Job Description
USAID Press Officer for Afghanistan and Pakistan
Location: Washington D.C.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) seeks a candidate to develop and execute a fast-paced press strategy to inform USAID’s audience about the agency’s assistance to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Press Officer sits within USAID’s Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA) and coordinates all work with USAID’s Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs (OAPA) established communications team. The Press Officer will serve as LPA’s liaison for international media engagements relating to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are two of the largest assistance portfolios for USAID. Given the high level of media interest into the agency’s work in these two countries, the Press Officer must handle a high volume of inquiries. The Press Officer will work closely with journalists covering foreign policy, foreign assistance, non-governmental organizations, and alternate media sources to accurately portray the USAID assistance in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Duties include coordinating closely with OAPA’s Communications Team to:
- Proactively arrange press briefings, interviews, and speaking engagements for senior USAID and OAPA officials on the agency’s Afghanistan and Pakistan portfolio;
- Develop and manage relationships with stakeholders and journalists covering foreign policy and foreign assistance;
- Effectively communicate to diverse audiences USAID’s work in Afghanistan and Pakistan;
- Coordinate with USAID bureaus, interagency, and external stakeholders on communication priorities concerning the Afghanistan and Pakistan portfolios;
- Develop new relationships with media outlets, organizations, and groups with specific interests in the agency’s work in the region;
- Coordinate with agency and interagency partners to get approval on communications products;
- Coordinate messaging with LPA’s Congressional liaison to Afghanistan and Pakistan;
- Advise senior USAID officials on expert approaches to communications strategy and tactics, and ensure coordination between the communications perspectives of OAPA and LPA senior leadership.
Qualifications:
- Five to 10 years managing media relations, including the development and execution of communication/media campaigns
- Experience in crisis communications
- Strong relationships with mainstream and alternative print, TV, radio, and online journalists
- Ability to produce high quality communication products under tight deadlines, including press releases, statements, op-eds, fact sheets, talking points, briefing memos, and social media content
- Existing networks within the press and outreach offices of interagency partners
- Ability to simultaneously manage incoming press inquiries while proactively place stories in the mainstream media
- Excellent research and writing skills
- Strong problem-solving and teamwork skills
- Experience with Capitol Hill, campaigns, public relations firms, or U.S. Government preferred
- Ability to obtain a U.S. government secret clearance required.
This is a Foreign Service Limited appointment located in USAID’s Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs that will not exceed 5 years. Please send your resume, cover letter, and at least three references to pressjobs@usaid.gov by 5:00 PM ET on February 18, 2016. Please use “OAPA Press Officer Position” as the subject of your email.
