The African Centre for Cities (ACC) based at the University of Cape Town is an interdisciplinary applied urban research centre focused on scholarship aimed at the understanding the dynamics of urbanization process in Africa. The ACC is a UCT Signature Theme funding was awarded to the Cities in Africa Project, which was a collaborative venture between the Faculties of Engineering and the Built Environment (EBE), Science and Humanities. The initiative is located within the EBE Faculty.
The ACC seeks to appoint a communications officer to support the centre to package and communicate its content through its two main digital channels the ACC website, www.africancentreforcities.net and the knowledge portal UrbanAfrica.Net, www.urbanafrica.net. The successful candidate will have solid journalism or communications experience with a keen interest in urbanisation and African cities. The purpose of the ACC website is to share information on ACC projects, events, publications, staff members/ research associates and news. The purpose of UrbanAfrica.Net is to function as a hub for information and knowledge exchange urban development and management in African cities.
Main responsibilities
The communications officer will be responsible for the following scope of work for both the ACC website and the UrbanAfrica.Net website:
- Manage the written and visual content
- Content management ensuring that projects on both sites remain up to date
- Generate news items based on ACC and affiliated partners research projects
- Manage the online calendar
- Support the transfer of the site from an external hosting platform onto the UCT platform
- ACC website revision and archiving
- Liaising with ACC staff to ensure generation of new content for both websites
- Liaising with Mistra Urban Futures on synergies between communication strategies of MUF, ACC and UrbanAfrica.Net
- Responsible for running ACC social media channels (Facebook and Twitter)
- Running UrbanAfrica.Net’s social media channels (Facebook and Twitter)
- Checking consistency and accuracy of slugs, straps, folios, credits, page numbers, competition elements
- Writing of captions, headlines and intros when needed
- Training and supervising interns
- Sourcing new contributors
- Commission features or freelancers when required
- Write quality copy when required
- Stick to deadlines and flag concerns
Requirements
The successful candidate will possess the following attributes:
- Relevant B-degree or equivalent qualification in communications
- Approximately 3 to 6 experience in journalism, editorial or communications fields, of which at least two should be in digital communications.
- Proven experience in the field of digital media including social media community management, monitoring, and content planning experience.
- Knowledge of WordPress, Drupal or similar CMS, web analytics tools such as Google Analytics, online marketing, and search engine optimisation.
- Project initiation, planning, execution, and closure.
- Data interpretation skills and research.
- Web content management.
- Ability to specify web design requirements.
- Client orientation.
- Ability to function effectively in a multilingual and multicultural environment.
- A deep interest in urban studies in the African context
- Strong interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to consistently meet tight deadlines.
- Extremely professional with high personal standards with the ability to produce work of a superior quality.
- Self-starter, detail-orientated, proactive, with the ability to work independently as well as in a small team.
Knowledge of more than one African language would be beneficial.
Remuneration
This is position is offered on a full time contract basis for a term 1year with annual remuneration of R300 000 (total cost of employment).
Timing
The position will commence from April 1, 2017.
Deadline for applications
Monday Jan. 30, 2017
Application guidelines
Please provide the following in your application:
- Motivation letter including contacts for two referees
- Curriculum Vitae ACC is committed to diversity and equity. ACC reserves the right not to appoint.
- Examples of relevant previous work
Please email applications to Maryam Waglay on maryam.waglay@uct.ac.za or deliver to Maryam Waglay between 23 and 30 January to Room 2.11, Environmental and Geographical Sciences Building, Upper Campus, University of Cape Town.
ACC is committed to diversity and equity. ACC reserves the right not to appoint. Further correspondence will only be entered into with candidates under consideration for the position. Should you not have heard from us within 15 working days of the closing date please consider your application unsuccessful.
