Call for Applications: Information Specialist (PARTICIPATE)

Unit: Ateneo Policy Center – School of Government (APC-ASOG)

Duration: The successful candidate will be contracted for 1 year until the end of the project in July 2023.

I. Brief Description 

The Ateneo School of Government is the public policy academic arm of the Ateneo de Manila University. Its long-term mission is to teach and work with effective and ethical public servants to build prosperous, sustainable, just, and happy communities in the Philippines, empowered by democratic, participatory, transparent, and accountable governance institutions and processes. Through its research and extension programs, and its work with public, private and civil society organizations, ASOG aims to develop and foster innovative ideas and approaches in order to change mindsets and systems in such areas as leadership, poverty eradication, climate change, social accountability, and politics.

Political Participation for Greater Electoral Integrity, otherwise known as PARTICIPATE, is a three-year program implemented by ASOG in partnership with the La Salle Institute of Governance (LSIG), National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO), and Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS). PARTICIPATE aims to increase and enhance non-partisan political participation by the citizenry and civil society organizations in government-administered national and local electoral processes as an essential element of true democratic governance. It advances political participation in elections through three interrelated objectives: 1) bolster citizen oversight of electoral processes, 2) increase the availability and accessibility of information to promote informed voting, and 3) support constituency-building for electoral reforms.

II. Scope of Work

The Information Specialist is expected to serve as technical expert responsible for leading the project’s overall communication, branding, and dissemination strategy.  In coordination with the Chief of Party, he/she will also provide overall technical guidance in the implementation of  the project’s programmatic information campaign.

 In particular, the Information Specialist is expected to:

• Lead, develop, maintain, and update the project’s communication strategy, branding and marking plan, and all associated work plan in collaboration with the PMO, the Ateneo Policy Center, consortium partners, and the project funder;

• Coordinate closely with country and regional communication units and point persons of the project funder and partners for effective project objective messaging;

• Establish a sound system and process of communicating with media contacts, including press conferences and events, issuing of media materials etc. which will serve as guidance for all consortium partners;

• Lead the overall campaign of the project that will increase the availability and accessibility of information to promote informed voting, including but not limited to overall technical guidance to consortium partners on various information dissemination activities;

• Work with the Advocacy and Communications Officer and the PMO to ensure the quality and appropriateness of communication materials, activities, processes and messages transmitted to the press, partners and public, including the monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of such media materials;

• Contribute in developing opportunities to strengthen the capacity of partners through appropriate advocacy and communication training which will help improve the dissemination of program results;

• Ensure that human resources (consultants) and financial resources (budget planning, management and monitoring) of assigned activities are both effectively managed and optimally used;

• Work with the Chief of Party and the PMO in ensuring that communication baselines are established against which the achievement of objectives of the communication strategy are regularly evaluated; and

• Perform any other tasks relevant to the project as directed by the Chief of Party.

III. Qualifications

The qualifications for the Information Specialist position are as follows: 

• Advanced university degree (Masters or PhD) degree in information sciences, sociology, social psychology or related fields; Ongoing completion of an advanced university degree may be considered, provided that he/she has relevant management, public policy and/or industry experience;

• At least 3 years of professional experience in projects involving information and communication, information systems, information technology and similar projects in a development context;

• Extensive work experience in Philippines or comparable environments;

• Proven ability to lead and form constructive partnerships in government and the private sector;

• Excellent oral and written communication skills;

• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, with keen attention to detail and the ability to work in a team; and

• Flexibility to adapt to any subsequent changes in the terms of reference.