Development and Outreach Communications (DOC) Specialist (USAID/West Bank and Gaza)

Location: Onsite, Israel

Position Duration: 6 months

Vistant is recruiting a Development and Outreach Communications (DOC) Specialist to support USAID/West Bank and Gaza. The incumbent reports to the Program Office Director and is a part of the Communications Team, which consists of the incumbent and a foreign service national Development Outreach and Communications Assistant. The incumbent coordinates closely with the Embassy’s Public Affairs Section (PAS), the Office of Palestinian Affairs PAS, USAID/Middle East Bureau’s Outreach Team, and USAID’s Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs. The Communications Team executes public outreach to Palestinian, Israeli and American audiences. The position involves extensive writing, editing, and use of social media. The incumbent drafts, edits, and/or clears internal USAID communications for submission to the USAID Mission Director, Deputy Mission Director, U.S. Ambassador, the Deputy Chief of Mission, and other senior Embassy officials. The DOC ensures that Embassy personnel, including senior staff, are apprised of USAID activities and achievements that will advance the U.S. government’s foreign policy objectives.

The incumbent’s primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Press inquiries:

Respond to inquiries from the general public, media and other sources about USAID programs and projects.
Work with PAS to manage USAID/West Bank and Gaza’s relationship with international, regional, and local press, including encouraging accurate reporting, equity, and trouble-shooting as necessary. Interact with local media contacts regularly. Process materials and address any necessary changes to ensure that items go to press on time. Provide advice to the Mission and to USAID/LPA regarding appropriate press contacts.’
Review and edit press releases, scene setters, and talking points drafted by implementing partners and/or USAID staff for USAID events.

Office support:

Monitor Press - Monitoring local and international press coverage, analyzing awareness and attitudes concerning USAID programs. Information gathered will inform ongoing activities.
Using the three month lookahead, plan and execute events with the DOC team and technical team staff, including project managers, host country officials, NGOs, and implementing partners. Provide support on determining the best site visits/events for incoming visitors based on messaging priorities.
Work with support staff to prepare and clear memos (BCLs), speeches, press prep and any other relevant materials.

Communication’s Support Contract Management:

Join for site visits and oversee communications contract staff related to translation, photography, videography etc. Coordinate with IPs and gain consent for photography, videography, and use of participants' information in externally facing communications. Photograph USAID/West Bank and Gaza program activities, events and projects providing USAID with digital and other media to document and communicate USAID success and lessons learned. Coordinate and oversee use of photos, video and digital cameras, and digital video conference room equipment and supplies. This is a liaison position with the Communications Support Contract. The COR for the Contract is a member of the Program Office.

Events:

Manage press engagements for Mission Director including: press prep documents, press prep meeting with Public Affairs Officer (PAO), technical staff and the Mission Director. Work with the communications contract to set up press engagements and clear press engagements with relevant State Department teams.
Work closely with the Front Office and USAID staff on press and media relations to ensure targeted and coherent messages consistent with the Communication Strategy from all USAID staff and implementing partners.
Serve as DOCS advisor on the outreach component of events, in coordination with PAS, Front Office, technical teams and implementing partners. This includes conferences, openings, ribbon-cuttings and other ceremonies. Organize press packets, deal with protocol issues, site selection, staging and logistical issues and identify USG representation.
Public Events - Organize and coordinate with the USAID/West Bank and Gaza Technical Offices and PAO on all aspects of public events for USAID such as program/activity inaugurations and program assistance completions, including preparation and dissemination of press releases and background information, protocol issues, site selection and preparation, staging and logistical issues, scheduling and maintaining contact with speakers, and notification of appropriate U.S. and local government officials and media, as well as on-site coordination of media.
Site Visits - Support on coordinating and implementing site visits for high level visits including Congressional Delegations, State Leadership, USAID leadership among others.
Work closely with technical staff to develop briefing materials for site visits and events to include editing and clearance support. Per the Delegation of Authority Mission Order, the DOC office manages clearances from State Department for any outward facing engagements. This includes events with the Ambassador or Deputy Chief of Mission.

Material Development:

Oversee development of effective media outreach materials, ensuring accurate information and presentation of development topics and the impact of USAID programs in a format easily understood by the general public.
Manage documentation of USAID events, including video, documentaries, photos, updates to Facebook, YouTube and Twitter accounts.
Success Stories – Success Stories are reviewed and edited as presented by the tech offices. Also, guidance is provided on what constitutes a success story, formatting, etc.
Obtaining Clearances – Once Fact Sheets and Success Stories are edited, they must be cleared by the COR, DOC, and Office Director for public dissemination, which is a time-consuming follow-up process and involves revising documents in between clearances.

Position Requirements:

A bachelor’s degree or higher in international development or related field.
Must possess a strong background in international development or foreign policy and at least five years of experience in international development or foreign policy issues.
Must have experience working in or working directly on development or foreign policy issues affecting the Middle East region.
Must have experience working on communications.
Preference for experience working with USAID and working overseas.
US citizenship is required.
Must be able to obtain a Secret security clearance.

Legal Disclaimers

Applicants selected may be subject to a background investigation and must meet suitability requirements for eligibility.

Telework/Remote Work policies are contingent upon client needs and staffing requirements and are subject to change.

Applicants with disabilities may contact the Human Capital Team via telephone, e-mail, and other means to request and arrange accommodation. If you need assistance to accommodate a disability, you may request accommodation at any time. Please contact the Human Capital Team at [email protected] or (301) 719-2381.

Please note: Updates on applications or the general Recruiting process should reach out to [email protected].