Communications / Writer / Marketing Specialist

Water Footprint Network is looking for writer/communications / marketing specialist

The Water Footprint Network (WFN) is a dynamic, international, continuous learning community with hundreds of partners worldwide committed to promoting sustainable, equitable and efficient water use through the advancement of the Water Footprint.  Established in 2008 with partners from academia, NGOs, international organisations and business sectors, WFN is a fast growing organization at the cutting edge of the methodology, data, tools and application of the water footprint concept and Water Footprint Assessment. Currently the Water Footprint Network is seeking a writer/communications / marketing specialist to assist us with special projects and on-going communications activities.  Contractual arrangement will have variable hours per month and will be on an as-needed basis. 

Background

The Water Footprint Network is the leading international organization supporting the development of the water footprint concept and the application of Water Footprint Assessment.  This is a rapidly growing and innovative field which requires quick capture and dissemination of advances.  As a small organization seeking to have global impact, the Water Footprint Network must facilitate international, cross-sector application of Water Footprint Assessment and engage key stakeholders – public and private – in transforming the way we use water such that it is sustainable, efficient and equitable.  As a centre of excellence for the water footprint and Water Footprint Assessment, the Water Footprint Network’s work programme consists of:

1. Developing standards, methods, guidelines and criteria for Water Footprint Assessment;
2. Facilitating Water Footprint Assessment research and development;
3. Promoting training, knowledge exchange & dissemination;
4. Developing practical tools for Water Footprint Assessment;
5. Supporting organizations in conducting a Water Footprint Assessment and developing a sustainable and fair water policy; and
6. Reviewing and certifying the use of the Water Footprint concept.

Duties

The writer/communications specialist will provide text creation and text editing support to special projects, on-going and intermittent activities. 

Special Projects

• Website revision: work with website design team to provide revised and new text for website revision (August to December, 2013)
• Water Footprint Assessment Tool promotion: develop promotional texts and support WFN team in launch of the Water Footprint Assessment Tool using various media, e.g., press media, social media, webinars, etc. (August – September)
• Strategic Plan: text review, editing and revision for 2014 – 2018 Strategic Plan document (interim draft 30 September, final  November/December)
• WFN Promotional Materials: Text creation and editing for a suite of promotional materials on the Water Footprint Network, water footprint and Water Footprint Assessment (September – December)

                        On-going Activities

• Newsletter: Text creation and text editing for (monthly) WFN Newsletter: write text based on a clear briefing of key topics for monthly newsletter
• Social Media: Text creation and text editing for social media and strategic guidance to increase social media activity
• Text creation and text editing of blogs, editorials, cases and testimonials on Water Footprint Network and its projects

Intermittent Activities

• Targeted media engagement: identify strategic opportunities for targeted media engagement, develop materials and manage relationships, respond to media requests in close consultation with WFN staff
• Reports: Text review, revision and editing of WFN reports: provide review and revision of technical reports (for language, style, etc., not technical review)

Profile

We are looking for an energetic, amiable person, with high professional standards who can understand technical concepts and translate them into easily understood and dynamic language.  Background understanding of water, sustainability and environment issues and evidence of covering these in communications is required.  Ideally, this person will have experience working with NGOs in communications and can tailor messages for a variety of sectors, i.e., government, business, investors, civil society, international organizations and academia.          

Interested?

Please provide an expression of interest, CV, sample writing, 3 references and availability along with a quotation of charges for each item listed. 

Information and proposals

For more information about this request for proposals please email xander.debruine@waterfootprint.org with “Communications Specialist” in the subject heading. More information about the Water Footprint Network is available at www.waterfootprint.org. Please submit your proposal by 16

August 2013 by e-mail to info@waterfootprint.org with reference to ‘Communications Specialist’ in the subject line.