16 October 2014
IDEA Central
Communications Manager (Maternity Leave)
Job description / person specification
The International Debate Education Association (IDEA) is seeking to appoint a Communications Manager to
develop and implement the organisation’s communications strategy on a fixed-term basis for nine months
to cover maternity leave.
The role will be based in IDEA Central, Brussels, Belgium and will report to the Executive Director of IDEA
Central.
Background information
The International Debate Education Association (IDEA) is a global network of organizations that work to
give young people a voice through education, debate and by raising their awareness about worldwide
issues.
IDEA believes that debate provides a forum for the open exchange of ideas and the opportunity to consider
an opposing point of view, and that it nurtures critical thinking and dialogue.
Founded in 1999, IDEA aims to be the world’s leading provider of resources for young people to develop
their argumentation and debate skills.
IDEA Central is based in Brussels, Belgium and is the co-ordinating office for the IDEA Network with offices
in:
 Central Asia (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan)
 Middle East North Africa (Tunis, Tunisia)
 Netherlands (Amsterdam)
 South East Europe (Skopje, Macedonia)
 United Kingdom (London)
 United States (New York)
About the role
IDEA is going through a period of change and is developing and strengthening its communications tools and
activities. The Communications Manager will play a key role in contributing to the organization’s
communications strategy, and will develop communications channels and implement activities targeting
both external and internal stakeholders.
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The communications objectives for 2015 which the post holder will be responsible for developing and
implementing are:
 Put in to place an identifiable team of people, across and supported by the IDEA Network, who will
work on communications activities, and benefit from a clear understanding of what their
responsibilities are locally and to the Network
 Improve internal communications and data sharing supporting the embedding of the vision and
mission across the Network
 Maximize IDEA’s impact by projecting a unified brand
 Have a strong, centrally managed portfolio of communications tools at its disposal to best support
its activities so it can respond quickly and effectively to opportunities
 Put in to place processes to ensure IDEA is legally, structurally and procedurally sound in regards to
communications activities
 Communicate IDEA’s services and products in a relevant, timely and effective manner in a way that
engages and inspires target audiences and supports the implementation of IDEA’s fundraising
strategy
The Communications Manager manages 1 x consultant within the Brussels office, and also has functional
responsibility for communications team members in each IDEA office, including the website team in Skopje,
Macedonia.
Areas of responsibility
Strategy and budget
 Develop and implement IDEA’s external positioning and communications strategy; Provide ongoing advice on external and internal communications including online and offline elements
 Develop positioning and key messages for target audiences
 Manage the communications budget efficiently and effectively
Development of communications team
 Manage Communications Editor (consultant)
 Develop a communications protocol outlining basic communications activities, requirements, sign
off procedures and recommendations for all offices to adhere to, to cover internal and external
communications and branding
 Develop a reporting framework for the wider IDEA communications team including agreement of
understanding to be signed by IDEA offices
 Have regular one to one meetings with communications team in each IDEA office, feedback on
activities and give guidance
 Determine training requirements of the communications team, manage the development of
training/guideline documents and implement training activities in collaboration with the
Communications Editor (Brussels), and the Media and Online Community Manager (Skopje)
Internal communications
 Take responsibility for IDEA’s internal communications channels and develop a regular calendar of
communications, including sending quarterly internal newsletters to all staff and board members
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Manage the events calendar to capture activities taking place across Network in conjunction with
the Communications Editor
With IDEA South East Europe, develop a resource sharing system – company dropbox – to act as
document and image repository, and develop a file structure system for all offices
External communications and branding
Work with the Network team to communicate IDEA’s services and products in a relevant, timely and
effective manner. Maintain a plan of communications activity to support IDEA’s programs, projects,
achievements and initiatives; to include online and offline communications.
Develop and implement tactical communications plans with activity and resources for 2015 per target
audience, based on Network activity plans.
Take the lead in managing and developing the following communications tools and channels in liaison with
the Communications Editor (Brussels), IDEA South East Europe and the wider IDEA Network.
Branding
Work with IDEA’s designer and external design agencies to:
 Standardise the use of IDEA’s primary visual identity and brand across the organisation
 Diversify local branding for regional offices
 Develop visual identity guidelines for main logo and brand for use by the Network
 Transfer registered trademark from IDEA US to IDEA Central
Website
 Redevelop IDEA’s website, lead the project team in IDEA South East Europe to launch a site that fits
the needs of the organisation and IDEA’s target audiences by June 2015.
Social media
 Develop and implement social media strategy including content management system and
guidelines
E-newsletter and database
 Take responsibility for the main IDEA newsletter – write and send 6 newsletters per year
 Work with IDEA’s designer or external design agency to develop design brief for newsletters for
individual offices
 Set up e-newsletter calendar to schedule sending out all newsletters across the organisation
 With IDEA SEE managed the organisation’s database of subscribers and ensure each office
contributes to keeping database up to date, link newsletters to specific sections of IDEA’s database,
and ensure data collection and usage is set up correctly
Design and print
 Work with external design agency and Communications Editor to write, design, produce and
distribute the annual iDebate magazine
 Develop design of IDEA corporate communications tools to support Network activities and
fundraising for example organisational diagrams, fundraising leaflet
 Develop other corporate communications materials as needed in liaison with the Network and in
association with IDEA’s graphic designer
Public relations materials
 Develop press release template for all offices with IDEA’s new mission and vision
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Produce basic information sheets about IDEA Network activities, structure and contacts for all
offices
Develop media contact list for organisation
Develop list of quotes about benefits of debate from alumni and famous debaters
Develop image database as part of shared server system in partnership with IDEA South East
Europe and collect images from across organisation from past 3 years
Ongoing content development
 In liaison with the Communications Editor, develop communications content: draft and/or edit
press releases, fact sheets, policy positioning statements, the IDEA email newsletter, iDebate
magazine, video messages and other materials;
 Draft, edit and/or assist in the regular updating of the IDEA website, and act as key content editor
for the homepage and ‘About Us’ sections of the site
 Update social media in co-ordination with the Media and Online Community Manager (Skopje)
Processes to ensure IDEA is legally, structurally and procedurally sound
Take the lead on introducing the following policies and procedures across the Network:
 Data protection policy
 Copyright policy for when using IDEA's images and those of others
 Policy for photographing and using images of minors, and associated permission forms
 Policies in regards to protecting the IDEA brand
 Crisis management communications procedures
Other
 Contribute to the development of the Network’s organizational strategy
 Organize planned and ad hoc external events and meetings
 Monitor and provide accurate assessment of developments in the debate community and of
advocacy opportunities; maintain good relations with both IDEA’s staff and external contacts
(including journalists, researchers and governmental and inter-governmental representatives)
 Work closely with the Program Development Manager to liaise with supporters, sponsors and
donors and support fundraising and programme activity where required
 Other tasks as requested by the Executive Director
Person specification
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A self-starter who can work both strategically and on tactical elements of communications
Proactive approach to work with a positive and flexible attitude, able to meet tight deadlines and
work well under pressure
Diplomatic with a proven ability to work in a diverse team
Able to hit the ground running and quickly get to grip with a complex organisational structure
Willingness to travel internationally
Skills and experience required
 University degree in communications, public relations, or a related field
 7+ years experience of working in a communications environment with demonstrable people
management experience
 Experience of managing a website development/redesign project and knowledge of web CMS
(Drupal or similar e.g. WordPress)
 Strong native-level English language writing, editing and speaking skills - meticulous attention to
detail
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Experience of managing marketing communications projects and budgets effectively
Understanding and experience of the design process for publications
Experience of MailChimp, HootSuite, Google Analytics an advantage
Experience of working in an international environment and knowledge of other languages a plus
Contract: Temporary (covering maternity leave – 9 months)
Working hours: Full-time, 38 per week, Monday to Friday. There will be occasional out of hours working to
support events and travel
Reporting to: Executive Director, IDEA Central
Direct reports: Communications Editor, IDEA Central
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Salary: €40,000 per annum (pro rata)
Expected start date: 5 Jan 2014
How to apply:
In the first instance candidates should send their CV to Kim Johnson at VMA:
[email protected]
Application deadline: Monday 10 November 2014.
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
The International Debate Education Association is an equal opportunities employer; women, minorities,
and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
The successful candidate will already have the right to work in the European Union.
/ENDS
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