Science Communication Officer – Deadline 12 January 2022

About the job

The Belgian Biodiversity Platform is seeking a science officer (m/f/x) for biodiversity science-policy communication, 12-months contract, fulltime, at our office at the Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences.

The Belgian Biodiversity Platform

The Belgian Biodiversity Platform (BBPF) is a science-policy interface body funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO) and is supported by a Cooperation Agreement between the federal and concerned federated authorities. Within the field of biodiversity, it acts as a broker between policy, science and practice. It connects the Belgian biodiversity research community with national, European and global biodiversity initiatives, and vice versa. We are presently seeking to hire a full time a science communication officer for an initial 12-month period.

Tasks

The communication officer will be engaged for implementing the Platform communication strategy, developing related scientific communication tools and activities, and providing scientific support to the Platform science-policy and networking activities such as its topical issues. They will be under the supervision of the BBPF Operational Coordinator/Communication Coordinator.

Specifically:

• Participating in the strategic communication and visibility of BBPF internally and externally
• Create and publish content on Platform social media and Platform website
• Keeping the Platform website up to date and monitoring use
• Producing, disseminating and updating the Platform ‘Biodiversity Newsflash’.
• Maintaining and updating the website contents using the CMS developed by the Platform webmaster
• Supporting the organisation of science-policy meetings and events (incl logistics)
• Develop content on topical issues (policy briefs, articles, video scripts, press releases…)
• Lead and take forward a topical project when needed
• Providing scientific support to the Platform science policy and networking activities such as data entry and ad hoc tasks as required

General tasks

• Support different requests and queries from various Platform experts
• Supporting the BBPF Operational Coordinator with reporting and analysis

Profile

Degree: MSc in science, biology, environmental sciences, communication, public relations, or journalism.

Technical competences:

• Ability to work on multiple projects at a time, each with its own specific needs.
• Excellent networking and communication skills
• Enthusiasm and having the ability to collaborate in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Experience in science communication and data management
• Demonstrated experience in event planning, organisation and facilitation is a strong advantage
• Excellent mastery of English spoken and written (graphics hardware, communication) and knowledge base of French and Dutch (for communication with external colleagues)
• Demonstrated writing and editing skills
• Some knowledge of Adobe CC Indesign , Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Acrobat Pro, CSS, HTML, Javascript are a plus, otherwise interest delivered to quickly learn the software ;
• Basic knowledge: Word / Pages, Excel, Powerpoint ;
• Ability to create and design engaging communication tools
• Experience with CMS systems (WordPress, Drupal or other) and mailing tools (MailChimp, Campaign Monitor or other)

Generic competences:

• Genuine interest in and enthusiasm for biodiversity research and policy
• Flexibility, ability to adapt quickly to new issues, proactive attitude, self-motivation.
• Ability to multi-task, work independently, take initiative and to exhibit self- motivation

We offer:

• A 1 year contractual position, with the possibility of extension, based at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels.
• Salary and conditions according to the conditions applicable at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences for a contractual agent of class SW1 of the scientific career.

Applications

Interested persons are invited to send their CV as well as a cover letter and if possible a portfolio with examples of graphic or previous communication achievements, no later than 12 January 2022. Contact details available on our website.

Interviews will take place on 18 January 2022 (candidates will be informed a few days before). Start of work : as soon as possible.