Freelance Online Communication Experts
GOPA-Cartermill is a growing communications agency focused on the EU institutions, with an excellent reputation for and commitment to quality and innovation, particularly in online communications.
For our online projects we are constantly looking for skilled and experienced Freelance Online Communication Experts to supplement our in-house resources.
If you have the skills we are looking for, please send us a one-page letter of motivation and your CV (preferably in standard Europass format) in English to jobs (at) gopa-cartermill (dot) com.
Note also that we currently have a vacancy for a full-time Web Developer. If you are interested primarily in a full-time position, please answer the Web Developer vacancy.
Skillsets
We have a wide range of projects and so seek a wide range of freelancers, each offering some of the skills set out below.
We have grouped these skills into basic 'skillsets', each corresponding to one typical role in communications project teams. For the moment, we are interested primarily in:
- Web Designers,
- Flash & Online A/V Designers,
- Web Developers,
- Online Community Managers.
While you should indicate clearly in your one-page letter which of these skillsets is most relevant to you, please identify in your application all of the individual skills you have from the various lists below, as well as any other skills which you believe could be relevant. Wherever possible, provide references (websites, clients) to illustrate your experience.
Common skillset
Whatever your specialisation, you will need some or all of the following skills:
- Team-player, with good internal communication skills and an understanding of project teams;
- Good English communication skills;
- A demonstrated commitment to delivering the highest possible quality, on schedule and on budget.
Moreover, the following skills and experience are always desirable:
- Consulting to clients: both listening to their needs and providing them with your expertise, and then transforming client brief into project concept;
- Knowledge and experience of working for the EU institutions
- Competence in other EU languages, particularly French and German.
Web Design skillset
- We are looking for freelancers with some or all of the following Online Design skills:
- You know the difference between print, web and e-newsletter design;
- You can take a briefing, from client or project manager, and come up with a creative online design concept and/or wireframes;
- You are familiar with turning wireframes and/or mockups into website design templates, following W3C/WAI standards;
- You are experienced in designing/implementing visual identities and graphic interfaces for online communications campaigns (e.g., sites, e-newsletters, etc.)
- You have Website ergonomics and accessibility skills
- You have a good understanding of information architecture
- Ideally, you are also an experienced designer of multimedia and/or other online audiovisual content (Flash animations, podcasts, online video, etc.), and/or have print production skills.
Flash designer & Online A/V skillset
We are looking for freelancers specialised in creating Flash animations and/or other forms of online audiovisual.
- The emphasis is on creating innovative audiovisual material to explain complex subjects.
- At the very least, you can translate a briefing (e.g., a storyboard and some initial graphical ideas) into the final product.
- Ideally, you are able to receive a briefing (e.g., pre-storyboard script), and propose visual metaphors and a storyboard, which you would then turn it into the final product.
- Finally, also note whether you have some or all of the skills under Web Design, above, and/or have print production skills.
Developer skillset
We are looking for freelancers experienced in creating and managing the infrastructure for websites and related online communications.
In particular, we are looking for some or all of the following Web Developer skills:
- Understanding user requirement documents and other briefings provided by client or project manager and, ideally, improving on them;
- Surveying, analysing and recommending the most suitable technology(ies) for a project;
- Implementing the brief by installing, customising and managing Content Management Systems (particularly open-source CMS), databases, CRMs, Application Service Providers, etc.
- Customising, writing & fixing code, XHTML, CSS, Javascript, XML, etc.
- Ideally, you are also experienced in information/knowledge management and information architecture, and/or in working with web designers, editors and other members of the project team.
Please ensure that your CV and/or letter identifies those technologies, particularly CMS, with which you are highly experienced.
Online community and social media skillset
Finally, we are looking for freelancers experienced in online community management.
The role of online community manager is emerging from the Web2.0-oriented private sector. An OCM's skillset is generally considered to be a mix of customer service, marketing, copywriting, public relations and editorial skills, and is seen by many as pivotal in the evolution from public relations to public relationships.
At GOPA-Cartermill, we believe that this concept has a lot to offer EU-funded programmes and projects, many of which could benefit significantly from sponsoring and/or stimulating the emergence of online, cross-border communities or practice.
We are therefore interesed in freelancers who are experienced participants in social media in general, and have some or all of the following skills and experience:
- Conceiving and designing online communities, particularly communities of practice;
- Day-to-day management of online communities: promotion, facilitation, user management and support, moderation, etc.;
- Engaging with participants in existing platforms and online communities, blogger outreach, content syndication, etc.;
- Good writing and listening skills;