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Social Media Support Officer

We have an exciting opportunity to support and develop delivery of the BOU’s social media content.

Application deadline: 25 April 2025

Background

The BOU is one of the world’s most respected ornithological organisations, with an international membership stretching across all continents. Our mission is to promote ornithology, which we do through publication of excellent science in our journal IBIS, supporting a global community of scientists and practitioners, through conferences and online resources, and providing grants and bursaries to fund research and career development. We are especially proud of our initiatives to engage and support the global ornithological community, particularly early career ornithologists, and in promoting equality and diversity in ornithology.

The BOU and Social Media

The BOU aims to make ornithology more inclusive and social media plays a central role in achieving this, helping us to reach a wider, more diverse audience.

We have long been recognised as a leader in the use of social media in ornithology. Via the use of several social media platforms, we promote both BOU activities and relevant external activities (e.g. conferences and new publications) to the online ornithological community.

Central to our own activities is the promotion of our conferences, grants and awards, and papers published in our journal IBIS. As part of our conference programme, we run social media conferences parallel to our in-person and online events.

The role of Social Media Support Officer

Our Social Media Support Officer supports and develops delivery of BOU social media content. You will work closely with the BOU’s Chief Operations Officer, the BOU Engagement Committee and the other BOU Support Officers.

As the BOU’s Social Media Support Officer, you will:

  • Lead on the planning and delivery of BOU social media conferences, supported by the Chief Operations Officer and volunteers.
    • We typically run 2-3 conferences a year, for which Bluesky is our parallel social media platform. Our spring conference usually takes place in late March/early April, and our 1-2 autumn conferences usually take place in October/November.
    • You will need to be available to deliver these events live, with programmes typically running on UK time. For in-person and hybrid (in-person & online) events, we would hope you can attend in-person.
    • Involvement includes updating presenter and delegate resources for each event, promoting the event ahead of time and running the event on the day.
  • Provide cover for the Chief Operations Officer in operating the BOU social media accounts, when they are on leave (approx. 28 days / year, discussed in advance).
    • This includes maintaining a daily schedule of posts on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and X, equating to around 45-60 minutes per day spent sourcing, preparing and scheduling content.
  • Sit on the BOU Engagement Committee, as a full member.
    • The Engagement Committee meets online twice a year and through this role you will have input into all BOU engagement activities.
  • Contribute to the continuous review and development of our social media activities and engagements.

Applicants should have a broad interest in ornithology, science communication and the use of social media in promoting science. You should be self-motivated, able to work unsupervised, deliver to deadlines and be familiar with the BOU, its role, its activities and its standing within the ornithological community.

This is one of five Support Officer roles within the BOU – Journal Publicity, Conference, Equality & Diversity, Social Media and Blog Editor. The roles vary and demands on individual Support Officers fluctuate but we ask each Support Officer to provide a minimum of 18 days support service a year.

The role of a BOU Support Officer is particularly suited to an early career ornithologist as these roles progress personal development in key areas such as science communication, working within a team to deliver core activities, and working at society committee level to help develop and deliver a wide range of outreach activities.

This role is initially for two years and is supported by an annual honorarium of £1,100 and free conference attendance.

Applications and schedule
Complete this form to apply for this position.

Deadline for applications: 25 April 2025

About the BOU

The British Ornithologists’ Union will promote ornithological science across the international scientific community, support the individuals who contribute to that science, and grow understanding of that science among a wider community. The BOU mission will be achieved by the following means:

  • Publishing IBIS as a leading international journal of ornithological science.
  • Organising a programme of meetings and conferences.
  • Awarding grants and bursaries for ornithological research.
  • Encouraging liaison between those actively engaged in ornithological research.
  • Providing a representative body of the scientific community, able to provide ornithological information and advice to government and other policy makers.
  • Maintaining and publishing the official list of birds recorded in Britain – The British List.

The BOU has a strong, global membership and social media presence which we use to drive our activities and to promote ornithology at the widest level, particularly within the global scientific research community. We use our social media outreach to drive the online attention of IBIS papers and to educate our ornithological research community about the benefits of promoting their research and how to do this effectively.