Development Outreach and Communications Specialist

Job Description

Note: This job has been closed due to the foreclosure of the USAID website.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Media and Public Relations (40%)

1. Advises the Senior Mission Management and other USAID staff on press and media relations in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section. Ensures a targeted, coherent, and consistent message from all USAID staff and partners.
2. Promotes proactive, targeted media activities. These activities are specifically designed to push accurate information about USAID programs deep into local, regional, and national markets, through the selective use of radio, television, newspapers, magazines, public service announcements, advertisements, billboards, and traditional communications.
3. Reviews and substantively edits proposed speeches and public statements for Mission officials, or for the Ambassador.
4. Monitors local and international press coverage, awareness and attitudes of USAID programs and monitors effectiveness of messages.
5. In collaboration with and under the guidance of the Public Affairs Officer and Information Officer, serves as one of the principal USAID contacts for representatives of the local and international media in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu to promote story ideas and feature stories on USAID programs, as well as respond to inaccurate or harmful coverage. Maintains contacts with Western and local journalists from all media outlets.
6. Advises and works with the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section to expand opportunities to keep media abreast of USAID/Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu including TV, radio, and other media. This may include arranging interviews, briefings, and site visits to USAID projects.
7. Organizes media tours and facilitates contacts among members of the media with USAID officials and implementers to encourage in-depth coverage of USAID programs in the local and/or international media.

B. Online Media Tools and Outreach (20%)

1. Plans and oversees the quality and timely updating of the Mission section of the USAID website. Ensures that content has optimal impact for providing information about the USAID Office of the USAID Representative for Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu and its programs for a wide range of audiences.
2. Plans and oversees the selection of information displayed on the website, clear website content, and oversee content placement, ensuring links to all other relevant usaid.gov sections and pages. Ensures any independently maintained USAID project websites comply with the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA) requirements and guidance.
3. Plans and oversees the Mission’s social media strategy and usage of the most effective platforms with corresponding linkages to those used by the U.S. Embassy and partners.

C. Strategy Development and Implementation (15%)

1. Oversees and ensures consistency of USAID branding and marking per updated Branding Guidelines and the Automated Directives System (ADS) 320. Advises USAID staff, contractors, and grantees on developing branding and marking plans. Coordinates with the Mission Contracting office on partner requirements and adherence.
2. Works closely with USAID Mission teams, partners, and the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section, to provide oversight, advice, and guidance to achieve the objectives of the Mission’s Communications Strategy.
3. Develops and orchestrates implementation of the Mission’s communications and outreach strategy to increase understanding of, and support for, USAID programs among external target audiences, especially consistent demonstration of linkages to regional strategic objectives.
4. Develops work plans, and mentors in-coming staff, temporary duty (TDY) support and interns for communications-related functions.
5. Provides guidance and advises implementing partners on Mission and Agency-wide communications and outreach priorities, messages, online and other vehicles for dissemination, communications, and media policies.
6. Convenes implementing partner (including contractors, grantees, and business) meetings with participation of the USAID Representative and Chief of Mission to convey and update on United States Government foreign assistance goals in-country and priorities for outreach.
7. Briefs implementing partner meetings convened by technical offices on communications and outreach priorities, policies, and best practices.

D. Public Information, Briefs, Publicity Materials, and Stories (15%)

1. Identifies and captures success stories, photos, and videos when feasible, for publication and dissemination through the most effective means of meeting a wide public audience, including on-line, print and radio, as appropriate to the target population.
2. Provides the U.S. Embassy with information on programs and sees to a timely response to all general information requests.
3. Works with staff to develop or adapt briefing materials for a variety of uses and target audiences.
4. Prepares high-level briefing and press packets for use during site visits or media events and selects information to be included.
5. Develops or reviews and disseminates all outreach materials to promote USAID programs, including fact sheets, website and social media content, photo essays, video, and any special campaigns for online, broadcast, and print media.
6. Establishes a system for USAID Pacific teams to draft, update, or review briefs, project profiles, and website content and any other published information on programs on a regular basis.

E. Event Planning and Management (10%)

1. Serves as, or collaborates closely with, the primary Mission point of contact for USAID related site visits by USG officials or other high-level visitors.
2. Plans and coordinates high-level site visits or conference participation and media availability, as necessary.
3. Coordinates with the U.S. Embassy-wide teams on inter-agency high-level visits and conferences.
4. Coordinates or supports field travel and public outreach activities for USAID events.
5. Oversees the quality of plans and materials (print, video, or online) for press events for USAID projects in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section, USAID Representative, technical teams and implementing partners. Events, typically, are inaugurations of new projects or initiatives, ribbon-cutting, and completion of major projects, often involving multi-donor and Government partners.
6. Writes or reviews media advisories and press releases for release by U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section or by co-sponsoring partners. In coordination with the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section, organizes background briefings or press avails by principals for media or press packets. Advises the organizing partners on dealing with protocol issues, site selection, staging, logistical issues, and program schedule.
7. Reviews and edits press releases, speeches, and talking points drafted by implementing partners or Mission staff for USAID events.
8. Plans and oversees maintenance of a Mission-wide calendar of USAID public events, high-level visits, major field trips in close coordination with the USAID Representative, management staff, and their implementing partners, as well as the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION:

Education (PASS/FAIL):
Bachelor’s degree required with coursework in relevant fields. Relevant fields include – but are not limited to – journalism, public relations or affairs, international relations, international development, development/area studies, and/or social studies.

Prior Work Experience (PASS/FAIL):
A minimum of seven (7) years’ experience in public affairs, international relations or development, or journalism is required with evidence of broad understanding of issues related to international development. Must have demonstrated success in developing multi-format strategies to disseminate information to a variety of target audiences and in designing and implementing effective public relations or communications programs to target specific audiences. Experience in planning and executing media outreach and to plan and manage events including publicity, programming, and others. Extensive writing and editing background. Relevant experience is defined as work in journalism, public relations or marketing, public affairs, communications, and/or outreach.

CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: February 14, 2025 / 11:59PM Port Moresby Time