If you’ve always wanted to put your web and writing chops to work for Canada’s labour movement, here’s a great opportunity:

The Canadian Union of Public Employees is looking for someone to see to the day to day content of their national website, cupe.ca. The Senior Officer, New Media, works with a group of people, including a web developer, administrative staff and other writers and editors to produce content for a bilingual, content-managed website with more than 12,000 pages.

This is a six month parental leave replacement position, starting in early January 2007 and going to the end of June 2007. There is a requirement for a two day contract in December 2006 to transition with the person going on leave.

The job is based in Ottawa at CUPE’s national office.

Those interested should forward their resumés to Louise Leclair, lleclair@cupe.ca, by Nov. 28, 2006

Full details of the job below:

GENERAL FUNCTION

Under the direction of the Director, Communications Branch, the Senior Officer – New Media will be responsible for coordinating the content and daily maintenance of CUPE’s web site, the development of communications strategies employing electronic media and other related duties intended to communicate CUPE’s viewpoint to members
and the public.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES

• Contribute to the broader work of the Communications Branch in developing and implementing communications strategies and preparing timely communications materials for presentation on CUPE’s web site and in other forms.
• Ensure the design, presentation and contents of the web site, contribute to the union’s communications objectives.
• Work with Communications staff and Branches and Departments to ensure the information on the web site is up to date, relevant and easily accessible.
• Work with Communications staff and others to take full advantage of new media to improve our communications with members, staff and the public.
• In collaboration with other Branches and Departments, contribute to CUPE’s efforts to successfully use new media including the internet and intranet.
• Provide expert advice to CUPE leaders and staff on communications issues, strategies and techniques related to new media.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A university degree in journalism or three-year college diploma in communications or equivalent practical experience.
• Extensive journalistic and communications experience and familiarity with media operations.
• Ability to write clearly and quickly.
• Extensive experience in creating online content and editing for the web.
• Experience in electronic information applications within a communications environment.
• Familiarity with web design, XHTML, CSS, Adobe Photoshop/ImageReady and image editing, Quark Express, Microsoft Word.
• Familiarity with information architecture and web usability.
• Understanding of trade union communications functions.
• Understanding of or experience in community organizing, online and in real life.
• Fluency in both official languages would be an asset.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT as set out in the collective agreement between CUPE and the Administrative and Technical Staff Union.

PRESENT WEEKLY SALARY: $1,330.49 to $1,373.61