Communications Specialist

Job Description

Communications Specialist

Background

The USAID Advancing the U.S.-India Partnership Platform (APP) Activity aims to support USAID/India staff and stakeholders to be more efficient, effective, transparent and skilled in achieving planned development outcomes. Through the use of evidence, performance management techniques, and Collaborating Learning and Adapting (CLA) approaches, the India APP Activity assists the Mission to advance goals mutually defined in cooperation with the Government of India (GOI) and the regional partner governments. This support platform will contribute to the development of a state-of-the-art Mission-wide monitoring and evaluation regime and advance the USAID/India Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), its projects and activities, by providing design, monitoring, evaluation, assessment, and learning, and organizational development services.

Position Description and Rationale

USAID is working to create meaningful public-private dialogue, leveraging the private sector’s resources to achieve sustainable development objectives. By providing administrative and creative support, the activity seeks to enhance the capacity and efficiency of USAID’s working groups.

APP is seeking short-term Communications Specialist with experience in private and development /social impact sectors, developing and implementing communication and dissemination plans, production of communications materials /collateral and general support to outreach efforts, as well as expert advice to ensure better efficiency and effectiveness of this activity.

Specific Tasks

• Ensure that USAID’s interests are represented through appropriate messaging and content in all meetings, events, publicly available content, and public forums
• Support development and implementation of tailored communication strategies using both digital and traditional formats to deepen private sector outreach, and showcase results and findings from innovative development grantmaking by USAID across sectors
• Support development of communications collateral and outputs, including but not limited to communications design/infographics, factsheets, briefing materials, stories, social media posts, meeting agendas, and event summaries with key points.
• Contribute to enhanced USAID/India outreach to the private sector
• Provide secretariat support to advance engagement with the working groups constituted by USAID/India together with councils/chambers
• Support in organizing membership, facilitating meetings, setting up email/chat, developing calendar
• Provide meeting facilitation, both in-person and virtual
• Organize membership, facilitate meetings, set up email/chat, develop and maintain calendars
• Provide logistics support for meetings, both in-person and virtual
• Provide meeting facilitation, both in-person and virtual
• Support coordination and management of events, from logistics, admin standpoints
• Assist in communication and outreach to the private sector
• Provide event summaries with key points
• Any other related tasks assigned in support of secretariat

Approximately 96 to 180 days over the course of one year.

Reporting Requirements

The Communication Specialist will report to the APP Chief of Party, or her designee through regular briefings and day-to-day dialogue.

The period of performance will be September 2023 – September 2024.

• Master’s degree in social sciences or management degree, preferably with training in communications
• Minimum 4 years’ experience in development sector communications, with some experience working with private sector (CSR, business chambers, for-profit social impact organizations, not-for-profits, and innovators)
• Experience in developing practical communication strategies and dissemination plans (including through social media) and dissemination/ communication collateral (multiple channels and formats) to showcase developmental results.
• Experience using MS Office/365 and Google Suite/Workplace and/or similar business app and collaboration packages
• Experience using content production and/or graphic design software such as Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere, Illustrator or similar tools in addition to strong PowerPoint skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English in a professional setting
• Basic familiarity in developmental sectors such as economic growth, health, education, climate change, livelihoods, energy, and regional trade, or willingness to orient on the job

About the Organization

International Development Group (IDG) works to reduce poverty around the world through sustainable, broad-based economic development. For 30 years, IDG has partnered with USAID and other international donors in more than 80 countries. Our areas of expertise include economic governance, private sector development, international trade, public financial management, monitoring, evaluation, and learning.