Administrative Assistant

• Post: Communications and Policy Assistant
• Contract: Part-time, two days a week, one-year fixed term (the specific two days a week will be jointly agreed upon based on organisational needs)
• Salary: £29,500 (full-time equivalent, salary will be pro-rated)
• Location: ActionAid, 33-39 Bowling Green Lane, London, EC1R 0BJ (hybrid)

Background

The Gender and Development Network (GADN) is an influential network of UK-based NGOs and experts. Together, we promote gender equality and the rights of women and girls in all their diversity around the world. We collaborate with feminist and women’s rights organisations in the Global South, amplifying their analysis and priorities to global policymakers, and we hold the British government to account for its impact on the rights of women and girls internationally. In everything we do, we aspire to feminist, anti-racist and decolonial principles. GADN has an exciting programme – Feminist Reframing of Macro-level Economics (REFRAME) – which seeks to change the way in which global economic decisions are taken so that they better promote gender equality and women’s rights. In this, we are increasingly seeking to make space for the voices of feminists in the Global South and, in part, the Communications and Policy Assistant will be contributing to this programme.

Overall role of the Communications and Policy Assistant

The Communications and Policy Assistant will provide support to the externally facing communications and policy work of the network. The post holder will be part of a small team consisting of the Director, Head of Policy, Senior Communications and Policy Officer, Coordinator and volunteers. The post holder will be line-managed by the Senior Communications and Policy Officer but will also work closely with the other team members.

Responsibilities will include:

1. Communications (50%): Support to ensure that the work of the network is communicated to our target audience. Key tasks include:

• Contributing to GADN’s social media channels by drafting content and monitoring channels
• Keeping up to date GADN’s database of contacts
• Contribute to the production and dissemination of GADN publications by formatting publications (using templates as well as formatting references according to GADN’s style guide), proofreading and making sure GADN’s style guide is adhered to in GADN’s outputs
• Supporting the coordination of GADN’s weekly newsletter and regular members’ mailings
• Support in keeping the GADN website up-to-date

2. Administration, logistics and technical support for meetings (35%): Support to ensure GADN’s external in-person, hybrid and/or virtual meetings run smoothly. Key tasks include:

• Managing Zoom/Teams and ensuring technical support for virtual and hybrid meetings
• Logistics for meetings: booking rooms, booking photographer, administering registration (mostly via Eventbrite), managing RSVPs, preparing lanyards for participants, supporting registration at the meeting, arranging light refreshments and other on-the-day logistics
• Minute/note-taking of meetings

3. Policy and Advocacy (15%): Support the policy and advocacy work of the network, primarily on REFRAME. Key tasks include:

• Providing administrative support, for example, liaising with members, allies and decision-makers to share information
• Collating the work of Southern feminist organisations on REFRAME issues
• Occasionally providing research support in the production of publications

4. Other: Undertake any other reasonable task, as needed.

Person Specification - Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Understanding of gender and development issues, including economic justice issues
• Experience in providing administrative support to a busy team
• Ability to write clearly
• IT literacy - including Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
• Experience in online content creation for social justice issues
• Experience in organising or supporting the organisation of webinars, public meetings or events
• Proven ability to organise and prioritise workloads
• Demonstrated commitment to women’s rights and gender equality
• Understanding of decolonisation and a commitment to anti-racism

Desirable:

• Experience in using graphic design tools, e.g. Canva for the creation of basic graphic designs
• Experience in using content management systems (CMS) for website maintenance (preferably Squarespace) and/or newsletter creation (preferably Zoho Campaigns)

How to Apply

To apply, please download and complete the application form from our website, rename it to ‘First name-Last name_Communications and Policy Assistant’ and return it via email by 9 am on Monday, 19th February 2024. Please include ‘Communications and Policy Assistant’ in the subject line. Your application form should document your relevant skills and experience, as outlined in the person specification.

We aim to notify successful applicants and invite them to the assessment and interview by 22nd February. Please note that in order to contain administration costs, only those applicants shortlisted for interview will be contacted.

Assessments will be conducted electronically on 26th February and interviews will be held via Zoom on 28 th February. If you’re unable to make any of these dates, please let us know in your cover email. Please also confirm in your cover email when you would be available to start.

To be considered for this role, you must be able to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we can only accept applications from people based in the UK who are able to come into our London office.

GADN is seeking people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to join our team. As we continue working to decolonise our practice and build an anti-racist organisation, we actively welcome applications from Black women and Women of Colour who we recognise are underrepresented in the UK international development sector. If you share our core commitments, we would love to hear from you!