SENIOR DEVELOPMENT OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER JOB AT USAID TANZANIA

VACANCY

SUBJECT: SENIOR DEVELOPMENT OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

USAID/Tanzania is seeking the services of a resident hire (U.S. or non-U.S.) with a valid work permit to serve as the Mission’s Senior Development Outreach and Communications (DOC) Officer. The position is located in the Program Office of USAID/Tanzania and reports to the Deputy Program Officer. The purpose of the position is to produce and disseminate public information about USAID’s activities to educate and promote a better understanding of USAID programs. Dependents of U.S. employees or contractors who are currently assigned to Dar es Salaam are encouraged to apply. The grade level of the position is GS-14, and the duration will be for two years with possibility for an extension depending upon the availability of funds, continued requirement and contractor performance.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Senior DOC will manage the full range of public information and outreach activities in support of USAID/Tanzania’s programs and objectives, targeting information to specific audiences in both the U.S. and Tanzania, in accordance with the Mission’s public strategy and evolving circumstances.

Specific duties include but are not limited to the following:

Supervisory and Coordination

Lead the Mission’s Development Outreach and Communications (DOC) team to ensure overall quality and coherence of the team’s communications and outreach products and initiatives.

Supervise all staff members in the team:  Deputy DOC, Writer/Editor, Translator/Communications Specialist, and seasonal interns
Lead the development, implementation and regular updating of the Mission’s communications strategy and outreach plan. Lead the development, implementation, and updating of a social media strategy relevant to Tanzania to complement the broader communications plan
Represent the Mission at the senior level in all matters pertaining to public affairs and outreach activities within USAID/Tanzania, other branches of the U.S. Government, the Government of Tanzania, implementing partners, other donors, the UN, World Bank and other stakeholders.

Serve as the senior advisor to Mission management regarding all public information, media relations, and outreach matters.

Train and advise USAID/Tanzania's technical staff in support of their public speaking and media outreach roles. Oversee the integration of communications in the project and activity design and implementation processes.

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of all USAID/Tanzania activities and processes, as well as related political and policy issues.

Advise USAID staff and implementing partners on developing appropriate public information programs and initiatives.

Serve as a resident expert on USAID branding and style guidelines, ensuring regulations are followed by recommending revisions and appropriate application as outlined in ADS 320 and the Agency’s Graphic Standards Manual.

Oversee and provide regular trainings to USAID staff and implementing partners on the appropriate use of branding and marking; work closely with CORs/AORs to ensure adherence to branding in the field; and, seek guidance from LPA on any disputes or waiver requests.

Plan for the procurement of additional DOC related services and products, receiving appropriate approvals, drafting specifications and requests for offers, and coordinating with the Executive Office or Contracting Office; act as COR and manage contracts for related DOC services (such as event planning and management).

Coordinate with other U.S. Government agencies (including the U.S. Embassy’s PAS, PEPFAR, Centers for Disease Control, Department of Defense, Millennium Challenge Corporation) and initiative actors (for Power Africa, Wildlife Trafficking, etc.), and USAID implementing partners to achieve maximum exposure and understanding of U.S. development assistance efforts and initiatives in Tanzania as defined by the Chief of Mission and USAID/Tanzania Mission Director.

Public Information and Publicity Materials

Coordinate information dissemination within the Mission; with the Mission’s Development Objective teams, offices, and technical staff; and with all relevant non-U.S. Government organizations.

Oversee the drafting, editing, and dissemination of timely and accurate information, fact sheets, press releases, newsletters, brochures, presentations, responses for requests for information, and all other public information materials relating to USAID/Tanzania’s activities. These must be written in clear, concise English, and to the extent possible, in Kiswahili, and prepared with both the media and general audiences in mind, and designed for print, power points, and web use.

Oversee the preparation and maintenance for the entire Mission of a bi-weekly calendar of public events, submissions for the Weekly Administrator’s Report, and submissions for USAID Frontlines and other USAID public information platforms including Impact Blogs, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr and other new or emerging social media sites.

Oversee the use of social media platforms as an engagement tool with a focus on digital advocacy and outreach.

Manage the preparation and maintenance of an updated standard information package on the USAID program in Tanzania for briefings and for distribution to the public, the media, and for USAID/Washington, LPA, Department of State, the U.S. Congress, etc.; including scene setters, program briefing papers, project status reports, maps, photos, information about other donors, and general information about Tanzania.
Oversee the maintenance of the Mission’s English-language web materials to ensure they are accurate and up-to-date.

Oversee the writing and distribution of press releases on program successes, project inaugurations, significant developments, etc. Coordinate with technical offices, PAS, and LPA to produce and release timely, accurate, and useful written information to local and international media.

Media and Public Relations

Promote separate, pro-active, targeted, information and media outreach activities. These activities are designed to push accurate information about USAID programs deep into local, regional and national markets, through the selective use of radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and relevant social media platforms.

Oversee all international and local media relations. Work closely with PAS on local press relations from all media outlets and coordinate with PAS and LPA on requests from international press.

Advise and coordinate with PAS to expand opportunities to keep media abreast of USAID/Tanzania programs, including TV, radio and other media. This may include arranging interviews, briefings, media tours of USAID projects, etc.

In collaboration with PAS, advise the Mission Director and USAID staff on press and media relations. Ensure a targeted, coherent, and consistent message from all USAID staff and implementing partners.

Supervise the monitoring of local and international press coverage, awareness, and attitudes concerning USAID programs.

Follow up with media to encourage and support coverage of public events.

Monitor effectiveness of the communications strategy. Provide feedback to inform ongoing activities and future programming.

As directed by the Mission Director, Deputy Directors and in collaboration with PAS, respond to inquiries from the general public, media, and other sources about USAID programs and projects.

Publicity Events

Serve as the Mission’s primary point of contact for publicity events and site visits by official visitors from the U.S. Embassy, USAID/Washington, Congress, and other U.S. Government agencies or entities. Coordinate VIP site visits as necessary. Coordinate with Embassy on schedules and logistics. Lead the preparation of briefing materials, scene setters, and other information products and processes to support these visits. Maintain a diverse list of potential site visit locations appropriate for a variety of CODEL, STAFFDEL, and other high-level visitors to Tanzania coordinating closely with partners in advance.
Organize, coordinate, or oversee the coordination of press events for USAID projects in conjunction with PAS, the USAID Mission Director and Deputy Directors, technical teams, and implementing partners. This includes conferences, openings, ribbon-cuttings, and other ceremonies.

Manage protocol issues, site selection, staging, and logistical issues; identify and schedule speakers; and liaise with U.S. and local government officials for USAID events.

Write, edit or advise on press releases, speeches, and talking points; write, edit, or advise on Briefing Checklists (BCLs), scene setters, briefing materials and memorandums for the Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission, USAID Mission Director and Deputy Mission Directors, and USAID office directors and other high level staff.

Ensure press releases, speeches, talking points, BCLs and scene setters drafted by implementing partners for USAID events meet quality and formatting standards.

Organize background briefings for media; compile and disseminate press packets; and provide on-site coordination of media.

Shepherd all press releases and interview requests from within the Mission and implementing partners through the approvals and clearance process, including PAS and LPA, ensuring all required edits or changes are addressed.

Oversee the development and implementation of plans for photography and video of USAID events (including taking photos or shooting video) for the USAID and Embassy websites and for USAID/Tanzania social media accounts and archives.

Perform other development outreach and communications duties/activities that the U.S. Ambassador, USAID Mission Director and Deputy Directors, USAID/Washington and circumstances may dictate.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

A. EDUCATION – A Master’s with significant coursework in relevant fields is required. Relevant fields include – but are not limited to – journalism, communications, marketing, public relations or affairs, international relations, international development, public administration, development/area studies, and social studies.

B. WORK EXPERIENCE

• At least ten years’ experience as a journalist, in public relations, international development communications or similar field is required.
• At least eight years of this experience must be in a developing country.
• Previous related work experience with the U.S. Government or another international development organization is highly desirable as is related work experience in Tanzania or the region.

D. LANGUAGE

Must have native level fluency in written and spoken English. Familiarity or fluency in Kiswahili is not required, but looked upon favorably.

E. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Must have demonstrated capacity in the following skills and abilities:
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound, independent, professional judgment.
• Excellent organizational and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a demonstrated ability to translate highly technical material into easy to understand narrative.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to influence relationships positively.
• Effective team leadership skills and the ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team.
• Superior project management skills and the ability to take initiative working with the direction of management; must be able to take ownership of projects, creatively solve problems and see activities through to completion.
• Strong and demonstrated knowledge of the principles and practices of public relations, media relations, and journalistic writing and reporting techniques.
• Knowledge of technical aspects involved in the production of different public outreach activities, such as editing, graphic design, printing, photography, video production, and publishing.
• Maintain superior levels of professionalism while working under pressure in a fast-paced and sometimes difficult or dangerous environment.
• Willingness to assume duties and responsibilities in all public communications and outreach areas, as needed.
• Strong, working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, social media, and internet applications.
• Familiarity using a digital camera and videotaping equipment.

APPLICATIONS: Interested applicants must submit the following: (1) a current AID 302-3 Offeror Information for PSC; (2) a current resume or curriculum vitae; (3) a cover letter, not to exceed three pages, addressing how the applicant meets the Required Qualifications(a) education; (b) prior work experience; (c) knowledge, skills and abilities}; and (4) any other documents (certificates, awards, copies of degrees earned, etc) that address the qualification requirements of the position as listed above. Applications should be sent to:

The Executive Officer, USAID/Tanzania, P.O. Box 9130, Dar Es Salaam; or if hand delivered to 686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani, Dar Es Salaam.
Please include a telephone contact with the application.

CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: 1700 hrs. September 02, 2015.

The U.S Mission is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates for this position will be considered without regard to sex, color, religion, race, age, nationality, or handicap.