JOB VACANCY: HEAD OF MEDIA - FILLED

PEACE DIRECT HEAD OF MEDIA - LONDON EC2 - £30,617+

Main responsibilities:

To promote stories of local peacebuilders, as well as the charity itself, across all forms of media and oversee all of Peace Direct’s communications.

Use the stories of local peacebuilders, from Peace Direct projects and Insight on Conflict, to reposition local peacebuilding as active and fundamental to achieving a more peaceful world.

Background to the role:

Peace Direct is an early stage UK charity which won Best New Charity in 2005. We fund and promote the work of local peacebuilders in conflict areas, and seek to bring learning from their work back into the UK. We work with incredibly inspiring and committed people, some of whom are risking their lives to carry out work that they believe in passionately. As Head of Media it is your job to tell the stories of those peacebuilders in creative and compelling ways. You’ll be expected to draw on your own expertise (as well as a growing circle of experts offering pro bono advice) on the best methods of telling those stories; from The Daily Mail to Bebo, Youtube to Newsnight.
Insight On Conflict, Peace Direct’s online database of peacebuilders is about to get a new look; you’ll work closely with Lucy the Project Manager to work out how best to get the word out. Google has just given us Adwords sponsoring; a key part of the job will be to co-ordinate this and make sure peacedirect.org is in the right shape to maximise this opportunity. You’ll also be the link to our Ambassador, Gill Hicks, and spearhead the charge for high-profile individuals who can spread the word about Peace Direct.
Peace isn’t always an easy word to promote. A key part of the job will be changing people’s perceptions. You’ll run the Photographing Peace project; photographer Ted Giffords’ mission to capture bold new images of peace. Overseas trips are central to this project.
Our relationship with our supporters is something we take great care over. You’ll work with Susanna to ensure the right tone in everything we do.
No day is the same. It’s busy but exciting and incredibly rewarding when things go well. Peace isn’t always easy to sell, so you’ll need ideas that go way beyond sending out a press release and hoping for the best.

Specific tasks:

Develop new contacts across the media and secure coverage for both Peace Direct projects and the content of Insight on Conflict

Maintain relationships with existing media contacts

Working with photographer Ted Giffords on the Photographing Peace project, as well as a wide range of people in the media searching for creative ways to reposition peace

Manage the content and structure of the Peace Direct website, working closely with Digital Craftsmen, the site designers

Co-ordinate the relationship with the Peace Direct Ambassador and take a lead on establishing new relationships with high-profile individuals

Give input to communication with supporters including Newsletters, Practical Peace e-bulletin, and Champions Programme updates

Create and maintain an overall communications strategy, in consultation with colleagues and the Board
 

Person Specification:

Essential

Proven press credentials

High levels of creativity, ability to sell a different angle on the world

Established media contacts and the ability to develop new ones

An interest in international affairs

Excellent written and spoken communication skills

A well organized and proactive approach

Strong IT skills, comfortable with occasional updating of website

 
Desirable

Experience of working in a small/young organisation

Understanding of conflict resolution approaches

To apply, please email carolyn@peacedirect.org with your CV and a covering letter stating why you believe you are the ideal candidate for this position.

Deadline for applications: midnight April 22nd, interviews on 29th April.

If you have any questions about the role, please email chris@peacedirect.org or telephone him on 020 7549 0285 (Monday- Wednesday) or 07886 476 722

This role replaces the existing Head of Communications post at Peace Direct.