Volunteer role: Communications Support Officer Digitisation – Volunteer

VSO is the world’s leading international development charity that works through volunteers to create a fair world for everyone.

At VSO we pride ourselves on doing development differently. We fight poverty not by sending aid, but by working through volunteers and partners to create long-lasting change in some of the world’s poorest regions.

We bring key stakeholders together to co-ordinate collective action, from local organisations to national governments. Our programmes in Africa and Asia focus on health, education and livelihoods, with an increasing emphasis on resilience, peace building, social accountability, gender and social inclusion. We’re not about delivering quick fixes, but instead we focus on long-lasting, sustainable change that will improve the lives of generations to come.

Role overview

Working from home – In this role, you will provide remote support (e.g. from your home) to VSO projects or partners on a part/full time basis for a set period of time. It does not involve on-site work in the project location and/or VSO office.

If you are passionate about making technical information accessible and engaging and enjoy being part of a global and diverse team, this volunteer role might be perfect for you. As a Communications Support Officer Digitisations, you will translate technical content creatively into text, graphics or videos that are easy to understand and digest for the broader group of stakeholders across the organisation.

You will ensure that communications and related training materials are visually attractive and easy to follow, and that VSO’s staff can learn and engage more with the information technology systems at VSO.

Ideal Applicant Summary

The ideal candidate has the technical skills to translate content into attractive communications for various audiences. You are creative and have experience in communication tools and social media.

Experience and skills

• Qualification in Communications, Media studies or a related field, or the equivalent in significant experience.
• Significant experience in preparing communication materials with the ability to adapt style and content to suit a wide range of audiences.
• Creative individual with ability to translate technical content and policies into accessible English texts, graphics, videos that are easy to understand for a multi audience.
• High level of technical expertise in using social media and a range of communication channels, experience of content designing editing & publishing.

IT literate (Microsoft packages), designing software’s and online tools and applications (Office 365 tools such as Yammer, SharePoint, video recording and editing skills, graphic design software such as Microsoft Publisher, Adobe Illustrator or InDesign etc.).
• Fluency in English.

This is a remote volunteer role for about 16 to 20 hours per week over a period of 2 years. Access to reliable internet is important.

For more information on the content of this volunteer role and the requirements, please check the job description.

Competencies and Behaviour

At VSO we believe progress is only possible by working together. Whether you want to join us as an employee, or as a volunteer working in your own country, overseas or online, our selection process includes an assessment based on these core competencies:

• Ability to be open minded and respectful
• Ability to be resilient and adaptive to new situations
• Ability to facilitate positive change and build sustainable working relationships
• Ability to seek and share knowledge

Equal Opportunities

VSO promotes equal opportunities and values a diverse workforce.

Allowance

A substantial and regular monthly volunteer allowance will be provided that should cover communication expenses and any necessary transport.

VSO reserves the right to close this job early if we receive a sufficient number of applications.

If you’re interested in applying for this role, please download the job description for more information.

How to apply

Step 1

Complete the registration form below. When you have completed the form, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to our VSO Values self-assessment. This is a module designed to give you an insight into VSO’s ethos and provide you with an understanding of how your values align with ours, helping you to decide if you would like to join our organisation. The self-assessment module typically takes about 10 minutes to complete. 

Step 2

After completing the VSO Values self-assessment, you can opt out or proceed with the application process. You will need to upload your CV in Word or PDF format detailing your employment and educational history, and any volunteering experience. Please note that you will need to complete the full application form in one go as you cannot save it to fill at a later time.

Step 3

When you have submitted your application, you will receive an email inviting you to complete two assessments which focus on how you process information and what your work approach is. 

You will be shown instructions and example questions prior to the assessments to help you increase your familiarity with them. You will also have access to a short profile report on completion of the assessment. Your application will be reviewed by our Resourcing Team when you have completed these assessments. 

Should you require any adjustments to be made to the application process due to a disability or any other circumstances, please email us at [email protected] to discuss your requirements.