August 29, 2011

The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve this mission, the Foundations seek to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. On a local level, the Open Society Foundations implement a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. At the same time, we build alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information. The Foundations place a high priority on protecting and improving the lives of people in marginalized communities.

The Open Society Global Drug Policy Program aims to shift the paradigm of drug policies around the world from today’s punitive approach to one rooted in public health and human rights. The long term goal of the Global Drug Policy Program is to help drive reform for international and national drug laws, policies and programs to make them based on public health and to respect human rights.

The Office of Communications plays a central role in the work of the Foundations by coordinating and strengthening the public presence of the global network and by helping to advance relevant issues. Communications works to raise the Foundations’ public profile by promoting the network’s many noteworthy achievements as well as responding to attacks from opponents of open society around the world. The department employs media outreach, publications, and the web to assist dozens of Open Society foundations and programs in their communications efforts.

The communications associate for global drug policy will assist in the design and implementation of the communications and outreach strategies of the Global Drug Policy Program.

The position will be based in London and will report to the director of public affairs of the Open Society Foundations and the director of the Global Drug Policy Program.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing and disseminating key messages and advocacy strategies to advance the work of the Open Society Global Drug Policy program;
• Work closely with Global Drug Policy Program staff and grantees to design communications strategies, develop messages and identify key media opportunities;
• Manage content for Global Drug Policy Program website. This includes assistance with writing and editing blogs, letters to the editor and opinion pieces on drug policy for Open Society Foundations staff and grantees on issues of strategic importance;
• Distribute and promote Global Drug Policy Program materials under guidance of Directors;
• Coordinate and run extensive trainings with Communications colleagues throughout the network on developing communications strategies and successful messaging related to the Global Drug
  
  Policy Program;
• Raise the profile of the Global Drug Policy Program at key international conferences, including assistance in organizing
  
  press briefings to advance global drug policy priorities;
• Aid in positioning Open Society Foundations’ drug policy messages in global media, with a special focus on Europe and Latin America.  

Qualifications

• Broad experience as a journalist or communications professional;
• Strong knowledge of key issues in global drug policy;
• Superior English-language writing and editing ability, as well as verbal skills; 
• Excellent skills in the development of communications strategies;
• Ability to work as a team member and independently, with high level of self-motivation.
• Willingness to travel extensively for work;
• Knowledge of French and/or Spanish is strongly preferred.
• Advanced degree in journalism, international affairs, public health or other appropriate field.

Start Date

As soon as possible.

Compensation

Commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits package.

To Apply

Please email resume and cover letter with salary requirements before August 29, 2011, to: recruitment-CMP@osf-eu.org. Include job code in subject line: COMAS.



No phone calls, please.The Open Society Foundations are an Equal Opportunity Employer.