Job Description

Title: Development Outreach & Communication (DOC) Specialist, FSN - 10

Company Name: USAID Bangladesh

Vacancy: 02

Job Location: Dhaka

Employment Status: Full-time

Educational Requirements:
∎ Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English, Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) in Marketing, Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Journalism
∎ Skills Required: Communication, Documentation skill, Photographer

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 5 year(s)
∎ The applicants should have experience in the following area(s): Events Planning, Public Information, Puplic Relation, Writing and comm
∎ The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): Development Agency

Job Responsibilities:
∎ 1) Bangladesh has a bustling media environment. A good working relationship with the media is critical to the success of USAID's operations in Bangladesh. The DOC Specialist serves as one of the principal USAID contacts for local, national and international electronic media. S/he leads USAID/Bangladesh media activities, working closely with Embassy PAS staff, the DOC team, technical USAID staff, and USAID/Bangladesh implementing partners to generate press coverage of USAID projects/activities. S/he oversees USAID/Bangladesh's Goodwill Ambassador Campaigns, coordinating press interviews, press conferences, briefings, tours of projects and interaction with Bangladeshi and American journalists. The incumbent works closely with all Mission staff and Front Office to design and implement strategic media outreach plans based on the available information and research.
∎ 2) The incumbent organizes opportunities for the Mission Director, and other USAID staff to engage with media in formal and informal settings to build relationships and discuss USAID/Bangladesh's work, ensuring coverage is culturally and politically appropriate. The incumbent helps technical offices define activities for coverage, participates in field visits to assess newsworthiness, and accompanies press to interviews and site locations for filming. The incumbent leads the design and implementation of data collection systems and analyses to track the success of media coverage, levels of public awareness and other pertinent indicators for the public awareness work by the Mission. The incumbent tracks USAID project and activity milestones and events to ensure that appropriate press coverage is provided. The incumbent also analyzes accuracy of media stories on USAID activities, exercising independent judgment on escalating requests for retraction or clarification. The incumbent oversees and, in coordination with technical offices and Embassy PAS staff, produces media materials (including news releases, scene setters and fact sheets) to inform editors and reporters of technical projects and achievements. The incumbent maintains relationships with local journalists to ensure smooth information flow and regular press coverage of USAID/Bangladesh projects and activities. The incumbent advises and works with Embassy PAS staff to expand opportunities for coverage of USAID efforts.
∎ 3) The considerable level of USG assistance to Bangladesh and the high visibility of the protracted Rohingya refugee crisis mean that USAID/Bangladesh experiences numerous events throughout a year and a large number of VIP visits. The DOC office at USAID/Bangladesh requires an extraordinary level of independence, competency and command of an overlapping, simultaneous and diverse slate of skills. Some key skill areas often required include: oral translation between USG VIPs and local VIPs/partners/beneficiaries; professional photography and videography; event planning; protocol advisor; and technical and narrative writing. The DOC specialists are often asked to serve as a site officer, which requires an ability to discuss complex USAID activities to large audiences. The DOC Specialist serves as the primary point of contact to coordinate events: tasked with the full authority for planning, organizing, directing, designing and coordinating and managing resources, personnel and vendors. S/he prepares visits for high-level officials to highlight key USAID projects/activities and strategies and coordinates advance work for planning, including scheduling, coordination with technical teams (and other Embassy sections as appropriate), and overseeing the production of briefing materials and troubleshooting during VIP visits. For project site visits or events that involve the Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission, and/or the USAID Director, the DOC Specialist ensures that all event information (e.g., scene setters, talking points, press releases) are accurately prepared and meet quality standards and time requirements. S/he coordinates and consults with technical offices on project/activity signing ceremonies or other milestone events, including finalizing press releases and ensuring that logistics are meticulously handled.
∎ 4) The DOC Specialist serves as primary point of contact to coordinate events planning and management for the Ambassador and other high-level USG visitors. S/he prepares visits for high-level officials to highlight key USAID projects/activities and strategies and coordinates advance work for planning, including scheduling, coordination with technical teams (and other Embassy sections as appropriate), and overseeing the production of branding and briefing materials and trouble-shooting during VIP visits.. In coordination with technical offices and the Embassy Public Affairs Section (PAS) staff, the incumbent liaises closely with implementing partners, including senior level professionals, contractor representatives and representatives of professional organizations to carry out outreach and communication activities that support USAID/Bangladesh's development objectives. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: identifying, designing and conducting publicity events; scouting out event sites (as needed) in advance; participating in rehearsal visits; staffing events on behalf of the DOC team; overseeing the production and clearances of briefing materials (e.g., scene setters, talking points, speeches); and trouble-shooting during visits. The incumbent leads in drafting and editing press releases and preparing media coverage for dissemination at USAID/Bangladesh-related public events.
∎ Communications Management and Strategic Planning 30%
∎ USAID/Bangladesh activities are exceptionally broad scope and complexity. In this capacity, the incumbent is responsible for strategically planning, developing, and implementing the Mission's DOC program to promote better awareness and understanding of U.S. foreign assistance in Bangladesh. This includes developing statements of work and managing service contracts for the Mission's communications and public outreach (multi-year, contracts up to $2,500,000), which entails serving as a certified Contracting Officer's Representative, overseeing Contractor performance, approving vouchers for payment and maintaining certification in FAITAS. The DOC Specialist analyzes each Mission activity, providing a tailored recommendation to the AOR/COR and implementing partner for optimal USAID branding, marking and communications for that activity. S/he is also responsible for relaying related policies and achievements to key audiences of the host country, in the United States, and throughout other donor countries. The DOC Specialist serves as one of the chief liaison officers representing the Mission on communications and outreach initiatives. This includes serving as the main point of contact for correspondence with the Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA) bureau, Bureau for Asia and other bureaus at USAID headquarters in Washington.
∎ The incumbent is responsible for managing high-level taskers and requests for information/stories/press briefings from LPA or the Bureau of Asia, which often are directed from the Assistant Administrator or Congressional level, and usually require immediate turnaround with minimal revisions, supervision/direction or editing. These products may include the necessity for graphics, charts, videos, narratives, statistics, interviews, essays and technical descriptions, a portion of the content or presentation of which may be required to be generated by the incumbent. With minimal supervision and relying on independent judgment, the incumbent interfaces with Mission Leadership, Chiefs of Party and news outlet editors in order to provide the Mission's quick turnaround on LPA and Bureau taskers. S/he will also be the one of the primary liaisons working with the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs Section (PAS), implementing partners, and other related contacts in Bangladesh. S/he helps manages the operations of the DOC team to ensure objectives in the communications strategy are achieved on time and meet the Agency and Mission's high quality standards. Working with the Mission's public outreach contractor, with other vendors and independently, s/he will lead content production and dissemination of public information about USAID programs among key target audiences in Bangladesh and the United States to educate and promote a better understanding of USAID programs and development assistance from the American people.
∎ Social Media and Website Management 20%
∎ Social Media: USAID/Bangladesh manages one of the Agency's largest social media portfolios, with over a million followers on Facebook, and provides content for the U.S. Embassy Dhaka which has over 7 million followers as of December 2019. Social media is one of key channels for outreach for USAID/Bangladesh. The DOC Specialist co-leads USAID/Bangladesh's outreach efforts via a number of social media platforms. The responsibilities range from administering USAID pages on Facebook and Twitter, developing content, photographs, and videos, and creating weekly analytics of USAID presence on social media. S/he shares regular updates on USAID's events and activities via social media and works closely with technical offices to ensure all development programs and priorities are well reflected in USAID's social media. S/he also creates and administers paid media campaign contracts on social media. The incumbent will lead efforts to analyze insights from social media and develop metrics to inform the Mission's future strategic direction with regards to information technology and innovative communications to maintain an active social media presence that portrays the United States and USAID in a positive light.
∎ Website: The DOC Specialist serves as one of the administrators for USAID's public website's Content Management System (CMS). In collaboration with the DOC Officer and other members of the DOC team, s/he coordinates the collection, review, and organization of content from mission staff and implementing partners to be post on the USAID's public website. S/he regularly updates website content, offers recommendations for useful technical and/or content modifications, and co- ordinate these updates with mission management and LPA in Washington. In addition, S/he also is the creator and administrator of the Program Office intranet to facilitate internal communications.
∎ Publicity Materials 10%
∎ The DOC Specialist is responsible for the production of high-quality print and digital communications products that translate complex messages and technical information into understandable, meaningful, and impactful messages that resonate with a variety of mass audiences, both host country and American. The Specialist serves as editorial director of all published and website materials, including information brochures, special publications, and the external USAID/Bangladesh website; manages contracts in producing graphic designs, written text, photographs, and procuring other outsourced products; and, ensures that contractor tasks are completed in a cost effective, high-quality, and timely manner. The DOC Specialist serves as COR on the Mission's Outreach and Communications contract, which also handles publicity-materials. The Specialist oversees and develops regular and specialized information materials for Washington opinion leaders and audiences, in coordination with the Regional Bureau and LPA colleagues; travels to USAID program/project/activity sites throughout the host country and the region to interview beneficiaries and photograph programs/ projects/ activities for the USAID website, news releases and success stories; acts as editor for key reports and documents, as assigned; ensures that public outreach products include people-oriented success stories that "tell our story" to external and internal audiences, and are politically and culturally appropriate; and, manages the external website ensuring that information is current and inviting to browsers. Pivotal to the overall reputation of the Mission and the Agency, the incumbent is held responsible for the accuracy and reliability of information that is disseminated to mass audiences.
∎ Mission Branding and Marking Champion 10%
∎ The DOC Specialist serves as one of the Mission's primary point of contacts for ensuring that USAID's branding regulations are implemented correctly among all of USAID/Bangladesh activities and adhere to Agency policies, regulations, and requirements. S/he builds capacity of AOR/CORs and implementing partners to ensure compliance with agency project branding and marking guidance, performing compliance checks for USAID branding and marking. This includes developing content for and conducting workshops and training sessions for implementing partners (particularly their outreach personnel and Chiefs of Party). The DOC Specialist serves as one of the key guides to advise implementing partners in ensuring USAID brand while designing outreach materials and activities to promote USAID programs to target audiences and media.

Salary: Tk. 2585595 - 4664016 (Yearly)

Compensation & Other Benefits:
∎ T/A, Mobile bill, Tour allowance, Medical allowance, Provident fund, Weekly 2 holidays, Insurance, Gratuity
∎ Festival Bonus: 2

Application Deadline: 11 Feb 2021

Company Information:
∎ 14 Jan 2021
∎ USAID Bangladesh
∎ Address : US Embassy, Baridhara, Dhaka
∎ Web : www.usaid.gov/bd
∎ Business : The largest US agency in the US Embassy, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Category: NGO/Development

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