Earn over 88,000 US Dollars (UGX 325m) as Communications Specialist at USAID Uganda

Job Title:   Communications Specialist   

Organisation: United States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda

Duty Station: USAID Uganda Office, Kampala, Uganda

Salary Range: $88,520 – $115,079, equivalent to GS-13.

Solicitation Number: SOL-72061724R00011 (0001)

About US Embassy:

The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years.  Ambassador William W. Popp currently heads the U.S Mission to Uganda.  The Mission is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador.

Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are:

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Peace Corps

Job Summary: USAID/Uganda is seeking a qualified candidate to serve under a Resident Hire U.S. Personal Services Contract as Economic Growth Communications Specialist responsible for communications activities in the Economic Growth (EG) Office. The Communication Specialist is responsible for implementing outreach activities to promote a better understanding of USAID economic growth development assistance to Uganda among key audiences of the host country and in the United States. They will assist USAID to achieve programmatic and strategic objectives by writing, editing, collecting, organizing, and clearing EG communications and written materials. The Communication Specialist also serves as the liaison between the Development Outreach and Communications (DOC) team in the Program Office and EG for all online, print, audio or video communications about economic growth activities supported by the Mission. The Specialist reports to the EG Deputy Office Director.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

The Communications Specialist’s specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Public Outreach and Events (40%)

• Serves as a communication conduit between EG and DOC regarding EG outreach activities and materials. Coordinates with DOC and EG technical officers to draft and edit timely and accurate information for use in fact sheets, briefers, infographics, responses to requests for information, and all other public information materials relating to EG activities. These must be written clearly and concisely for a variety of audiences and purposes.
• Develops external communication materials, success stories, blogs, case studies, white papers, social media content, and other tools on a regular basis to raise awareness of USAID/Uganda economic growth activities and success stories, and ensure that stakeholders are well informed of EG activities.
• Serves as the primary point of contact with implementing partner communications staff and participates in the quarterly implementing partner communication meetings. In coordination with DOC, reviews partner materials for branding compliance and reviews and approves branding and marking plans.
• Provides thoughtful, diplomatic, consensus-building, strategic, and analytical leadership.

Program Support and Internal Communications (40%)

• Coordinates with USAID EG technical staff to gather, draft, fact-check, and proofread information in response to both internal and external information inquiries related to EG activities.
• Engages with implementing partners (through the EG technical staff) in regard to appropriate use of the USAID logo and branding and marking. Develops and maintains a repository of frequently asked questions and responses.
• Prepares anticipated questions and suggests appropriate answers for talking points drafted for high-level U.S. Government officials, as required. Prepares status and other reports and memoranda regarding media and communications activities.
• Maintains EG photo and media resources in collaboration with the DOC team.
• Researches, writes, edits, and proofreads memos, technical papers, and briefing materials for EG, in collaboration with the Office Director and other technical staff as needed.
• Edits and contributes content to the EG weekly updates (bullets); coordinates and tracks clearance processes for EG communications materials; and ensures that program results, success stories and lessons learned are adequately reported in clear and concise American English based on the plain language principles, and prepared with both the media and general audiences in mind.
• The incumbent must establish and maintain excellent working relationships and strategic engagement with a wide range of senior figures within the development and U.S. Government (USG) community related to communications, including communications officials in other USAID Missions, USAID/Washington, the USAID/Uganda DOC team, the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section (PAS) in Uganda, the Uganda donor community, and EG’s Implementing Partners (IPs) throughout Uganda.

Site Visits and Storytelling: 10%

• The Communications Specialist will periodically (3-6 times per year, or as needed) travel to visit USAID activities being implemented in different areas of Uganda and help to collect content for storytelling on USAID platforms. Coordinates with DOC, EG technical officers, and communications specialists with EG’s IPs to identify and plan site visits by USG, Ugandan, and other officials and delegations.
• Sharing this role with other members of the DOC team, the Communications Specialist will work to cover events in Kampala or in other parts of the country, and while on these visits talk to program participants, local representatives, and more to learn more about the impact of USAID efforts.
• The Communications Specialist will develop stories and collect quotes, photos, videos, and other information that could be used in writing or publishing other outreach materials on any of USAID’s internal or external platforms.

Events Coordination and Support: 10%

• Supports EG staff in planning, scheduling, publicizing, and carrying out activities and events to present programs to the public, including signing ceremonies, inaugurations, and other outreach activities related to USAID projects. Alongside other extended DOC team members, the Communications Specialist will provide support to USAID and Embassy leadership at events.
• In addition to the preparation of written materials, events support may include advising technical teams on protocol issues, site selection, staging, and logistical issues; identifying and scheduling speakers; providing on-site coordination of media; and following up with media to ensure coverage of public events.
• Develops and edits materials as required, including scene setters, speeches, press releases, briefing materials, social media and web content.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in any professional discipline such as media, journalism, communications, international relations, economic development, marketing, development studies, agriculture, environment, economics and/or management is required.

Prior Work Experience

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in the field of international communications or similar; demonstrated management experience specifically within the communications field is required.
• Proven experience in disseminating information to a variety of target audiences is required.
• Prior experience in public information and outreach is required; experience living and working in Africa is desirable.
• Experience with building capacity and mentoring is desirable.

Knowledge:

• Possess strong and demonstrated knowledge of principles and practices of event planning, public relations, speech and press release writing, media relations, and journalistic writing and reporting techniques.
• Possess strong, working knowledge of Google applications and/or similar Microsoft products. Be familiar with using a digital camera and other audio-visual equipment.
• Demonstrated experience in leading consultations and facilitation of various teams with diverse backgrounds and development perspectives is required.
• Display an ability to work collaboratively, build consensus, serve as a personal mentor, and effectively coordinate with external actors in multicultural settings.
• Creative ability to present information in attractive, interesting, readable formats is required with demonstrated skills in photography, layout, and graphic design strongly preferred.
• Ability to make contacts at the senior-most levels throughout the local and international community, articulate views, work with teams to convey Mission positions to a variety of audiences is desired, with the ability to influence relationships positively
• Applying broad USG (or similar development organizations) principles, policies and strategies; leading effective USG interagency, partner country, and donor coordination; and working with USG leadership at the working-and senior-levels is preferred.
• Knowledge of strategic communications programming, activity development, achieving results, performance monitoring, and activity and program communications is desirable.

Skills and abilities:

• The Communications Specialist must have demonstrated ability to exercise significant, independent professional judgment.
• The Communications Specialist must be able to recognize operational problems and issues and address them appropriately.
• The Communications Specialist must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated analytical skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills and a clear understanding and demonstrated skills in outreach and coordination of organizational messaging is required.
• Have knowledge of technical aspects involved in the production of different public outreach activities, such as production of radio and television programs
• Language Proficiency: Fluent, outstanding verbal and written English communication skills, analytical ability, and interpersonal relationships are required. Knowledge of Ugandan languages, culture and work environment is desirable, but not required. Strong writing, editing, and copy-editing skills required.

How to Apply:

Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit:

A signed (hand or electronic signature) offer form AID 309-2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals,” available at: http://www.usaid.gov/forms.

Cover letter clearly indicating the position for which you are applying.

Curriculum vitae/resume specifically which MUST include:

(i)        Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year) and hours worked per week for each position;

–Dates (month/year) and locations for all international field experience must also be detailed;

–Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), location, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.

(ii)       Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.

(iii)     Names and contact information (phone and email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s).

(iv)      Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job- related honors, awards, or accomplishments.

Supplemental [separate] document specifically addressing each QRF as outlined in the solicitation.

United States (U.S.) citizens and Resident Alien (currently resident in Uganda) must attach a copy of a valid work permit.

Offers should be in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). No other file types will be accepted. All documents should be scanned into one (1) document (one (1) ATTACHMENT) which should not exceed 10MB.

Documents should be arranged and scanned in this order:

(i)        Signed (hand or electronic signature) offer form AID 309-2

(ii)       Cover Letter

(iii)     Completed Curriculum vitae/resume

(iv)      Supplemental documents

(v)       Valid work permit if applicable

Submitted offers and documents become the property of USAID and will not be returned.

Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted by email to EXO and HR Specialist at: kampalausaidjobsusaid.gov Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

No other form of submission will be permitted (e.g., courier, fax, or hand delivery). The US Government will not be responsible for incomplete/corrupted or missing information in electronic submissions and these applications may not be accepted. USAID will only confirm receipt and print out the electronic submission. USAID will not ensure quality or completeness of electronic files attached to the e-mails. The Offeror assumes all risk related to an electronic submission. Late offers or delayed electronic submissions will not be accepted.

Offeror submissions must clearly reference the Solicitation number on all offeror submitted documents.

For this position, the subject line of the email must read:

SOL NUMBER TITLE OF POSITION, LAST, FIRST CANDIDATE NAME EX. SOL-72061724R00011(001)  Communications Specialist, Smith Jose

Deadline: 15th November 2024

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