Job Announcement: Secretariat Assistant

20 July 2012

Job Vacancy: Secretariat Assistant

Competitive Salary offered, based on experience, up to 18,000 INR per month

The International Tibet Network is looking for a talented individual to join our five-person Secretariat and help us to do even more to support the global Tibet movement. Located in Dharamsala or South Asia, you will have excellent communication skills in English and Tibetan, and be familiar with managing websites and using digital communications technologies.

The role will be to support the Network's International Coordinator and Campaigns Coordinator by helping to manage our campaign websites and digital communications, the circulation of campaign materials, and building relationships with our 188 Member Groups.

This position is full-time, offered on a one-year contract (renewable). A salary of up to 18,000 INR per month or equivalent may be offered, plus an appropriate Health Insurance policy, depending on experience. For more details about this position, how to apply background information about The Network please read below

Closing Date for Applications: 31 August 2012

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1. MAIN PURPOSE OF POSITION:

To provide support for a range of Secretariat tasks, specifically helping both the Campaign Coordinator and International Coordinator in fulfilling their roles. The job will involve helping to manage the Network’s websites and digital communications, the online distribution of campaign materials, and supporting the International Coordinator in Membership relations, especially information-gathering from Tibet Groups and soliciting feedback on our work.

2. OUTLINE JOB DESCRIPTION: for a detailed job description, click here.

The Secretariat Assistant will report to the Campaigns Coordinator and International Coordinator, and work closely with other staff and Network Member organizations. The role will include the following tasks:

• to set up and manage digital Urgent Actions and Petitions, including customized actions for Member Groups, and data management.

• manage the online and offline distribution of campaign materials, eg by creating and updating resource pages on our main website, monitoring other locations where materials are available and managing print and distribution.

• support the Network’s digital outreach, including updating information on the Network’s main website and campaign microsites as requested, and contributing social media updates.

• research and prepare campaign materials and information summaries.

• contribute to and support campaign planning.

• maintain regular contact with Member Groups, to gather updates on their activities, participation in campaigns and feed back to proposals

• help manage annual Steering Committee elections.

• help the International Coordinator implement the Network’s program of Membership recruitment, including outreach to Tibetan organizations. To assist in soliciting Membership Fee payments from Member Groups and respond to Joining or Information requests received through our website.

• help advise and assist Member Groups that are experiencing cyber-security problems.

• help administer the TSG-L list and manage other email lists controlled by the Network, in accordance with Data Protection Laws.

• assist the Campaigns Coordinator, International Coordinator and other staff in consulting Member Groups as part of evaluation processes.

• monitor the performance and use of Network resources and prepare quarterly reports. Make recommendations for updates to Network resources based on the information gathered.

• To act as a spokesperson for the Network where appropriate.

3. PERSONAL QUALITIES REQUIRED:

The successful candidate will possess the following skills and qualities:

• Good written and spoken English.

• Good written and spoken Tibetan.

• Proven competency in managing websites and digital communication systems, with the ability to quickly learn how to use unfamiliar software. Experience of using Drupal and WordPress would be an advantage

• A good understanding of online security protocols is desirable (experience of dealing with online security breaches would also be an advantage).

• Experience of working with Mac computers would be an advantage.

• Commitment to the aims and objectives of the International Tibet Network.

• Excellent face to face and voice communication and interpersonal skills, particularly in multicultural environments.

• Enjoyment of creating and building relationships with others.

• Good administrative and organising skills. A proven ability to set up and adhere to consistent, methodical work practices would be desirable.

• Self motivating, and willing to work alone and be managed from a distance.

• Flexibility about occasional anti-social hours.

• Possession of appropriate travel documentation would be an advantage.

• Experience of working with grassroots campaigning organisations would be an advantage.

4. HOW TO APPLY:

Send your Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume with a covering letter to Tenzin Jigme (see below). Your letter must include the following information:

* An explanation of how you are qualified for the position, by addressing all the points in the section Personal Qualities Required (see 3. above).

* The names and contact details (including phone and email) of three people who can give you a reference. One should be your current or most recent employer.

* Tell us why you want the job.

Please submit your application by email to: jigme@tibetnetwork.org

(Please apply by emailing your application in the body of an email rather than sending attachments. Please note that we will not open any attachments unless we are satisfactorily able to verify your identity, so if you send attachments you risk your application not being considered.)

Closing date 31 August 2012

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

This is a full-time position, requiring a 35-hour week offered on a renewable one-year contract. A competitive salary based on the successful candidate’s experience will be offered, up to a maximum of 18,000 INR (or equivalent) per month, plus a suitable Health Insurance policy (Note; there is no rent or other subsistence allowance payable). Annual paid leave will be 20 days, including all Indian and Tibetan holidays. The position may require additional work at weekends and in the evenings, for which time off in compensation may be taken. Some international travel may be possible, so possession of appropriate documents would be useful.

The candidate would ideally be based in Dharamsala but other locations in the South Asia region would be considered. The Network has no funds to pay for relocation, but the successful candidate may work from home or from the offices of a Network Member organisation where available. Reliable access to a fast internet connection is essential, and a location with good travel connections is desirable. The Network would provide a good quality Mac laptop computer along with a modest budget for communications and other work-related expenses.

BACKGROUND OF INTERNATIONAL TIBET NETWORK:
The International Tibet Network was established at a conference of Tibet Support Groups in Berlin in May 2000 to provide a mechanism for campaign development, co-ordination and capacity building for the worldwide Tibet movement.

The Network existed largely as a voluntary body until 2005, when funding was secured for a major shift in the capacity of the Network to fulfill its objectives. The Secretariat’s current staff positions include an Executive Director, an International Coordinator, a Campaigns Coordinator (almost full-time) and two Regional Coordinators; one for Asia and one (part-time) for Latin America.

The Network’s Strategic Campaign Plan, devised in 2008, has the goal of “A substantial increase in coordinated, sustained activity by Tibet Groups leading to a major increase in pressure on China so that it genuinely addresses the Tibetan political situation.” The plan is structured around 4 strands or themes:
1: To put Tibetans in Tibet first and amplify their resistance to China’s occupation.

2: To radically increase pressure on our governments for concrete action to support the Tibetan people.

3: To put the spotlight on Chinese leaders with direct responsibility for Tibet policy.

4: To reach out to selected groups of Chinese people.

After 3 years of implementing this Plan, and taking into account the changing political environment in which we are working, we are currently undertaking a review of this Plan.

For more information about the Network, please visit the rest of this website. For a list of our campaign websites see http://www.tibetnetwork.org/campaigns.