Opportunity in Washington, DC
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has contracted through ZemiTek partnered with CAMRIS International, to recruit and hire qualified individuals for the following position:
**Please note this is a 100 day consultancy**
Title: Sudan and South Sudan Programs Communications Specialist (Consultant)
United States Agency for International Development/Bureau of Africa/ Office of Sudan and South Sudan Programs
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 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:
The Africa Bureau’s Office of Sudan and South Sudan Programs (AFR/SSSP) is a special hybrid program office combining desk staff and technical officers that provides leadership on Washington engagement drawing on traditional USAID regional bureau desk functions; strategic guidance and support to USAID mission drawing on AFR/SSSP technical experts who advise on critical issues and directly support different sector teams in the missions; and continuity and institutional memory for USAID/Sudan and USAID/South Sudan due to the short Foreign Service tour lengths there. Given the importance and high visibility of the two countries, AFR/SSSP works closely with the State Department and National Security Council (NSC) staff.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
This position serves as the Communications Officer in AFR/SSSP, Africa Bureau’s key point of contact in Washington on USAID/Sudan and USAID/South Sudan communications matters and coordinates between the Missions, AFR/SSSP and other stakeholders as necessary. While s/he will receive direction by the field and concentrate on meeting the USAID/Sudan and USAID/South Sudan communications needs, s/he will report to the AFR/SSSP Deputy Director. Current security concerns and logistical constraints require the incumbent be posted in Washington rather than Sudan or South Sudan. The incumbent’s location in AFR/SSSP will allow him/her to work exceptionally closely with counterparts in AFR/SSSP; Africa Bureau Front Office; Africa Bureau Office of Development Planning; Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance; Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs; USAID American and local staff in Khartoum.
DELIVERABLES AND ACTIVITIES:
Internal briefing materials
* Draft or edit briefing materials for Africa Bureau and/or senior leadership as requested by AFR/SSSP
* Draft or editing briefing materials for high-level visits to Sudan or South Sudan, including Congressional or Congressional staff delegations, and/or high-level USAID, State or partner visits to Sudan or South Sudan
* Draft or edit scheduling requests for Africa Bureau and/or senior leadership as requested by AFR/SSSP
* Update orientation materials for onboarding Foreign Service Officers assigned to Juba and/or Khartoum as requested
Press guidance, public statements and press releases:
* Provide timely review of materials drafted by Department of State or Sudan or South Sudan Mission for compliance with U.S. Government policy and priorities, accuracy, brevity and clarity to the public, and consolidate commments from USAID colleagues across all relevant offices
* Publicize announcements when appropriate on USAID Sudan and South Sudan social media accounts
* Coordinate with USAID Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs on press guidance, statements issued from Washington, and queries from press on USAID assistance to Sudan or South Sudan
Public information products
* Update and/or draft fact sheets, talking points, and website content on USAID assistance to Sudan and South Sudan as needed/requested
* Draft or edit speeches by USAID principals as requested
* Congressional outreach
* Draft or edit testimony and/or responses to Questions for the Record and/or talking points for briefing Members of Congress or their staff on USAID programs in Sudan or South Sudan
Media queries
* Draft or edit responses to media queries about USAID assistance in Sudan or South Sudan, and/or prepare talking points for USAID principals’ interviews with media
* Mission communication strategies
* Draft or update mission communication strategies as requested by Sudan or South Sudan Missions
Events
* Assist Sudan and South Sudan Missions plan and prepare for events as requested, including drafting briefing materials, press releases, speeches, and social media posts
Social Media
* Draft and edit regular social media posts on USAID Sudan and South Sudan Facebook and Twitter pages, as requested by the Missions
* Reply to messages directly to USAID Sudan and South Sudan Facebook and Twitter pages
Public information requests
* Reply to information received by email, telephone or social media
* Collaborate with other USAID offices on communications materials
* Collaborate with communications counterparts in other USAID offices as appropriate (e.g., Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, Office of Food for Peace, Office of Transition Initiatives, Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance) and with Public Affairs Officers in Juba and Khartoum on materials for public announcements, events, speeches, fact sheets, and other public and internal products
* Draft official letters on behalf of USAID senior leaders
* Draft letters as requested following meetings or to convey condolences, as requested by AFR/SSSP and/or Sudan or South Sudan Missions
Branding guidance
* Provide advice as required by Sudan and South Sudan Missions on questions about compliance with USAID branding regulations
Mentoring
* Provide guidance to Foreign Service National communication staff in Sudan and South Sudan Missions on communications tasks
Knowledge management
* Organize documents, photos and videos on shared USAID drives for easy access by AFR/SSSP staff
Program support
* Provide editing, administrative, and logistical support to AFR/SSSP as needed, including: organizing meetings, drafting meeting notes/summaries, helping AFR/SSSP and Sudan and South Sudan Missions meet deadlines on required reporting documents including annual Operational Plan and Performance Plan and Report
* If requested by Sudan or South Sudan Missions, travel to provide communications support in country
* A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university journalism, public relations, communications, marketing, or an area relevant to communication outreach.
* A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations or journalism.
* Experience with international affairs/development is required.
* The incumbent must have demonstrated experience using social media.
* Must be a US Citizen with the ability to obtain a security clearance.