Talk About Local is a unique empowerment project to help people find a voice online in their communities.   You can read a little about the project here in the Guardian and more on the website here.    I am William Perrin the founder and am looking for someone to help me run the project over the next two years.

The successful candidate will have some or all of the following attributes:

• experience of local community publishing on the web
• proven ability to work with people at a grass roots level in communities or neighbourhoods
• ability to get things done through others
• personally identifies with and is passionate about the aims of the project
• able to talk with an IT crowd but also with people who barely use the web
• ability to write confidently and spontaneously on the web
• familiarity with basic web publishing tools such as wordpress.com, typepad.com etc
• ability to stay rooted in what works and not get carried away by technology for its own sake
• enterprising, self starting spirit, but able also to work in teams
• happy to roll up their sleeves and engage in the day to day tasks of running a small business
• well organised, with a good eye for detail even when managing multiple strands of work
• good project managing, administrative,  and money managing ability, including managing freelancers

The project will largely be delivered in partnership between Talk About Local and UK online centres.  This partnership gives the reach and capacity to take the project to over 100 places in England.  A critical role for the successful applicant will be managing the day to day delivery relationship with UK online centres and producing content for the Talk About Local website.  The site will support people who publish about their places online by assembling and creating ‘how-to’ or exemplar material as well as networking people together to help each other.

This is an innovative project – if you aren’t the person above, but are convinced you can add something then get in touch making your case.

The project is backed by Screen West Midlands, Advantage West Midlands and 4IP, the web venturing arm of Channel 4.  The role will be based in Birmingham, working out of Fazeley Studios in Digbeth but with some travel around challenging areas of England.  Salary is negotiable and will be related to skills and experience.  Talk About Local believes in equality of opportunity in the workplace.

To apply please drop me a line via william@talkaboutlocal.org with appropriate details about yourself, including weblinks to your work, contact details and when you will become available/notice period.   Please put the word ‘job’ in the subject line of your email.

Deadline for receipt of applications is 17 June 2009, which will be followed rapidly by interview.  If you are not available for interview around that time please say so in your application.

Look forward to hearing from you.