Science Communicator – HOLAS for all

Science Communicator – HOLAS for all, Helsinki Commission, Helsinki

The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission – Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) is an intergovernmental organization (Denmark, Estonia, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden) with its headquarters (Secretariat) in Helsinki, Finland, working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea. At present, we are around 40 staff members at the HELCOM Secretariat, and our working language is English. We offer an open, friendly, dynamic and energetic, often fast-paced, international working environment offering all staff members the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to achieving our common goals. For more information about HELCOM, please visit our home page: www.helcom.fi.

We are currently seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and experienced Science Communicator to coordinate and implement HELCOMs tasks for the project ”HOLAS for all”.

”HOLAS for all” is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers and focuses on new and strategic ways of communicating the results generated and information presented linked to the third holistic assessment of the Baltic Sea (HOLAS 3), with the aim of raising awareness and catalysing action.

Responsibilities –

The main tasks are:
– Coordinate and support the implementation of ”HOLAS for all”;
– Ensure appropriate flow of information between the project and HELCOM groups and decision-making processes and set up working arrangements to ensure that the respective national and regional cooperation processes will be able to contribute to and benefit from the project;
– Plan and implement a workshop(s) with interest groups and, together with a professional facilitator, elicit input from stakeholders to guide the work on creating awareness raising material.
– Build cooperation with relevant parties and partners to facilitate effective achievement of the project;
– Disseminate project progress and results internally and externally;
– Prepare project outputs (e.g. science and policy briefs), project reports for funders, and other project deliverables (e.g. HOLAS video, together with video production company and gamification of the state of the Baltic Sea information)
– Contribute to science communication, dissemination material and outreach of the project.

The tasks are expected to be carried out independently. However, the Science Communicator will cooperate closely with other HELCOM staff involved in the work on the holistic assessment, who will provide support and general guidance.

Qualifications and experience –

The tasks require a person with background in science to policy/science to public communication. Strong skills in processing and distilling large amounts of information as well as in stakeholder interaction and/or participatory processes are also required. A background in marine biology, marine ecology or a corresponding field, as well as communications in an international environment are significant benefits.

The successful candidate shall have:
– University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communications, marine biology, marine ecology, conservation ecology or related field;
– Minimum of two years of relevant professional experience at the national or international level;
– Familiarity or experience with:
o Stakeholder engagement and elicitation,
o Summarising and making accessible extensive information,
o Preparation and design of policy and science briefs,
o Video script production and video production coordination,
o Gamification;
– Excellent organisational and administrative skills and proven ability to deliver to tight timelines;
– Ability to work independently, take responsibility and initiative;
– Excellent social and team skills;
– Thorough knowledge of the English language as well as high competence in IT skills.

Experience in the following will be considered an asset:
– Experience of international policy cooperation;
– Experience with guiding participatory processes;
– Developing innovative approaches to ensure reaching a wide variety of target audiences;
– Knowledge of other languages from the Baltic Sea coastal countries.

Terms of appointment –

The appointment is planned to be full time until end of December 2024, starting in the beginning of July/August 2024, and based at the HELCOM Secretariat in Helsinki.
The salary for the position is 3.100€ per month. Please note that the HELCOM salaries are exempt from Finnish income taxation i.e. the salary is not subject to income tax.

Employee benefits include occupational health care, flexible working hours, hybrid working, generous leave allowance, recreational activities, and professional development opportunities.

How to apply?

Candidates with the required expertise and qualifications are invited to submit their application (consisting of a CV and a motivation letter in one file) via email to recruitment@helcom.fi no later than 24.5.2024. Please write ”HOLAS for all Science Communicator” in the subject field of the message.

Osaamisalue: Media & viestintä