DigitalCommunicationsIntern

Closing Date: 10am, Monday 26th February

Background

Spark Inside is an exciting and innovative charity in London that encourages rehabilitation and reduces reoffending by running coaching programmes in prisons. We help make transformational changes in prisons and unlock the potential of people in prison to ultimately lead fulfilling lives. 

Spark Inside was founded in 2012 by CEO Baillie Aaron, an award-winning serial social entrepreneur and TEDx speaker. The charity is enjoying rapid growth and in 2017 recruited a Head of Communications, Indy Cross, to help raise the profile and influence of Spark Inside. Indy has almost 15 years’ experience in marketing communications with a varied background that includes: central government comms; heading-up the marketing communications activity for entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones’ charity; and marketing the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the London 2012 Festival and Cultural Olympiad. Indy works closely with Hannah Pittaway, Spark Inside’s Policy & Communications Manager, who oversees the digital communications. Hannah also keeps a close watch on criminal justice debate and related policy developments and has recently completed her Masters in Criminal Justice Policy at the LSE, winning an award, along with a Distinction.

Job Description

Spark Inside is looking for a Digital Communications Intern to join its team in the summer of 2018, working with Indy and Hannah. The successful candidate will take charge of the digital content for the charity and responsibilities may include:

  • Reviewing Spark Inside content across external/​partner sites and refreshing the use of the brand and messaging;
  • Researching and developing new ideas for the weekly blog, including capturing and writing news stories and images;
  • Supporting the team in writing content and case studies; 
  • Conducting interviews with staff and partners for news features;
  • Developing new ideas for Spark Inside’s presence on existing social media platforms, like Twitter and LinkedIn;
  • Researching and making a case for Spark Inside setting up a presence on other social media platforms, like Instagram; 
  • Researching and writing a report with recommendations on social media engagement and building a successful online following in the criminal justice sector and beyond; 
  • Updating the website with relevant information and news items;
  • Helping review and refresh Spark Inside’s social media guidelines;
  • Scheduling social media posts;
  • Other general administrative duties.

We will incorporate the candidate’s interests in selecting other projects for the internship. The intern will gain an appreciation of the strengths and challenges faced by new organisations. The successful candidate will also benefit from opportunities (depending on logistics and the intern’s interests) to engage in specialised training, receive mentoring and/​or coaching, and attend relevant conferences. S/​he will be based in Spark Inside’s Euston office and will report to the Policy & Communications Manager, under the Head of Communications’ leadership. 

Person Specification:

Required

  • shares a passion for our cause;
  • enjoys working in a small team;
  • detail-oriented and highly organised;
  • strong research and analytical skills;
  • excellent written skills;
  • energetic self-starter and able to manage time effectively while working independently;
  • excellent understanding of social media, with their finger on the pulse, and new trends in digital communications;
  • friendly and positive, with a can-do attitude;
  • willing to learn.

Desirable

  • experience with wordpress/​building websites;
  • experience with writing blogs;
  • adept at using design packages, like Photoshop and/​or InDesign;
  • has her/​his own social media platforms;
  • some knowledge of the criminal justice system.

Compensation and Dates: This is a full-time role and we offer a salary of £357.00 per week and annual leave is calculated at 28 days pro rata. 

This placement will begin in June (date to be agreed with the successful applicant) and last a minimum of 10 weeks. 

Successful applicants will be shortlisted by 23rd March and interviews will take place in the beginning of April.

How to Apply 

Please submit a CV with a short covering letter (no more than one side of A4) by the deadline, via email to Hannah Pittaway, Policy & Communications Manager: hannah@​sparkinside.​org. Please write ​‘Digital Intern Application’ in the subject line and when writing your covering letter please consider the person specification.