EJN Net Zero Project Coordinator

Job Title: EJN Net Zero Project Coordinator

Location: South Africa

Classification: Term

Departments: Global Initiatives

Funding: Direct

Exemption Status: Exempt

Supervisor: Program Manager – Eastern and Southern Africa

Reports to: EJN Program Assistant and Executive Director

GENERAL FUNCTION

The EJN Net Zero Project Coordinator for South Africa will oversee implementation of the Net Zero project that will boost journalistic coverage of the pathways to a carbon neutral economy being carried out by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) in collaboration with Internews’ Africa Program Management Unit. The Project Coordinator will carry out the project’s media development and journalism activities – which will include organizing a training workshop, developing resource materials and awarding story grants — and help ensure the project meets all its deliverables. The assignment will last for 11 or 12 months but will also entail working with both the Africa and EJN teams to try and find additional environmental media projects to work on. The position is fully remote, and candidates may be based anywhere in South Africa.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Lead and implement the Net Zero Pathways Project being carried out in collaboration with both Internews’ Earth Journalism Network and the Africa PMU, ensuring all deliverables are met, including:
  • Research and develop, in collaboration with project partners, resource and briefing materials for journalists on pathways to a carbon neutral economy
  • Organizing a training workshop for South African journalists on the subject
  • Selecting and awarding story grants to South African journalists for reporting on pathways to Net Zero
  • Mentoring story grantees and/or supervising other mentors
  • Collecting stories and other results from the project, including monitoring and evaluation indicators
  • Posting useful information for journalists on social media
  • Writing report(s) on the results of the project
• Work in collaboration with the EJN and the Africa PMU staff, including the EJN team in India carrying out a similar project.
• Hire and Manage a short-term project administrator to help organize the logistics for the journalism training workshop in South Africa.
• In collaboration with the EJN Editor and social media team, help with the widespread distribution of stories and other content.
• Liaise and coordinate with potential South African partners, such as media outlets, journalism networks, think tanks, academics, CSOs and government agencies working in the same space.
• Liase and attend meetings with project partners, Internews’ Africas PMU and the EJN team.
• Meet with potential donors, and collaborate and assist with fundraising and development efforts.
• Represent Internews at workshops, conferences and events.
• Support monitoring and evaluation of project activities, including outcome harvesting and monitoring and publication/broadcasting of impact stories.
• Assist with the implementation of Internews’ environmental media activities, including judging applications and other duties as assigned by the Africa PMU and EJN, as mutually agreed.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS:

• 8+ years related work experience as a project manager and/or in an editorial position, or preferably both.
• Experience covering and working on climate change, environmental and/or energy issues.
• Experience managing or working on media and/or development projects.
• Ability and willingness to work in collaboration with remote colleagues.
• Willingness to work with international colleagues in distant (and multiple) time zones, including participation in meetings after normal working hours.
• Familiarity with content management systems and workflows.
• Familiarity with South African energy and environmental policymaking.
• Strong English-language skills; Knowledge of local languages is an asset.
• Experience with data and video journalism a plus.
• S trong attention to detail, problem-solving and analytical skills required.
• Ability to work well with others, meet deadlines, and respond to changes in priorities.
• E xperience with multimedia editing, design programs and/or web analytics would be a plus.
• Understanding of and demonstrated commitment to upholding Internews’ Core Values.

Deadline

Applications must be submitted to by: 15 August 2022.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS and WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met or may be encountered by an employee performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must be able to lift up to 25 lbs. (12 kgs). Specific vision abilities required by this job include normal color perception and close vision for use of computer terminal and reading printed and electronic materials. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to the risk of radiation from regular exposure to computer VDTs.

Expected office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm but given the need to work with colleagues in many other time zones, Internews expects and can provide flexibility in terms of working hours.

The above noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to give the associate a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of his/her position. As the nature of business demands change so, too, may the essential functions of this position.