Current Vacancies
Writers in Prison Committee Research/Campaign Support
(full-time/35 hours - maternity cover: five months)
Salary £22,500 per annum pro rata
Duration: 5 month contract (with possible extension)
Working Hours: 35 hours (5 days)
Holidays: 25 days per annum, pro-rata
Location: Central London
Closing date: 9 am, 2 August 2010
Interview date: 9 August 2010
Overall job description
The purpose of this job is to provide research and campaign support to the Middle East/Asia Pacific Researcher and the Africa/Americas Researcher of International PEN's Writers in Prison Committee. The successful candidate will work full time, under supervision of the relevant Researcher as appropriate, under a five month contract starting as soon as possible.
Primary tasks
Research assistance
• Update the Writers in Prison Committee's Caselist under the supervision of the relevant researchers.
• Identify and bring to the attention of the researchers urgent and significant cases for possible action.
• Draft appeals, action papers and short articles on issues in the regions concerned on the request of and under supervision of the relevant researchers
• Follow up on and update cases and issues subject to PEN alerts under the supervision of the relevant researchers
• Respond to queries from the PEN membership and public on issues arising in the regions.
• Updating the WiPC website including uploading campaign and other materials.
• Assist with any other day to day tasks within the team as required.
General
• Work within a small team in particular being informed of the work of other team members through consultation and participation in team meetings, and being able to assist team colleagues and cover in their absence.
• The post will provide research and campaign support to both the Middle East and Asia Pacific Researcher and the WiPC Programme Director, and the post-holder will report to each accordingly.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
1. Experience in relevant field: have had at least two years paid or voluntary employment in an equivalent non-governmental or campaign organisation.
2. Administrative Skills: ability to draft correspondence, set up and maintain office systems, accurate typing/word-processing skills, experience with Microsoft Office and internet search engines, experience of note-taking.
3. Organisational Skills: experience of working within a team, ability to plan, organise and prioritise own work in consultation with others, experience of working to deadlines or under pressure.
4. Communication skills: proven ability and experience of writing, reports, articles and other documents to specified formats/criteria.
5. Language skills: fluent spoken and written English essential; knowledge of other languages an advantage (particularly Spanish, French or Arabic).
6. Political judgement: sound political judgement essential; appreciation of the importance of confidentiality and sensitivity in all aspects of the work of International PEN.
7. Team Skills: ability and willingness to participate in and facilitate the effective coordination of a team; ability to cover in colleague's absence as appropriate.
8. Human rights/free expression interests: have an appreciation of the issues worked on by International PEN and willingness to work within its working practices and mandate; interest in campaigning on human rights/free expression.
9. Assistance with Research: ability to gather information from a wide variety of sources; ability to summarise and highlight key points; ability to identify urgent and key issues; ability to keep abreast of key issues in the regions covered and to provide advice and information pertinent to the formation of strategies and campaigns.
10. Campaigns: awareness of the functions of a membership organisation and of the needs of members; experience of campaigning on civil and political rights.
11. IT skills: experience of and willingness to train on internet and other IT skills.
12. Values:
- Demonstrated interest in literature and writing.
- A commitment to the values of the Charter of International PEN.
- Commitment to accountability, transparency and fairness.
- Sensitivity to the particular challenges faced by those discriminated against on grounds of identity, including gender and social and economic deprivation.
- A commitment to equal opportunities and cultural diversity and a willingness to apply this at work.
WiPC staff may be requested to work occasional late hours or weekends by agreement with the Programme Director. WiPC staff may be required to travel aboard.
The office of the Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is part of the organisation's headquarters based in Holborn, Central London. It has good public transport connections to all London destinations. PEN has a no-smoking office.
Please send:
Your CV with a short covering letter of no more than two pages giving details of:
i) Why you are interested in applying for this post.
ii) What skills and experience you can bring to International PEN should your application be successful.
Only candidates with permission to work in the UK can be considered.
Interviews 9 August 2010. For assessment purposes, candidates will be asked to sit a short on site test immediately prior to or after the interview that will take no more than one hour, and will be a task that is often required of the post.
We are sorry that we are unable to reply to applicants who will not be called to interview or to offer feedback on applications from those who are not shortlisted for the post.
Post, fax or email to: Tamsin Mitchell, PEN WiPC, Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER Fax: +44 (0) 207 405 0339
email: tamsin.mitchell@internationalpen.org.uk
International Programmes Intern
(2 days per week)
This is an unpaid post. International PEN will cover travel costs within reason, as well as contribute to lunches.
Duration: 3 months minimum.
Working Hours: 2 days per week
Location: Central London
Closing date: 3 August
SUMMARY OF ROLE
International PEN celebrates literature and promotes freedom of expression. Founded in 1921, our global movement of writers now spans more than 100 countries. Our programmes, campaigns, events and publications connect writers and readers wherever they are in the world.
We are looking for an intern to support the International Programmes Director and International Programmes Assitant in the delivery of the Regional Programmes in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific.
Tasks include:
• Assisting in the administering of programme proposals and funding agreements with partner Centres
• Assisting in fundraising research and compiling grant proposals
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Compiling information and Centre reports
• Writing content and making updates to the Regional Programmes section of the International PEN website
• Translating mailings and material into and from French
• Dealing with general day to day queries
• Filing and office systems for the regional programmes
Candidates for this post should:
• Be available two days a week for a minimum period of three months, preferably longer (days to be negotiated)
• Have excellent written and spoken English
• Have excellent spoken and written French. Knowledge of Spanish is also desirable
• Have good writing skills
• Have some experience of office work
• Have an interest in current affairs, international development, and literary issues
• Be willing to work on their own initiative as well as within a team
Successful volunteers at International PEN have gained:
• Experience in working for an International Development programme with an arts and human rights charitable membership organisation
• Project management experience
• Experience of working on websites using a Content Management System
• Improved administrative and office skills
Volunteers are selected after a brief interview. A trial period of one month will be required after which either side can reconsider the decision to continue.
The volunteer will work at the International PEN headquarters, based in Central London in High Holborn. Office hours are 10am-6pm.
Deadline: Tuesday 3rd August 6pm
Please send a CV and letter of application, by post or email, to Ana Fletcher, International Programmes Assitant, International PEN, Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER UK Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7405 0338 Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7405 0339 e-mail: programmes.assistant@internationalpen.org.uk