Information Officer (International Humanitarian Reporting)

Job Description

Macfadden is seeking candidates with strong writing and editing skills and an interest in international crises to provide humanitarian information reporting support to USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA). USAID/BHA provides humanitarian assistance for the U.S. Government (USG) in response to natural disasters, complex emergencies, and disease outbreaks, while also supporting longer-term activities that mitigate chronic humanitarian need and food insecurity. As part of a regional team based in Washington, D.C., or serving on disaster response teams in Washington or overseas, Information Officers monitor and report on humanitarian conditions and response activities. Information Officers are required to write and edit a wide range of public and internal information products, as well as develop charts, graphs, and other visuals as needed.

Qualified candidates should possess excellent writing, editing, and verbal communications skills and have exceptional attention to detail. Candidates must be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances and have the ability to work under tight deadlines in an extremely fast-paced and collaborative environment. Foreign language ability and overseas work experience are beneficial to the position but not required.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Monitoring and reporting on country-level and regional developments that impact humanitarian conditions
• Collecting and synthesizing information pertaining to humanitarian emergencies and response efforts, and drawing upon that information to draft, edit, appropriately format, and disseminate a wide range of internal and external information products in Washington, D.C., and overseas; as well as lead on information products that reflect USAID/BHA’s resilience, risk reduction, and recovery work
• Attending meetings in Washington, D.C., and in disaster zones and collaborating closely with information counterparts from other USG agencies, the UN, and non-governmental organizations to ensure that all relevant humanitarian information is obtained and communicated to USAID/BHA staff
• Upon the request of USAID/BHA staff, gathering information for or participating in field assessments, meetings, and site visits overseas
• Work with geographic information colleagues and graphic designers to develop analytic and visual information products that support humanitarian response and reporting
• Preparing talking points, memos, PowerPoint presentations, official cables, and other correspondence
• Assisting with the preparation of agendas and briefings for USG officials interested in humanitarian issues

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree, preferably in a related field (international affairs or relations, political science or government, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, public health, emergency management, public policy, humanities, etc.)*
• Minimum of two years of full-time work experience.

*Individuals who anticipate receiving a Master’s degree in the coming months are encouraged to apply. Please indicate the anticipated date of completion of the Master’s degree in your resume.

Clearance:

• Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government issued Secret security clearance and a U.S. Department of State medical clearance and maintain them for the duration of employment on this contract.

Skills:

• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work well with others and meet deadlines in a challenging, fast-paced environment
• Knowledge of and interest in humanitarian issues

To be considered for this position, you MUST submit the following:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Writing Sample, Per the Following Prompt: The writing sample must be an original brief summary (350 words or less) for a government official describing a humanitarian crisis/ emergency situation and key impacts. The writing sample should be written in paragraph format and avoid use of bullets. Please include a word count at the conclusion of the memo.
• Please combine your cover letter, resume, and writing sample (instructions below) into one PDF or Word document and submit it through the online application system when prompted to upload a CV/Resume.

Willingness and ability to serve on extended international deployments (up to 12 weeks or more at a time) to disaster zones, including conflict-affected areas and austere environments, often on short notice, is required.

**Only applications with a cover letter, resume, and writing sample submitted by 11:59PM on 03/02/2022 will be considered for the current hiring round; only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please note that the interview process will involve a writing test and an editing test.**

About the Organization

Macfadden is now part of PAE. Founded over 30 years ago, Macfadden has provided federal agencies with critical on-the-ground support to U.S. government humanitarian missions around the world as well as financial and IT system support. Through program management, human resources services, financial management systems support, information technology solutions, knowledge management, travel coordination and communications support, Macfadden enables effective U.S. government humanitarian response to international disasters. Macfadden’s workforce includes approximately 300 employees primarily located in the Washington, D.C. area.