United States Agency for International Development

Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance

Foreign Service Limited Position Announcement

Senior Media Advisor

The United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau of Democracy, Governance, and Humanitarian Assistance, Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (USAID/DCHA/DRG) is now accepting applications from qualified candidates for a full-time, Washington D.C.-based position to provide technical leadership, program management, field support, training, and expertise on democracy, human rights, governance programs, with a specific  focus on international media development and information and communications (ICT) technologies.   This Foreign Service Limited (FSL) position will be based within the DCHA/DRG  Center in Washington, D.C.  

DCHA/DRG’s high-caliber technical support for USAID Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance programs is one of the Center’s  highest priorities.  This position will be expected to work closely with USAID/Washington staff to support USAID’s Missions which implement international democracy, human rights, and governance programs in the area of independent media development.    

DCHA/DRG provides extensive in-country and virtual support to USAID’s DRG officers in countries around the world.  Successful applicants must be available for periodic developing country travel including, possibly, to Critical Priority Countries (CPC) – Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Sudan.    

DCHA/DRG actively participates in a number of Washington-based forums and inter-agency working groups on media, ICT, civil society, Internet Freedom, human rights, and other subjects.  These working groups include representatives from USAID, the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and the White House.  Successful applicants will be expected to work closely with these existing forums and groups. 

This position will report to the Civil Society and Media Team Leader. 

Extensive experience (at least 10 years) in designing, managing, evaluating, and/or implementing foreign assistance programs in international media assistance is essential.  A relevant post-graduate degree and/or equivalent work experience is required.  Experience working in a CPC, and prior experience working with or for USAID, is useful but not required.   Foreign language ability is preferred.  Superb written and oral communication skills and ability to meet tight deadlines is required.  See the attached position description for more detail.

This position is a Foreign Service Limited (FSL) appointment, which has a duration of up to three years.  These positions will be subject to the Foreign Service pay scale and salary will be based upon salary history and experience.    Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.

The closing date for this position is February 15, 2012.  Applicants should send a cover letter, CV, writing sample (4 page max), and list of 5 references to Claire Ehmann, Civil Society and Media Team Leader, at .     

SENIOR MEDIA ADVISOR, DCHA/DRG/CSM

POSITION DESCRIPTION

I. BACKGROUND

            USAID’s Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance/Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DCHA/DRG) seeks a Senior Media Advisor to: advance USAID’s understanding and development of better media programming; provide expert assistance to field missions on the latest media tools and technologies; to assist in international media assistance program design, implementation and evaluation; and to manage centralized new media and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) programs.  DCHA/DRG is structured into eight technical/functional teams: Civil Society & Media (CSM); Elections and Political Transitions; Governance and Rule of Law; Human Rights; Cross-Sectoral Programs; Global & Regional Policy; Learning; and Strategic Planning.   This position reports to the CSM team leader.

USAID has supported democratic development around the globe for over twenty-five years, providing assistance to over 100 countries with a level of investment of more than $10 billion.  USAID currently spends over $2 billion a year on a broad range of programs covering justice human rights peace and security; the development of democratic institutions in civil society, media, labor, local governments, political parties, elections and legislatures; and good governance initiatives to fight corruption and improve government effectiveness and accountability.  Many lessons have been learned and yet there is little evidence-based guidance on the best methods and sequencing of programs to most effectively encourage sustainable democracies and democratic practices.  Given the importance of this development sector as a pillar of US foreign policy, DCHA/DRG has taken the lead in pressing for better democracy evaluations and measures of effectiveness.

The purpose of this appointment is to obtain the services of an expert advisor in the areas of new media and ICT to advance DCHA/DRG/CSM’s learning agenda, provide technical advice and support to global programs, and to manage centralized media and ICT-related programs.  The DCHA/DRG/CSM Team provides technical leadership, training, and support to international field missions and regional bureaus engaged in programs designed to strengthen and utilize civil society and media sectors to promote USAID’s democracy and good governance goals.  The Team also oversees central contracts and grants that provide millions of dollars of technical assistance in dozens of developing countries.  DCHA/DRG/CSM supports USAID Missions, regional bureaus, and DCHA leadership with the design, implementation and evaluation of civil society and media programs.  DCHA/DRG/CSM is also responsible for ensuring that the Agency is up to date on cutting-edge research and technologies that foster best practices and lessons learned which will contribute to improving USAID’s civil society and media programming around the world.

The appointment of a new Senior Media Advisor to the Civil Society & Media team (CSM) will enable DCHA/DRG/CSM to respond to the dramatic increase in global activity and workloads in the media and ICT sectors, including Internet Freedom and Internet Security.  USAID budgets for media programs have doubled during the past ten years, and the number of country media programs has increased from approximately 35 to nearly 50 missions.  Moreover, the media/ICT sectors are undergoing rapid, comprehensive transformations as the result of digitalization, the internet and wireless revolutions, social media, fundamental changes in media business models, fast changing legal-regulatory environments, and correspondingly dramatic changes in industry professional practices, training needs, networking patterns, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and more.   The Senior Media Advisor will provide technical leadership and guidance to USAID field missions and Washington on how to adapt media programming to this changing environment.

II. BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION

            The Senior Media Advisor will be assigned to DCHA/DRG/CSM.  As part of the CSM Team, s/he will provide technical leadership and expert advice on the planning, design, and evaluation of media strategies and programs globally.  S/he will be responsible for drafting guides, toolkits, training modules, and other products meant to analyze and disseminate best practices in media and ICT programming for use by USAID DRG Officers in field missions.  The Senior Media Advisor will manage global programs related to civil society, media, ICT, and Internet Security.  The Advisor serves as an Agency expert and coordinator in providing regional intellectual leadership and technical support in the areas of media and ICT. 

 III.                DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, and OUTCOMES

This is a senior-level position requiring excellent program management skills, outstanding research and analysis skills, and superior communications skills and negotiation abilities to serve as a liaison between DCHA/DRG and other Officers within DCHA; USAID regional bureaus;  USAID missions; the State Department; other USG agencies; the Congress; other donors; and partners. 

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as AOTR (Agreement Officer’s Technical Representative), Alternate AOTR, or COTR (Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative) for media and ICT-related DCHA/DRG/CSM programs, including Internet Freedom and Information Security programming.
• Provide technical leadership and expert advice in the areas of independent media development, as well as pertinent ICT tools and technologies to programs world-wide.
• Gather lessons learned and best practices on USAID media programming in a variety of political contexts including fragile states and/or reconstruction and stabilization situations.
• Ensure that DCHA/DRG maintains state-of-the-art knowledge of media tools, new and traditional technologies, issues and trends.  Advise DCHA senior management and USAID Field Missions on the implications of this analysis for development programming.
• Develop learning products such as programming toolkits, guides to new technologies, evaluations of media interventions, and other materials to advance USAID’s understanding of what works/what doesn’t in media sector assistance.
• Review, update and expand as appropriate DCHA/DRG’s analysis of media and ICT issues in key countries across all geographic regions.
• Serve as a lead representative to USG agencies, multilateral organizations and NGOs on media issues.  Provide briefings as appropriate to Congress, State Department, and other donors on USAID programming in key countries. 
• Provide technical support to USAID Field Missions and analyze and present recommendations to facilitate decisions on future program directions and budget levels.
• Advise and assist Field Missions with strategies, effective reporting, and activity design, including writing scopes of work, assessments, etc.
• Develop training modules and deliver training to the USAID/DCHA/DRG cadre.  Participate in conferences and workshops, including those led by the State Department, as appropriate.
• Develop outreach materials on USAID media and ICT programs.   
• Prepare USAID principals to participate in interagency meetings, particularly related to democratic transitions.
• Serve as a point of contact for DCHA/DRG with other relevant USAID Bureaus that are engaged in both intra- and inter-agency policy discussions to develop and coordinate analysis, strategy development and development programming to address media sector and ICT issues, including those related to the Internet and wireless platforms, in key countries across all geographic regions.
• Prepare talking points, speeches, and other briefing materials for USAID senior staff and others as needed.
• Support the work of DCHA/DRG including, but not limited to, backstopping specific country DRG programs, participating on regional teams, participating on intra-Center and intra-agency task forces and working groups, and performing other duties as required.
• Assist with DCHA/DRG projects and activities, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Outcomes

Program Management & Development

• The Senior Media Advisor will serve as AOTR and/or COTR for media and ICT-related DCHA/DRG/CSM programs, including Internet Freedom and Information Security programming.

Technical Assistance

1. Serves as technical advisor for independent media development, including new media technologies and internet security, both in authoritarian regimes and more generally to promote civil society networking and communications.  Also serves as a technical advisor on developing media outlets in rural and post-conflict areas, including community radio and other types of low-cost and low-maintenance communication technologies.   The incumbent will work within the Agency, coordinating with other US Government departments and agencies, public international organizations such as the World Bank, non-governmental organizations and others that fund or implement media development programs.

1. Provides technical support, through respective regional bureaus and missions which work towards:

• utilizing ICT for advocacy and support of freedom of information;
• raising the professional level of journalism;
• training media managers;
• developing media businesses and advertising markets;
• supporting effective media laws and legal defense of media;
• promoting internet security of civil society, media and other democratic actors.

3.   Performs independent research, assessment, analysis, and evaluation on independent media and ICT activities to; consults with other donors and practitioners in defining “best practices” in making communication technologies available to developing world and post-conflict populations. 

4.   Provides leadership:

• in designing and delivering USAID training programs to help assure that the Agency’s staff are up-to-date on current thinking regarding best practices in international  media development assistance and on the usage of internet and mobile phone technologies;
• in producing and disseminating manuals and conducting briefings on issues and accomplishments in the international media assistance domain.

5.  Evaluates and coordinates the development of assessment and evaluation methodologies, conducts assessments and evaluations to ensure that media development, internet security, and e-governance interests are integrated across Bureau programs.

Written Materials

The Senior Media Advisor is expected to produce one major technical paper per year which explores best practices, evaluation findings, or new innovations in media and ICTs.  Topics are to be defined by the Advisor with input and approval of the CSM team leader.  S/he will assist the CSM team in developing a new suite of technical guidance documents, including a media assessment tool and media and ICT program guides.  S/he will be expected to produce written responses to specific technical questions posed by other Officers within USAID and the USG, and s/he will continually seek to identify topics and thematic areas which appear to deserve serious intellectual exploration.  As needed, the Advisor will draft scopes of work, program descriptions, and other program documents.  In addition, the Advisor is expected to produce other guidance materials, including training materials, to capture and describe media and ICT related concepts which inform the specialists in this area, and DRG Officers in general.

IV. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS/SUPERVISION

The Advisor will be supervised by the DCHA/DRG/CSM Team Leader.  The Advisor will be dedicated to supporting global programs advancing media programs.  The Advisor will be  primarily self-directed within the guidance provided by DCHA/DRG/CSM team leader.