Jobs and Careers

TERM : 

Full Time (40 hours per week)

JOB DESCRIPTION : 

Over the past three years, USAID/ Armenia's portfolio has adapted to dramatic changes in the country's political trajectory. In 2020, Armenia's development path was impacted by a series of crises: three severe waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and a devastating 44-day conflict with its neighbor Azerbaijan and a controversial ceasefire agreement. Additionally, the 2018 "Velvet Revolution" resulted in Armenia’s first free and fair elections and a new, reform-minded Government. USAID's portfolio and budget increased dramatically to reflect the country's embrace of democratic reforms and increased potential for foreign policy collaboration. The 2018 “Velvet Revolution and the 2020-2021 crises forced USAID to reevaluate its programming, rapidly initiate humanitarian assistance activities, and establish relationships with new high-level leadership.
To advance Armenia's sustainable development, USAID/ Armenia led a participatory process with over 120 stakeholders to develop the 2020-2025 Country Development Strategy (CDCS). The CDCS aims to nurture a more engaged, prosperous, and well-governed Armenian society. To achieve this, the Mission has bolstered the role of the Strategy and Program Support (SPO) Office to support a portfolio focused on inclusive economic growth, democracy, human rights and governance, and social reform. USAID/ Armenia manages a complex portfolio including emergency assistance to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict with Azerbaijan.
The Senior Development Outreach Advisor (SDOA) would lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Mission’s Communications and Outreach Strategy, which promotes public understanding of and support for USAID programs and contributes to the achievement of Armenia’s CDCS objectives. The SDOA coordinates strategic communications and outreach planning for the USAID/ Armenia Mission, including outreach and engagement by the U.S. Ambassador and USAID Mission Director. The SDOA is the lead USAID POC for interagency coordination on communications with Public Diplomacy Section, Department of Defense, and Peace Corps counterparts. The SDOA reports to the Supervisory Program Officer, or delegate and is responsible for supervising the work of a Foreign Service National Development Outreach and Communications Specialist and a Foreign Service National Translator/ Interpreter.

RESPONSIBILITIES : 

The Senior Development Outreach Advisor (SDOA) duties are as follows:
a) Supervisory and Strategic Oversight (60%)
- Supervise, mentor, and coach the Development Outreach and Communications Specialist and Translator/ Interpreter;
- As appropriate, serve as AOR/COR for contracts/ purchase orders for services procured for the development of communications materials;
- Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Mission’s outreach and communications strategy, which promotes public understanding of and support for USAID programs and contributes to the achievement of the goals of Armenia’s CDCS objectives;
- Lead the Mission’s DOC functions to ensure the overall quality, coherence, and strategic application of the communications and outreach products and initiatives;
- Formulate and implement innovative outreach activities that advance development objectives as outlined in the Mission’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS);
- Responsible for ensuring that USAID/ Armenia’s website is updated on a regular basis to ensure that its content will have optimal impact in providing information about the USAID Mission in Armenia and its programs for a wide range of audiences. Responsibilities include coordinating the selection of information displayed on the website, adding weekly news items, photos, press releases, and success stories;
- Lead the design of public information campaigns and manage their implementation;
- Represent USAID in planning Mission events for the Ambassador, the Mission Director, and other high-level visitors;
- Collaborate/ coordinate directly with the Embassy Public Diplomacy Section (PDS), which has the overall lead on media engagement and public messaging in the country;
- Collaborate/ coordinate directly with other USG agencies in the Mission to elevate USG’s messaging across various agencies;
- Collaborate/ coordinate with USAID’s Europe and Eurasia Bureau and the Legislative and Public Affairs Bureau in Washington, DC on shared initiatives;
- Formulate and manage the communication and outreach budget for the Mission.
- Monitor and evaluate progress toward communication objectives as outlined in the outreach and communications strategy. This includes establishing a monitoring and evaluation plan for the outreach and communications strategy, identifying indicators, and measuring progress to assess effectiveness and impact of outreach activities. Also includes monitoring local and international press coverage, awareness, and attitudes concerning USAID programs Information gathered will be used to inform ongoing activities and set direction for future programming, messaging, and outreach;
- Lead the development of a training program and may facilitate training for technical office staff and implementing partners on developing effective communication plans and materials and ensure branding, marking, and messaging compliance and consistency by all partners in their outreach and communications efforts;
- Work with DOC colleagues, maintain, cultivate, and utilize the network of implementing partner outreach professionals;
- Review and approve all outreach and communications plans developed by outreach and documentary implementing partners;
- In collaboration with and under the guidance of PDS, serve as the principal USAID contact for representatives of the local and international media to promote story ideas and feature stories on USAID programs. Maintain contacts with Western and local journalists from all media outlets;
- Serve as final editor and clears on all outreach products.

b) Publicity Material (20%)
- Oversee the production of and contribute to key outreach materials, including program one-pagers, brochures, talking points, event memoranda, press-releases, materials for USAID’s website, USAID’s Facebook page, USAID’s Twitter page, and others as deemed necessary;
- As a component of the outreach and communications strategy, plan the Mission’s social media strategy and manage the Mission’s social and digital media platforms in accordance with guidance from the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA), the Europe and Eurasia Bureau, and the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section;
- In collaboration with DOC colleagues, work closely with implementing partners to solicit and develop material for social media and other platforms;
- Coordinate messaging with LPA, the Europe and Eurasia Bureau Communications team, and the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section and provide Mission social media products to the same as appropriate;
- In collaboration with DOC colleagues, provide guidance/ periodic updates to technical offices and implementing partners on appropriate social media material and practices. Work closely with USAID contractors and advise them on the quality of outreach material;
- Read/ review and or draft proposed speeches, videos on project activities, brochures, booklets, handouts, signs, and other public relations materials to evaluate quality and accuracy of content;
- Work with USAID technical staff to develop briefing materials as required for handouts and/ or other special needs. Help prepare VIP briefing and press packets for use during USAID site visits or media events;
- In collaboration with DOC colleagues, prepare sub-regional profiles, which must be coordinated with Mission staff. Maintain information on where USAID is working to ensure the information is available for site visits and reporting;
- In collaboration with DOC colleagues, perform duties relating to public outreach, information management and communication;
- In collaboration with DOC colleagues, be responsible for visiting USAID projects in the field and conceptualizing human-interest success stories, social media posts and short videos for American and Armenian audiences that highlight USG priorities and USAID’s unique contributions to Armenia’s development.

c) Public Events and Activities (20%)
- As a component of the outreach and communications strategy, work with DOC colleagues, technical staff, and implementing partners to plan, schedule, publicize, and carry out activities to present Mission programs to the public. This may include a range of communications tools with distribution to a variety of audiences, with field trips to specific events or activities, as well as outreach and media coverage for overall programming;
- For site visits or events that involve the Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM), USAID Mission Director, or high-level visitors ensure that all information related to the events (e.g., backgrounders/ event memoranda, schedules, talking points, press-releases, speeches, etc.) has been prepared and coordinated, meeting quality standards and time requirements.

OTHER POSITION FACTORS:
SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:
The Senior Development Outreach Advisor reports directly to the Strategy and Program Office Director or delegate. Most assignments occur in the normal course of the work, but the incumbent is required to verify those ad hoc tasks that must be coordinated with her/ his supervisor. The supervisor provides a review of the assignment, the goals and objectives to be achieved, and the results expected.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
The incumbent directly supervises the work of two Foreign Service Nationals. In addition, the incumbent coordinates and advises on the work of all USAID activities with relevant technical staff and implementing partners as it relates to communications products. The Senior Development Outreach Advisor reviews and clears on all outreach products produced by technical staff, provides overall strategic direction for all outreach and communication activities, and coordinates those activities with the Embassy, the Europe and Eurasia Bureau, LPA, and other counterparts.

DEGREE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR DECISION-MAKING ASSIGNED TO THE POSITION:
The DOC unit’s activities are of exceptionally broad scope and complexity. In this capacity, the incumbent is responsible for helping to strategically plan, develop, implement, instruct and administer the DOC program to promote better awareness and understanding of U.S. foreign assistance to Armenia. The SDOA is also responsible for helping to relay related policies and achievements to key audiences of the host country, in the United States and other donor countries.

SCOPE AND EFFECT OF THE WORK PERFORMED:
- Work requires working as a team leader, guiding and coordinating the work of other professionals;
- Typical assignments require developing detailed plans, goals, and objectives for the long-range implementation and administration of the program or developing the criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the program;
- Completed work is reviewed for feasibility in relation to requirements, and for conformance with overall policy and program objectives;
- Recommendations of incumbents at this level are normally accepted by others as those of a specialist;
- Typical of this level are professional or technical assignments involved with project or program management and with project development.

LEVEL AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS:
While the position reports directly to the Strategy and Program Office Director or delegate, the incumbent will be expected and required to develop close working partnerships with the Mission Director, and local and U.S. Direct Hire Mission staff to be successful.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS : 

Minimum Qualification Required for the Position:
In order to qualify for this position, the offeror must meet the following minimum qualifications:
- Education: At least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study such as English language, Journalism, Communications, or Public Relations;
- Relevant Experience: At least 5 years of work experience with progressively increased responsibilities. Proven experience with writing and communications that demonstrates skills and hands-on experience in a combination of the following areas: public relations, editing, public information, publishing, journalism and digital communications. Relevant marketing experience will be considered, as applicable;
- Languages/ Skills: A high degree of English fluency (reading, writing, and speaking), equivalent to native fluency. Given the nature of the position, demonstrated effective written and oral communication is a requirement.

Note: Only offerors clearly meeting the above minimum qualifications will be considered for further evaluation.
Security and medical clearances: The ability to obtain the required security and medical clearances in a reasonable timeframe is considered a minimum qualification.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES : 

All eligible applicants are welcome to follow the link for all details and follow the instructions mentioned in the announcement: https://www.usa.am/cms/announcements.php. As this solicitation is for a “ladder” position, Offerors must identify the FSN-equivalent level at which level(s) the Offeror wants to be considered. An offeror who fails to identify any level for consideration, will be evaluated only against the full performance level.

Please clearly mention in your application letter that you learned of this job opportunity through Career Center and mention the URL of its website - www.careercenter.am, Thanks.

REMUNERATION/ SALARY : 

USD 81,216 to USD 105,579 equivalent to GS-13. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value. USPSCs performing abroad are not entitled to Locality Pay.

OPEN TO/ ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA : 

All interested U.S. Citizens residing in the country- Armenia