Development Outreach and Communications (DOC) Officer (Consultant)

Job Description

Opportunity in Washington, DC

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has contracted through ZemiTek and partnered with CAMRIS International, LLC, to recruit and hire qualified individuals for the following position:

A qualified and experienced Development Outreach and Communications (DOC) Officer (Consultant) to support the Program Office in the USAID/Niger Mission. This is a 60 day LOE remote opportunity with up to two TDY trips to the Mission.

With more than 30 years’ experience providing information technology (IT) and management consulting services worldwide, Rosa Caldas, formed ZemiTek in 2007. Based in the Washington, DC metro area, ZemiTek delivers solutions to the federal government by supporting agencies such as USAID, US Patent and Trademark Office, US Department of Justice, US Department of Agriculture, and Department of Homeland Security, among others; and internationally to their missions in Africa, Asia, Europe and Eurasia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.

CAMRIS International, LLC is among the top 20 USAID contractors for the third year in a row. CAMRIS realizes innovative solutions to health and development challenges through high-quality, cost-effective programs and research management services. With experience working in more than 80 countries, CAMRIS combines proven systems with today’s most effective, evidence-based best practices to improve the lives of people around the world.

BACKGROUND:

USAID/Niger is Africa’s newest USAID Mission. The change from a Country Field Office, reporting to USAID/Senegal, to Mission status ensures that USAID’s field leadership has the authorities and increased field presence to represent USAID to the Government of Niger. USAID/Niger manages investments of over $200 million in development and humanitarian assistance, comprising of democracy and governance, peace and security, health, agriculture, education, and economic growth activities. Niger is a resilience focus country and part of the President’s Malaria Initiative. It also has programming from the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI).

USAID/Niger is in the process of staffing the new mission, including the startup of a Program Office. Currently, the mission’s program office functions are supported by the Sahel Regional Office in Dakar. Development Outreach and Communications services have been supported by a Regional DOC.

Niger consistently ranks at the bottom of the UN Human Development Index. It is marked by food insecurity which, combined with deeply rooted chronic poverty, corrupt governance, high population growth rates, and recurrent climate shocks, drives vulnerable communities into frequent crises. Niger continues to be vulnerable to violence and has experienced an increased number of direct, internal attacks. Despite Niger’s challenges, the country remains an important U.S. partner due to its potential role in combating violent extremism and providing support to regional stability. USAID/Niger’s program is a high-profile portfolio and is the frequent subject of Congressional oversight hearings, interagency meetings, public concern, and liaison work with the humanitarian community especially given the discord in the Sahel region in recent years. This position will play an important role in communicating USAID/Niger’s work.


DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary function of this position is to create communications strategies and products that will further the dissemination of programming outcomes and successes to influence and promote the Mission’s work and to advance the USAID/Niger brand within the agency. Tasks include:

• Establish a DOC function, processes, templates, and mission policy for USAID/Niger.
• Collaborate with USAID/Niger staff and implementing partners to develop and disseminate USAID/Niger information and materials.
• Collaborate with the public outreach staff of other USAID operating units (OTI, BHA, SRO) working in Niger to amplify messaging.
• Liaise with AFR/SD Communications staff in Washington, DC.
• Write and edit public documents, speeches, talking points, press releases, social media posts, and other products about USAID/Niger aimed at targeted audiences such as Congress, local communities, private sector, media, etc.
• Support logistics for Embassy events or USAID-led events to highlight USAID/Niger accomplishments.
• Develop (write, edit, design), distribute, manage, and coordinate USAID/Niger communications and publications content including print, marketing, and electronic materials including but not limited to one pagers, reports, e-newsletters, USAID and Mission intranet websites and pages, video and USAID and Embassy Niamey social media.
• Train USAID staff and implementing partners on ADS 320 and USAID policy for Branding and Marking and other communications and ensure compliance.
• Other tasks as necessary.

DELIVERABLES:

• Develop a public outreach plan, including social media, for USAID/Niger working with relevant stakeholders.
• Produce USAID/Niger templates for communications products.
• Update Fact Sheets on USAID activities in Niger, due in late November 2021.
• Produce and format key messages and templates created for Mission Director speeches and for interviews with the media.
• Develop a USAID/Niger “elevator speech”/ two-minute “pitch” .
• Provide two updates to the USAID/Niger website.
• Provide two trainings to USAID staff and implementing partners on ADS 320 and USAID policy for Branding and Marking.
• Produce slide presentation on USAID/Niger portfolio, complete with graphics and speaker notes.
• Provide five stories on the impact of USAID/Niger programming.
• Craft key messages on USAID/Niger’s work.
• Create Mission Director Twitter presence.
• Create a mission filing structure and processes to establish for developing, editing, and clearing outreach products, including for social media.
• Establish and document processes for updating content on the USAID/Niger website.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor’s Degree in the field of communications or journalism, public relations or marketing, English, International relations, or a related field is required;
• Six (6) years of relevant experience in public relations, public information and outreach, or international development with some of that experience in an international setting such as with international organization, corporation, government, or NGO is required.
• Proven experience in disseminating information to diverse target audiences is highly desirable, as is demonstrated expertise in producing effective public relations events and communications materials.
• Previous work experience with the U.S. Government or another international development organization is also highly desirable.
• Willingness to spend time at USAID/Niger (Niamey) is desirable, not required.
• French language proficiency is desirable, not required.
• Ability to obtain a facility access clearance (must have US permanent residency) or secret clearance (must be a US citizen).

This is an opportunity for employment or a contract, but we reserve the right to make no selection or award.

CAMRIS International, LLC offers competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits. Please submit your resume online at www.camris.com. CAMRIS is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by any applicable federal, state, or local law.

About the Organization

CAMRIS is known throughout the U.S. for its leading edge services to support our national programs and particularly for serving our Veterans. CAMRIS is also known worldwide for excellence serving client programs to improve economic, social, political, and health conditions of people in all parts of the world. For 45 years, since our first contact with USAID in 1963 and with work in every year since, our most important partner in the international sphere has been the United States Agency for International Development (“USAID”). In fact, CAMRIS has worked with USAID in each year since its founding. Before USAID we assisted its predecessor organizations dating back to the Kennedy Administration in 1961, to address humanitarian needs and to counter instability posed by underdevelopment. To date CAMRIS has carried out assignments for USAID in 50 countries in all regions and in many technical areas. Today CAMRIS continues this proud tradition as it works on significant USAID assignments in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Our current work includes technical assistance to support major USAID-funded initiatives in the areas of Global Health, Democracy and Governance, Development, and Monitoring and Evaluation, and active assignments including several global initiatives and our present work in 24 countries (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Botswana, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe). ABOUT CAMRIS INTERNATIONAL CAMRIS is an International Development Consulting Firm working within the public and private sectors to advance the human and institutional capacities of organizations and communities worldwide. WHAT WE DO We apply a combination of proven interdisciplinary, scientific and management approaches to identify, develop and implement the most effective solutions in support of our clients' program goals. We do this most often in the areas of international development and global health, and selectively in additional areas where our cross-cutting capabilities are well suited to meet the needs of our clients. We operate in all regions of the world, often in very challenging or austere conditions. At all times our focus is on evidence-based effectiveness, quality, reliability, and sustainability. We successfully completed initiatives in nearly 80 countries to date. KEY CAPABILITIES * Short-Term and Long-Term Technical Assistance * Program Management Services * Institutional Support * Research and Analytic Support CORE PRACTICE AREAS * Monitoring and Evaluation * Capacity Building * Project Design * Knowledge Management * Adaptive Technologies * eLearning * Democracy and Governance * Infectious Diseases STAFF CAMRIS has grown rapidly over the last 5 years to a peak of 200 staff, complemented by highly experienced consultants and collaborating partners and universities. CAMRIS is headquartered in Bethesda, MD in the Washington DC metropolitan area, with remote offices, operations and worksites in various locations in the U.S. and overseas.