Communications & Social Media Officer

About Assabil:

Assabil is a non-governmental organization founded in 1997 to promote reading and free access to culture. By creating public libraries as non-sectarian and open spaces for cultural exchange and providing access to information and reading, Assabil filled a void in postwar Lebanon.

The 1998 municipal elections prompted Assabil to organize a national conference the following year to lobby for public reading and the creation of libraries in municipalities all over Lebanon – and to launch an effort to create a network of public libraries in the country.

In cooperation with Ile-de-France Region, Assabil reached a historic agreement with the Municipality of Beirut to establish a network of municipal public libraries. The first municipal public library of Beirut opened its doors in 2000 in Bachoura. It is surrounded by approximately 20 public schools that are located within a 10-minute walking distance. Assabil has also opened libraries in Geitawi (2004) and Monot (2008) and launched a mobile library in 2008 to serve primarily public schools and non-formal education centers in remote areas.

What We Do

We welcome people of all ages, religions, and socio-economic and educational backgrounds to enjoy our services that include:

• Free access to the three municipal public libraries of Beirut
• A network of 20 public libraries all around Lebanon
• Community outreach through a mobile library that visits public schools and NGOs serving underprivileged children
• Regular cultural and educational activities in Beirut
• Resource material and activity toolkits targeting librarians and educators
• A Resource and Training Center for professionals in public libraries, schools, cultural centers, and community-based organizations 
• Consultancy services for individuals and entities interested in establishing libraries

We also seek partnerships with municipalities across Lebanon to establish and operate public libraries.

Job Summary:

The Communications & Social Media Officer will lead, in coordination with the Executive Coordinator and the other staff members, Assabil’s online presence, media coverage, social media outreach, & audience engagement through the organization’s online platforms: Website, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

They will report directly to the Executive Coordinator on the ongoing campaigns and the overall progress of social media platform outreach. The Communications & Social Media Officer will be working closely with the Activities & Outreach Coordinator, as well as the Project Manager on project-related campaigns. Additionally, they will coordinate with the Libraries Coordinator on related communications needs.

The position requires 35 working hours weekly; 24 at the office and 9 in the libraries & weekly events.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a yearly social media strategy for Assabil Association, in addition, to tailor-made strategies for different projects in progress
• Manage social media platforms
• Create & update content as needed
• Promote monthly events
• Attend weekly events & create related coverage content
• Monitor comment & engage with the audience
• Update Assabil website content
• Coordinate with designers and video makers to develop material for offline & online content
• Produce monthly & special edition newsletters
• Update and categorize contact mailing lists 
• Maintain and keep track of Assabil communications analytics (Google and social media analytics) and collect both qualitative and quantitative data and information related to communications

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or any related fields
• At least 5 years of professional experience in the field of communications in a reputable organization (preferably within an NGO in Lebanon)
• Strong knowledge and understanding of current trends in digital media/social media
• Knowledge in how to increase visibility and engagement online
• Knowledge of creative digital media tools (scheduling, creative mediums) that diversifies content interface

Skills

• Excellent spoken and written skills in Arabic & English & French
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, layout, and design, professional printing/publishing skills are essential
• Basic design skills and technical expertise in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.) 
• Creativity, drive, initiative, organizational skills, attention to detail, and managements skills 
• Team player, with a high level of self-motivation, ability to manage workloads; a strong ability to prioritize and provide the necessary support in time-sensitive tasks.

If you are qualified and interested please submit your CV and a cover letter detailing your interest in the position to Assabil Executive Coordinator [email protected] with the subject “Communications Officer”.

Application deadline: 15 November 2020

Salary Range: (depending on experience)