Science Writer &Editor at South African Medical Research Council

About the role:

• The purpose of this position is to, among other deliverables, ensure that the work done by the SAMRC is translated into simple and easy-to-understand content for the general public. This includes supporting the organisation with crafting key messaging for Corporate Marketing and Communication campaigns to profile the SAMRC's science, brand and provide comprehensive writing and editing services for multiple media including working with research units or divisions to coordinate projects, assessing input, content and developing communication styles for scientific and other communication materials.
• Given the strategic importance of Research Translation, this position is key in ensuring that the Corporate and Marketing Communications Division creates cross-unit collaboration to best package and communicate the SAMRC’s research and related activities to a diverse external audience.

Responsibilities:

• Comprehensive writing and editing services for large and/or complex projects, potentially involving multiple media.
• Support research units and divisions with the editing of technical and scientific content, and improve Quality Assurance process (i.e. plain language writing, research translation)
• Content generation for Corporate publications: annual report, newsletters, and other marketing material.
• Develop and project manage communication plans relating to conferences and other events offering a PR touchpoint
• Ensure effective communication across multiple channels (announcements, newsletters and social media outlets)
• Contribute to efforts to ingrain organisational values, vision and mission to ensure an informed workforce.
• Contribute content to internal communication tools and campaigns, including the intraweb.
• Participating at Science Public Awareness programmes such as National Science Week and other science festivals.
• Increase engagement within SAMRC and externally with the Schools Outreach activities
• Building and sustaining a positive reputation for the organization through the production of high quality and professional content
• Facilitate writing workshops to train scientists on how to write for the general public
• Providing guidelines that facilitate the production of various materials that can be published on various platforms

Broad functional areas:

• Creative writing and editing
• Media
• Project management
• Organisational navigation and communications coordination

Job Requirements

• Master’s qualification in Science Communication/ Journalism/ Public Relations or a relevant qualification  
• 4 years of writing experience

Advantageous:

• 7 years’ experience in the media