USAID Senior Development Outreach and Communications Specialist at US Embassy

Duties

Strategic Planning - 25%

Nigeria is the continent's most populous country, largest economy, and one of the U.S. government's top priorities in Sub-Saharan Africa. The USAID/Nigeria program is one of the Agency's largest, most complex bilateral programs and its highly consequential programming attracts significant Congressional attention. The Mission promotes stability in Nigeria through approximately $800 million in annual support to broaden inclusive growth, promote a healthier and more educated population, and strengthen good governance. USAID's Mission to Nigeria also implements humanitarian assistance in partnership with the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. The Mission is comprised of six technical and four support offices and implements programs in support of the Global Food Security Act, Electrify Africa Act, the President's Malaria Initiative, PEPFAR, and the Global Health Initiative. The S/DOC serves as a primary advisory to the Mission and PRO and is the principal FSN advisor on overall policies and procedures for USAID communications and outreach. The S/DOC develops and operationalizes the mission’s communication strategy. The S/DOC is responsible for clarifying roles and responsibilities within USAID and with other U.S. Embassy Nigeria sections and IPs, on procedures such as templates for various communication tools, standards for creating and finalizing DOC materials, and guidelines for planning and managing events. The S/DOC leads in developing annual updates to the USAID/Nigeria communications strategy, identifying objectives, messages, audiences, products, and budgets, and developing plans in coordination with USAID managers and technical teams consistent with the USAID development strategy and the overall U.S. Embassy Nigeria communications strategy. The S/DOC is primarily responsible for collecting, investigating, managing, and distributing information associated with the USAID foreign assistance program in Nigeria and serves as a primary point of contact and liaison for information requests

 Communications Management - 30%

The S/DOC drafts public information products, ensuring that Mission communication products contain appropriate and consistent messages that support the approved USAID communications strategy. S/he provides quality control on all print and electronic public information materials such as the external website, organizational brochures and information packets, and briefing books produced by public relations contractors and other USAID staff. The incumbent collaborates closely with the SCO, Supervisory and Deputy Program Officers, Mission and Deputy Mission Directors, USAID Office Team Leaders, and implementing partners (IPs). In addition, the S/DOC advises and collaborates across the interagency, including with the Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Nigeria Public Affairs Section (PAS) in Abuja and Lagos to implement the overall Mission communications strategy. The S/DOC also serves as a principal liaison with the USAID/Washington Bureau of Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA).

Branding, Marking, and Publicity Materials – 25%

The S/DOC is responsible for the production of high-quality print and electronic communications products that translate complex messages and technical information into understandable, meaningful messages that resonate with a variety of audiences, both host-country and American. Working under the direction of the SCO, the S/DOC drafts or generates drafts of published and website materials, including information brochures, special publications, and materials for the external Nigeria page on the Agency-wide website. The S/DOC will serve as the principal point of contact for Agency branding and marking (B&M) strategies within USAID/Nigeria and its partners; will review B&M strategies for new activities; communicate priorities and expectations to new partners; and provide guidance on B&M inquires. As designated by the SCO, the S/DOC may also be responsible for overseeing or developing regular and specialized information materials for Washington opinion leaders and audiences, in coordination with the Regional Bureau and LPA colleagues. S/he will also travel to USAID program/project/activity sites throughout the country and the region to interview beneficiaries and photograph programs/projects/activities for the USAID website and for news press releases. S/he will serve as the USAID/Nigeria alternate Point of Contact for Agency Branding Graphic Standards, within USAID/Nigeria and among partners. 

Qualifications and Evaluations

Requirements:

• Physical Demands:  The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

Education Requirements:

• A Minimum of bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, communications, English, or a related field is required.

Evaluations:

Applicants who clearly meet the minimum Education, Experience and basic eligibility requirement will be further evaluated based on scoring of the Evaluation Factors listed below. The highest-ranking applicants may be selected for an interview.

Evaluation Factors:

• Knowledge - 15 points
• Skills and Abilities - 10 points
• Language Skills - 5 points
• Interview Performance - 70 points

Total Possible Points: 100 points

Qualifications:

Experience: 

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations, or journalism, in an English-language work environment, is required. This experience should provide assurance that the S/DOC is skilled in disseminating information to a variety of target audiences. At least one year of supervisory experience is required.

Job Knowledge: 

The S/DOC must have a thorough knowledge of the principles, methods, practices, and techniques of communication, and skill in applying such knowledge to develop written and video information materials for dissemination through a variety of media, to determine and effectively use the most appropriate means for transmitting information, and to evaluate the effectiveness of plans developed to communicate with targeted audiences. This includes an understanding of the use of written communication in developing news releases, feature stories, background statements, fact sheets, media spots, and scripts that effectively transmit information about complex programs/projects/activities and functions.

The work requires an excellent knowledge of English grammar and U.S. word usage and spelling; a good knowledge of graphic design, printing, and publishing processes, and the ability to oversee printers and/or publishers; good knowledge of social media outlets; a general understanding of procurement processes; and a broad understanding of issues related to international development. A solid understanding of social media platforms and website design is desired.

Skills: 

• Work requires skill in developing and maintaining effective relationships with professional colleagues, with staff of IPs, media representatives, and the public affairs personnel of organized groups, and in establishing and enhancing communication between USAID and its audiences’ using media and groups.
• In addition, skill in making oral presentations designed to seek cooperation of specialized groups and media in providing fuller coverage to USAID/Nigeria programs/projects/activities, and to encourage open communication between USAID/Nigeria and its audiences is required.