Switzerland: Conference Intern

****Internship - Advertisement:****

Durban has been selected to host the 21^stInternational AIDS Conference from 17^th to 22^nd July 2016 (AIDS 2016). The International AIDS Conference is the largest conference on any global health or development issue. First convened during the peak of the AIDS epidemic in 1985, the conference continues to provide a unique forum for the intersection of science and advocacy, and an opportunity to strengthen policies and programmes to ensure an evidence-based response to the epidemic.

The International AIDS Conference is the largest international meeting on a single health issue, where every two years between 15,000 - 22,000 participants representing all stakeholders in the global response to HIV meet to assess progress and identify future priorities. With more than 1,500 international journalists expected to attend, the conference is the single most widely-covered HIV event in the world.

Founded in 1988, the International AIDS Society (IAS) is the world's largest association of HIV professionals, with members from more than 180 countries. IAS members work on all fronts of the global response to AIDS, and include researchers, clinicians, policy and programme planners and public health and community practitioners on the frontlines of the epidemic. The International AIDS Society (IAS) will organize AIDS 2016 in collaboration with international and local partners.

More information on AIDS 2016 can be found at www.aids2016.org.

****Details of Internship:****

The intern will be based at the IAS Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland and report to the Director, Conference. The internship is full-time and will last 7 months from 4^th January 2016 to 31^st July 2016.

****Purpose of the Internship:****

The Conference Intern will be responsible for assisting the Conference team in the preparation of the AIDS 2016 Conference.

****Main Responsibilities:****

• Support the conference team in inviting session chairs and speakers for conference sessions (Jan-July, 20 days): preparing invitations, compiling and tracking replies, inviting back-ups, sending session links and guidelines, answering all general inquiries;
• Support the conference team by drafting and prepping relevant communications to committee members and session participants (emails, key documents, etc…);
• Support the fraud hunt process, identifying potentially plagiarized submissions (February – 5 days, May – 5 days);
• Administrative tasks such as updating documents, organizing online archives;
• Support preparations of committee meetings: logistics, drafting documents and PowerPoint presentations;
• Read and respond to inquiries to the conference inboxes;
• Support the conference team in the CME application process (drafting document, support to managing conflict of interests form for session participants, etc…);
• Support the conference team inputting and updating the session planner (session database);
• Setup and write minutes from team meetings.

Perform additional tasks as requested by the Director, Conference.

****Academic Qualifications:****

• Currently studying or recently graduated in social science, public health, development, international relations or a related field is required. Candidates expressing a keen interest in this area of work will also be considered.

****Experience: (previous internships)****

• Previous work in organizing conferences and events would be an asset;
• Experience working in an international context.

****Skills/Competencies:****

• Attention to detail and excellent organization
• Understanding of project management
• Ability to work independently and take initiative
• Ability to multi-task and handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to cope with stress and meet tight deadlines

****Languages:****

• Excellent written and oral English language communication skills. Knowledge of other languages is an asset.

****Benefits from this internship:****

The intern can expect to gain skills and experience in the following areas:

• Event and project management
• Programme development
• International relations and communication
• Public health and HIV

****Stipend:**** 2’000.- CHF/month gross (full time).

This internship is ideally suited to a qualified, motivated and eager-to-learn graduatewilling to prepare his/her professional life in challenging and dynamic settings, with high international exposure.

Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and a cover letter, in English and by email only, to recruitment@iasociety.org by Friday 6^th November 2015.

Only candidates from Switzerland, from an EU/EFTA country or candidates already having a valid Swiss working permit will be considered.

The IAS is committed to recruiting and sustaining a skilled, effective, diverse and gender-balanced secretariat, and to the greater involvement of people living with HIV (GIPA) in all aspects of its work. People living with HIV are strongly encouraged to apply.