Communications and Marketing Associate

Spark is a pioneering initiative dedicated to promoting social entrepreneurs in Vietnam who are innovatively combating social issues in their areas and show potential for even greater sustainable impact.  In this way, Spark is facilitating a more effective, efficient and accessible capacity development market.

The initiative was co-founded in March 2010 by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, the Vietnam Center for Community Supported Development Studies (CECODES), PACT USA and the Center for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD Vietnam).
In helping local social entrepreneurs to expand or replicate local solutions on a large scale, Spark offers the following support:
- Tailor-made capacity building and expert advice (e.g. leadership, business management, technical, financial)
- Operational seed funding for capacity development needs
- Linking applicants to potential service providers
- Linking sound proposals to international and national social investors

Through recent activities, Spark is becoming well known to different stakeholders throughout Vietnam. Since July 2010, 22 collaborators from different provinces of Vietnam have been trained and now work with Spark officially as ambassadors. This network is being expanded further as Spark reaches out to different regions in Vietnam. A growing number of social entrepreneurs are becoming Spark clients, and the market of capacity development services starts functioning in Vietnam.

In order to meet our growing demand, Spark is looking for a dynamic and creative Vietnamese candidate to fill in the post of Communications and Marketing Associate.

Main responsibilities: The Communication and Marketing Officer will report directly to the National Director of Spark Vietnam and will assume the following responsibilities:

- Develop and update a Spark communications strategy that speaks to audiences in Vietnam and worldwide, keeping pace with external and internal changes.
- Lead the development and implementation of annual communication plans, including organising events.
- Prepare PR materials, including writing articles for publication, on Spark’s work with social entrepreneurs and other stakeholders, working with mass media to publicise Spark’s activities.
- Maintain proper function of the Spark website.
- Develop and maintain partner and donor networks.
- Assist the National Director in mobilising funding for Spark activities.
- Coordinate market research to understand the dynamic of the capacity development services market (CDS) and identify opportunities for investment and partnership.
- Work with the Spark team and partners in promotion of professional development among key actors and deliver other services as defined by the team.

Their ideal candidate will fit the following profile:
- Is a Vietnamese citizen with a passion for social entrepreneurship and capacity development for poverty reduction.
- Has a strong connection with the mass media as well as with the government, donors and the private sector.
- Has at least 3 years of relevant experience in PR and communication, fundraising or market research and monitoring. Experience with international organisations is a plus.
- Holds a Bachelor degree in one of the following areas: Communication, Business Administration or Economics, Social Studies, or a related field.
- Possesses excellent written and spoken communication skills in both Vietnamese and English.
- Is proactive and entrepreneurial, with excellent team work, networking, and negotiating skills.

Application procedure
Interested persons should submit their letter of motivation, recent curriculum vitae in English to Ms. Thai Thi Huyen Nga at: [email protected] by 24th December 2010.