Job Description

JOB TITLE: / Research and Information Co-ordinator
GRADE: / 2
DEPT/TEAM: / Innovation and Creative/Creative
REPORTS TO: / Senior Journalist

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB:

To support theEditorial Team,in providing authoritative information, content and briefings on the projects, people and issues that Comic Relief supports.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

Research and Writing Briefs
  • Conducting desk research on issues relevant to Comic Relief’s grant making, ensuring all information held is up to date and referenced. Turning this raw information into easy-to-understand marketing copy to promote our need messaging.

  • Writing easy-to-understand, accessible briefings on issues related to Comic Relief’s grant making for Comic Relief staff, artists, partners government and media.

  • Researching and maintaining a bank of powerful statistics, “25p buys”, ‘on the shelf’ content
  • Subbing content and proof reading colleagues copy when necessary.

Writing the ‘where the money goes’ campaign web pages
  • Writing accessible and inspiring copy about the issues, projects and people who benefit from CR cash.
  • Transcribing, logging and subbing raw story content for use on this section of the website

Administrative Support
  • Working with the Editorial Team, Copywriting Manager and Picture Editor to develop and maintain systems for collating, packaging and disseminating communications materials for external audiences, including facilitating sign-off process and cataloguing.

  • Quantitative monitoring and reporting on Comic Relief's activities.
  • Logging all external contacts and communications on central database.
  • Monitoring the marketing relationships with international projects and ensuring that the relationships are logged on the database.

  • Extracting reports on Comic Relief’s grant making from database to meet internal and external information needs.

  • Support the media team and other internal stakeholders where necessary with project information and written summaries
  • Ensure corporate partners have all the ‘need’ resources they requesti.e. stories, photo’s, 25p buys.

General
  • Undertake any additional work as delegated by the Senior Journalist
  • Supporting initiatives and objectives across the whole organisation, where appropriate
  • Developing a strong awareness of our grant-making work, including attending Grant Committee Meetings, where appropriate

  • Maintaining internal databases

  • Being aware at all times of the Comic Relief Promise and investigating all opportunities to 'blag' to reduce Comic Relief’s costs
  • Participating in the recruitment and day-to-day supervision and support of volunteers

Job Description and Person Specification updated 23 October 2006

PERSON SPECIFICATION : Research and Information Co-ordinatorGrade: 2

EXPERIENCE / WHY / IMP. / App / Int / Test / Test Format
Experience of writing accessible, inspiring copy about serious content / These are all vital aspects of the role. / Ess. / 
Experience of using and updating a company database / Ess. / 
Secondary desk based research / Ess. / 
Experience of providing wide-ranging administrative support / Ess. / 
JOB SKILLS / WHY / IMP. / App / Int / Test / Test Format
Time management / Must be relied upon to turn up for work on time, able to prioritise work in order to get important tasks completed by the appropriate deadline, allow sufficient time to prepare for important events or meetings and seek support when demands outweigh the available time. / Ess /  / Prioritisation exercise
Attention to detail / Must be able to produce work which is consistently accurate, which makes sense and which fits the purpose for which it was intended. / Ess. /  / Written test
IT literacy (MS Windows and MS Office) / Must be able to create and edit documents using word processing or spreadsheet software, and to store and retrieve them on the network. Must be able to use e-mail, an electronic calendar and the Internet effectively. / Ess. /  / Written test
Customer care / Must answer phone calls courteously and promptly, listen to customers (both internal and external) and provide an efficient and helpful service. / Ess. / 
Research / Must be able to understand the objectives of a research brief, identify and access appropriate information sources, and collate an appropriate amount of information within a given time frame. / Ess. /  /  / Practical Research Test
Managing day to day relationships / Must Identify key business partners including journalists and media, understand their needs and motives, and maintain a positive relationship balancing their aims with those of Comic Relief. / Ess. / 
Project Management / Must be able to apply rigorous best practice to the management and administration of projects. / Ess / 
Motivating contacts / Must understand Comic Relief’s mission and values and can use them to persuade others to actively support the organisation. / Ess. / 
Writing reports and briefings / Must be able to able to pull together information from different sources and organise it into a clear piece of written communication in a style appropriate to the audience (eg press releases). / Ess. /  /  / Written test
Risk awareness / Before acting, must consider the consequences of what they do on their work, their colleagues and on Comic Relief as a whole. / Ess. / 
KNOWLEDGE / WHY / IMP. / App / Int / Test / Test Format
Understanding of some of CR grants themes / Would be an advantage. / Des. / 
Able to outline the mission of Comic Relief and awareness of one of our campaigns / Must be able to win over hearts and minds to need to tackle poverty and social injustice. / Ess. / 
An understanding of Diversity / In order to promote diversity throughout the organisation / Des. / 
QUALIFICATION/OTHER REQUIREMENTS / WHY / IMP. / App / Int / Test / Test Format
Willingness to work anti-social hours occasionally. / In order to ensure material is produced in time for campaign deadlines. / Ess. / 

Job Description and Person Specification updated 23 October 2006