An exciting opportunity has arisen for a part-time copywriter and editor in the UK Data Service and UK Data Archive, based at the University of Essex. As a national partnership organisation, we curate and provide access to the largest collection of social science and population data in the UK. Funded by UK Research and Innovation through the Economic and Social Research Council, we have been a critical part of the UK’s research infrastructure since 1967.
Duties of the Role
This role will be responsible for helping raise the profile of the UK Data Service and UK Data Archive with key stakeholders.
The primary aims of the post are:
- to promote the UK Data Service and UK Data Archive through communications activities, the Service website and associated channels
- to support the design and production of online and printed materials for data users, policy makers and other audiences
The post holder will produce digital and print content for various formats, including the web, social media, blog posts and traditional print publications and reports, and will have responsibility for quality control of content, including editing and proofing content, ensuring web standards compliance and monitoring and analysing web statistics.
The successful applicant will be able to identify and create multi-channel news stories from high profile events and work that our Directors and subject experts are leading on; link impactful research from the Impact team with campaign activities to key audiences; in addition to the traditional writing and editing for digital and print publications and our websites.
A full list of duties and responsibilities can be found within the job pack.
Qualifications and Skills required
Applicants are required to hold an undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification or experience, preferably in a Social Sciences related area. A communications qualification or significant experience in journalism, communications and/or marketing for non-profit sector is also essential.
You will have a keen interest in social and economic issues and how data and research can potentially help shape policy and improve society, with the ability to create compelling news stories, often by extracting detailed information from technical and academic subject matter. In addition, you will have experience of producing high quality content for print and web with practical experience of using digital content.
In order to aid the selection process, candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be asked to submit an article they wrote previously, that demonstrates their skills and appreciation of writing for a specific audience, ideally about a technically complex subject.
The post involves access to Government systems, information or data and will be subject to the staff vetting process. Further information can be found in the job pack.
Closing: 11 November 2019
Location: Colchester
Salary: £26,715 – £30,046 per annum, pro-rata
Employment type: Fixed-term, part-time, until 31 March 2021 due to funding.
Further details & job pack: Chief Content Author and Web Editor