Communication Officer - SIOS-Knowledge Centre

About the position

We are seeking a proactive and strategic minded Communication Officer to lead our communication efforts and contribute to the strategic development of SIOS. This role includes the editorial leadership for our annual report on the State of Environmental Research in Svalbard (SESS report). The Communication Officer will also contribute to the preparation and management of externally funded projects and will assist in representing SIOS in international scientific programmes and initiatives. The position might be also given other tasks by SIOS director.

• Strategic communication: update and implement SIOS’ overall communication strategy and plans; take responsibility for all internal and external communication, including the management of the Communication Group, consisting of representatives from other SIOS member institutions
• Content production: produce high-quality content for the website, newsletters and social media platforms etc., including web development regarding structure and content
• Editorial work: serve as editor for the SESS report, including the management of the editorial board and cooperation with external resources for copy editing and type setting.
• Event coordination: contribute to the organisation of workshops, trainings, webinars, meetings, and conferences
• Mentorship: act as mentor for Early Career Researchers and support their involvement in communication and editorial work.

Qualifications

• Strong background in strategic communication (preferably in academia or research infrastructures) with a good understanding of the target groups, tailored messages and channel choices
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to find a ‘good story’ and explain complex scientific concepts to a general audience 
• Experience with graphic design software, and digital content tools
• Familiarity with analytics tools for websites and social media statistics (e.g. meta) 
• Proficient in both written and oral English

• Education or experience in Earth System Science
• Experience from Svalbard research and living in the Arctic
• Experience in editorial work
• Knowledge about privacy policies (e.g. GDPR)
• Network of press contacts
• Proficiency in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language, or openness to learn Norwegian

Certain personal attributes of the successful candidate are essential. We are looking for a candidate who

• Is a collaborative team player, but is equally capable of working independently, maintaining a focused and systematic approach to your task
• Thrives in an international environment and enjoys interacting with people from different fields of expertise, backgrounds, and cultures
• Likes to use their creativity and enjoy finding original ways to present complex information
• Is result-oriented and has a problem-solving attitude
• Is socially confident and takes initiative to build networks and foster relationships
• Is resilient to periods of high pace without compromising the quality of their output and handles ad-hoc changes and shifting priorities with ease

Required documents

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae 
• Education certificates
• Contact information for two references

The committee may ask for further documentation of the education history and former work experience described by the applicant.

We offer

SIOS-KC offers a dynamic role in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary and international environment. You will join a sociable work environment that offers flexible working hours and family-friendly practices in full accordance with Norwegian employment regulations.

This is a permanent position, though a fixed-term arrangement may be considered if preferred. For permanent appointments, we cover travel to Svalbard for you and your family, as well as relocation expenses upon commencement of employment, in accordance with our current regulations. Different provisions apply to fixed-term appointments. Subsidised housing will also be offered.

Additionally, you will receive membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK), which provides one of the best pension schemes on the market. We also offer excellent insurance schemes and staff housing in accordance with current regulations. 

The position is classified under the job code “Advisor/Senior Advisor” (code 1434/1364), depending on experience. In addition to the base salary, SIOS-KC provides Svalbard allowance of NOK 44.640 per annum. A 2 % contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. The income tax rate in Svalbard is currently 8 %, and a national insurance contribution of 7.6 % is also deducted. 

Application

Director of SIOS Heikki Lihavainen, director@sios-svalbard.org / +47 476 48 242 

Christiane Hübner, information@sios-svalbard.org / +47 90 27 17 35

All applications must be sent through our JobbNorge system. All documents must be uploaded as attachments to the application. Applications lacking required documents will not be considered.

A committee will evaluate the qualifications of the applicants. Based on the report, the top ranked person(s) will be invited for an interview. The appointment will be made based on the recommendation from the evaluation committee. 

SIOS prioritises applicants who are citizens of countries with a security policy cooperation with Norway. This mainly includes countries that are members of the EU/EEA or NATO. Employees holding citizenship from countries outside EU/EEA or NATO may encounter difficulties accessing the government infrastructure that UNIS relies on to hold our courses and perform research work.

It is possible to request that your name/application be exempt from public disclosure in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (Offentlighetsloven) § 25. The request must be justified. Please note that if the request is not granted, the applicant will be contacted and given the opportunity to withdraw the application. 

We are committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, beliefs, age, or other characteristics.