FORTHEM Communication Strategist and Media Relations Professional – job offer

Position: FORTHEM Communication Strategist and Media Relations Professional

Position type: full time

Location: Partner university in the FORTHEM Alliance

Contract period: An initial one-year contract ending in August 2022 (end of current funding period). Continued employment under the subsequent funding period (2022/2028) is also envisaged.

Salary: Competitive, depending on location, corresponding to salary levels in:

  • Mainz, Germany
  • Dijon, France
  • Valencia, Spain;
  • Jyvaskyla, Finland
  • Riga, Latvia
  • Opole, Poland
  • Palermo, Italy

Start date: As soon as possible

The FORTHEM European University Alliance is offering a unique and exciting opportunity for an experienced Communications Professional to assume a key strategic role within a complex and fast-moving environment at the heart of the European Higher Education sector. The FORTHEM communication officer is a new position being created within the alliance, as part of a drive to professionalise the communication function within the alliance, both internally and externally. The officer will be responsible for proposing and implementing strategic recommendations and an action plan, in liaison with the communication offices of the partner universities, the management board of the alliance and the communication team composed of individuals working within the seven partner FORTHEM offices. The alliance brings together over 200 000 students and staff to develop a European Campus stimulating unprecedented levels of cooperation between its member institutions. Its progress is closely followed by the European Commission, as one of the oldest of the 41 pioneer alliances funded under the European Universities Initiative. Smooth and clear communication is vital both internally and externally, between the alliance, its stakeholders, partners and the media to ensure that the FORTHEM brand remains top of mind within partner universities and beyond.

 

Responsibilities:

  • To review and develop the alliance level communication strategy, in order to develop awareness of FORTHEM internally and externally, and to ensure massive participation of all stakeholders in alliance activities. (95% awareness and 50% participation rates by 2025);
  • To liaise with communication strategists in the partner universities in order to establish needs and opportunities for dissemination;
  • To conduct a benchmark on communication from other alliances and provide recommendations to the governing body and working teams of the alliance for strategic actions to be developed;
  • To stay up to date with all the activities that are happening in the alliance, to collect all the information from all WPs (Dissemination roadmap+ minutes);
  • To finalise texts in English for dissemination;
  • To coordinate dissemination through both internal and external channels;
  • To process and update FORTHEM privacy notices for dissemination activities (e.g. newsletters; social media; images and pics etc…) according to the EU GDPR regulation.

Requirements:

  • Good knowledge and understanding of the European Higher Education Sector
  • Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Communication, Journalism, or related field;
  • Experience in atop-level communications role and a proven track record of managing communications in an international or European context;
  • C 1 or C 2 level of English;
  • Proficient in MOffice, content management systems, and social media platforms; knowledge of desktop publishing software (InDesign/Photoshop);
  • Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills;
  • Good time management and organizational skills ;
  • Experience of working remotely in international teams.

 

Candidates should send a cover letter and CV to their local FORTHEM university [contact details] before 20th June 2021.