Senior Development Outreach Communications (DOC) Specialist – Kenya

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: Mission Notice 23-06
2. ISSUANCE DATE: January 23, 2023
3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: February 22, 2023, (16:30 hours Nairobi time)
4. POINT OF CONTACT: Executive Office/Human Resources, Patrick Bii pbii@usaid.gov and Noel Sikasa nsikasa@usaid.gov
5. POSITION TITLE: Resident Hire U.S PSC Senior Development Outreach Communications (DOC) Specialist
6. MARKET VALUE: $99,908 to $129,878 annually equivalent to GS-14. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value. As a resident hire position, it does not include offshore benefits such as housing, post differential, relocation benefit and post allowance.
7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two (2) year base period, with three one-year options subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance or better.
8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya. Overseas U.S PSCs may be authorized to telework or remote work only from a location within Kenya, in accordance with the Mission policy. Telework or remote work from outside Kenya may only be authorized in certain situations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.
9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to U.S. Nationals (U.S Citizens and/or U.S Resident Aliens[1]) residing in Kenya. Citizenship, if dual, must be clearly stated. This is a resident-hire position and therefore all offerors must be residing in Kenya.
10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: USAID/W issued clearance level at the Facility/Computer Access.
11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES/POSITION DESCRIPTION

Background

USAID/Somalia manages a large, complex foreign assistance program in Somalia, totaling some $1.3 billion in FY 2022, including $1.2 billion for humanitarian assistance, as well as investments in democracy, stabilization and governance; education; and economic growth.

The USAID/Somalia Development Outreach Communications (DOC) Specialist will support messaging to highlight the progress of USAID-funded activities toward the achievement of USAID/Somalia objectives to audiences in Somalia; in the United States, including USAID/Washington, other executive branch agencies, and Congress; and throughout the world.

Responsibilities will include:

• Leading the development and implementation of a communications strategy, in coordination with the Embassy’s Public Affairs Section (PAS) and USAID technical offices
• Producing and disseminating public information about the U.S. Mission to Somalia’s foreign assistance activities, promoting USAID/Somalia development and humanitarian programs that cut across several technical offices. Communications products will include, but are not limited to: fact sheets, case studies, press releases, success stories, photos, videos, social media posts, presentations, and USAID/Somalia web site content
• Serving as the point of contact for all media and public relations matters and as the in-house expert on branding and marking for all USAID communications materials and deliverables
• Coordinating with PAS to organize public media events for the U.S. Ambassador to Somalia and the USAID Mission Director; leveraging local and international media relationships; preparing and overseeing interviews for television and radio broadcasting, social media outlets, websites, and online and mainstream publications; developing inter-agency messaging; drafting, editing and tracking briefing check lists (BCLs); drafting speeches, talking points and press releases
• Coordinating with the USAID/Washington Somalia Desk and the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA) on communications and outreach
• Serving as Activity Manager for a $1.7 million buy-in to a third-party communication support services contract, including oversight of media monitoring, photography and videography, translation services, graphic design, and printing
• Supporting USAID implementing partners (IP) and sub-contractors in developing activity-level strategic communications and branding and implementation plans, and building the capacity of IP staff in writing, photography, and videography

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

The incumbent must meet the following requirements in education and professional experience:

Education: A master’s degree in a relevant professional discipline such as media, journalism, or communications and a minimum of seven years of work experience in a relevant position. However, 10 years or more of substantive and specifically relevant experience may be acceptable in lieu of a master’s degree.

Professional Experience: The candidate is required to have a minimum of six years of experience directly involved in media, outreach, and communications in development partner and/or donor contexts. The candidate must have excellent interpersonal and networking skills and the ability to liaise authoritatively with representatives from the development sector, local media, local government, USG, and other relevant actors. Clear understanding and demonstrated skills in outreach and coordination of organizational messaging is required.

The candidate must have demonstrated experience in leading consultations and facilitation of various teams with diverse backgrounds and development perspectives; applying broad U.S. Government (or similar development organizations) principles, policies and strategies; leading effective U.S. Government interagency, partner country, and donor coordination; and working with U.S. Government leadership at the working-and senior-levels.

Additional Desired Skills:

1. Working knowledge of U.S. Government policies, priorities and strategies
2. Demonstrated familiarity and expertise with a diverse range of communications approaches and tools
3. Strong writing and speaking skills, particularly writing speeches, talking points, social media posts, and various public outreach documents
4. Ability to lead meetings and presentations with internal and external stakeholders

EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. FAR provisions of this solicitation are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

Applicants who clearly meet the skills and qualifications requirements will be further evaluated based on scoring of Evaluation Factor responses submitted with the applicant’s application. The completion of two writing and editing exercises and a review of the candidate’s presentation of a variety of professional work samples (e.g., press releases, photos, videos and blogs, success stories, and/or event briefers) are mandatory for consideration for this position.

Education (10 points): The successful candidate must possess a Master’s degree in a development field, international affairs, communications, journalism and/or media. However, 10 years or more of substantive and specifically relevant experience may be acceptable in lieu of a master’s degree.

Work Experience (30 points): The candidate must have at least six years of progressively responsible experience in the field of international communications or similar, and demonstrated management experience specifically within the communications field. Proven experience in disseminating information to a variety of target audiences on a number of platforms is required. Experience working in conflict or post-conflict situations is desirable.

Language Proficiency (30 Points): The candidate must be a native English speaker with outstanding written and verbal English communication skills, analytical ability, and interpersonal relationships. S/he will be able to communicate comfortably in front of large or small audiences and articulate views clearly.

Skills and Abilities (30 Points): The candidate must have a demonstrated ability to exercise significant, independent professional judgment. S/he must be able to recognize operational problems and issues and address them appropriately. He/she must have displayed an ability to work collaboratively, build consensus, train counterparts, and effectively coordinate with external actors in multicultural settings. S/he must demonstrate clearly an ability to craft engaging messages in various formats (e.g. social media posts, press releases, website content, cables, etc.), targeting a variety of audiences both local and international. Must possess the creative skills to present information in an attractive, interesting, and convincing way. Skills in photography, layout, and graphic design are a plus. S/he must also have knowledge of strategic communications and the skills to conceptualize different means of reaching target audiences with strategic messages.

The most qualified candidates may be interviewed, required to provide a writing sample, and demonstrate an ability to operate commonly used office applications. USAID will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. In addition, applications (written materials and interviews) will be evaluated based on content as well as on the applicant’s writing, presentation, and communication skills. In the event that a candidate has fully demonstrated his/her qualifications and there are no other competitive applicants, USAID reserves the right to forego the interview process. Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for applicants being considered for selection.

Applicants selected for an interview will be asked to submit examples of previously developed visual and/or written materials. S/he may also demonstrate samples of work on a website.

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – Pass/Fail (no points assigned)

Total Possible Points: 100

[1] U.S. resident alien means a non-U.S. citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States.

How to apply

Interested applicants are required to submit the following:

1. Offerform AID 309-2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with individuals,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-309-2
2. An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) or resume (no more than five pages), cover letter explaining your qualifications for the position, responses to evaluation factors above, copies of all relevant certificates and include three (3) referees, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts.

Applications must be submitted electronically via email to nairobipscjobs@usaid.gov by the closing date and time indicated above.

To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission/cover letter.