About the IAS:

IAS – the International AIDS Society – convenes, educates and advocates for a world in which HIV no longer presents a threat to public health and individual well-being. After the emergence of HIV and AIDS, concerned scientists created the IAS to bring together experts from across the world and disciplines to promote a concerted HIV response. Today, the IAS and its members unite scientists, policy makers and activists to galvanize the scientific response, build global solidarity and enhance human dignity for all those living with and affected by HIV. The IAS is also the steward of the world’s most prestigious HIV conferences: the International AIDS Conference, the IAS Conference on HIV Science, and the HIV Research for Prevention Conference.

More information on IAS can be found at www.iasociety.org.

Details of Employment:

The Graduate Assistants, Volunteer Programme AIDS 2024 will be based in Geneva. The IAS offers the possibility of working from the legal residence for up to 11 days per month for Swiss-based employees and up to eight days per month for French border-zone employees. The Graduate Assistants will report to a Project Manager, Congress and Exhibition. Both positions are full-time and fixed-term. The first position will start on 15 February 2024 until 15 August 2024 and the second position will start on 1 May 2024 until 15 August 2024.

These positions are intended for recent graduates and paid at the Geneva minimum wage.

Purpose of the Position:

AIDS 2024, the 25th International AIDS Conference, will take place in Munich, Germany, and virtually from 22 to 26 July 2024. An estimated 15,000 participants from around the world will attend AIDS 2024, and the great majority will do so in person. AIDS 2024 will convene thousands of people living with, affected by and working on HIV to share knowledge, best practices and lessons learnt from the HIV response over the past 40 years, as well as from the responses to COVID-19, mpox and other public health threats. AIDS 2024 in Munich, Germany, and virtually will provide a powerful platform to strategically align around a unified and equitable response to the pandemic. It will signal to the world that the HIV response is united behind an evidence-based approach that puts people first.

These are graduate entry-level positions to support the Congress and Exhibition department and the Volunteer Programme AIDS 2024.

Main Responsibilities:

• Assist with the set up and testing of the volunteer management system and application form
• Assist with the volunteer recruitment including advertisement, presentations, liaison with universities, schools, communities, etc.
• Assist with collecting the volunteer requirements and breakdown the activities into shifts
• Schedule the volunteers in accordance with their preferences and the needs of the IAS
• Take care of the daily email correspondence and social media communication with the volunteers
• Assist with the volunteer logistics namely t-shirts, catering, volunteer party after the conference
• Help organize the supervisor selection process including virtual interviews, documents, etc.
• Help develop a volunteer handbook and any other volunteer documentation
• Help organize the onsite kick-off meeting and training such as location, set-up, presentation, training documents, organization of training sessions
• Sign in and welcome the volunteers onsite, including handing out the t-shirts and badges
• Manage, together with the volunteer supervisors, the time schedules, changes, no- shows, breaks during the conference
• Setup an evaluation form after the conference
• Prepare a final report after the conference.

Perform any additional tasks requested by the Senior Manager, Congress and Exhibition and the Congress and Exhibition Project Manager responsible for the volunteer programme.

Academic Qualifications:

• Recently graduated with a university degree in international development, business, events or hospitality management, with an interest in public health or related field.

Work Experience:

• Ideally, experience assisting in organizing conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, or other events
• Experience working with registration or people management systems a plus
• Experience working in an international context an advantage
• Although not essential for this position, the IAS acknowledges the value of the experience of living with HIV and will consider this when evaluating applications.

Skills/Competencies:

• Strong computer skills in the Windows environment (Excel, PPT) and quick understanding of new software / system functioning
• Ability to work independently and an aptitude for multi-tasking
• Organized and attention to detail
• Open-minded and a strong team player
• Strong social and communication skills
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure in an international context

Languages:

• Excellent written and oral English language communication skills.

The IAS provides generous benefits that include, for example, an enhanced pension and social security package, an annual leave entitlement above the legal requirement, annual allowances for professional development and health promotion, flexible working hours, and the possibility to work up to 50% from home. #LI-hybrid

Work Environment:

The IAS Secretariat in Geneva is a dynamic and diverse workplace that brings together public health, HIV science, conferencing, programme management and other specialists who all share the IAS vision of a world in which HIV no longer presents a threat to public health and individual well-being. We thrive on an exceptional team spirit, put trust in our colleagues’ professionalism, and value new ideas. The IAS promotes a flexible and collaborative workplace that encourages employees to grow their skills and competencies.

The IAS is committed to ensuring a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment and to the greater involvement of people living with HIV (GIPA) in all aspects of our work. To help us achieve this, we welcome applications from all qualified candidates who share the IAS values (learn more here), regardless of their sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, HIV status, race, national origin, cultural or ethnic background, disability, religion, or age.

How to apply: