Office of Population
& Health (OPH), USAID/Kenya
Opening Date: Immediately
Closing Date: June 13, 2012
Office: Office of Population & Health
Title: Development Outreach & Communication Specialist
Grade: GS-13 (Local Hire)
Background:
The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) initiative is the largest commitment ever by a nation toward an international health initiative for a single disease.
Completing its first
five-years, PEPFAR is a $15 billion, multifaceted approach to combating the
disease in more than loo countries around the world.
The strategy places an
intensified approach on 1 5 focus countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia
that represent approximately half the world’s infections.
The goal of the PEPFAR
is to treat 2 million HIV-infected individuals, prevent 7 million new
infections and to provide care and support for 10 million HIV-infected individuals
and orphans.
Although the five-year
PEPFAR authorization ended in 2008, PEPFAR authorization continues for
five more years.
Kenya is the second
largest of the 15 focus countries in terms of funding. Today, over 500,000
Kenyans benefit from ARV drug treatment support, and an estimated 600,000
orphans receive a packet of care.
Under PEPFAR, Kenya
received over $400 million in FY11 to support a comprehensive REV/AIDS
prevention, treatment, and care program.
The President’s
Malaria Initiative (PMI) started in FY08 and continues to be the second largest
component of the robust USAID health portfolio.
Funding levels for all
health accounts allocated to the U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID) for FY11 is approximately $402 million.
USAID/Kenya’s Office
of Population and Health (OPH) is an integrated program that combines, HIV
& AIDS, child survival, malaria, tuberculosis, and population and maternal
and child health activities.
The Office of
Population & Health (OPH) is staffed by 38 FTEs, the majority of whom are
Kenyan public health experts.
In Kenya, a consortium of United States Government (USG) agencies is charged with coordinating and managing PEPFAR under the leadership of the U.S. Ambassador.
These agencies include
USAID, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Peace Corps,
the Department of State (DOS), and the Department of Defense (DOD).
The goal is to develop
and implement one coherent USG HI V/AIDS program in Kenya, combining the
comparative strengths and capabilities of all the government agencies.
The Chief of Mission,(COM) provides overall guidance to the inter-agency team and the PEPFAR Coordination Office facilitates complementarities among the various activities by the USG agencies, host government, and other HTV/MDS donors in Kenya.
Basic Function of Position:
The Development Outreach and Communications (DOC) Specialist is
responsible for providing communications support to the USAID/Kenya OPH Team,
in order to support strengthening the capacity to implement the operational
plan for comprehensive HIV/AIDS care, management, and treatment for Kenya, as
well as all other OPT-I activities.
He/she is also responsible for coordination of ongoing public
outreach activities of OPH in this area.
The DOC Specialist will research and prepare relevant
communications material.
He/she serves as the primary point of contact and liaison for
the Mission, in close collaboration with the USAID/Kenya Mission DOC Specialist
and U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Office, with local and international
media.
The DOC Specialist will support the OPH Team in managing
activity and project inaugurations and agreement signings, and will serve as
one of the principal contacts between the Mission and the USAID/Washington Legislative
and Public Affairs Office (LPA), and between USAID/Kenya and the
Embassy/Nairobi Public Affairs Office (PAO).
Duties and Responsibilities:
a. Media Relations: 15%
The DOC Specialist is responsible for maintaining a current list
of all media contacts and data.
He/she handles all logistical details for arranging media
interviews.
He/she works with USAID and implementing partner (IP) websites
to provide USAID/Kenya activity and story material.
He/she assists Specialists in the preparation of summaries of
significant articles and broadcasts, and monitors media trends that affect the
USAID health programs.
The incumbent maintains frequent and close contact with
counterparts in the Kenyan media, the Embassy PAO, and the USAID/Washington
Legislative and Public Affairs Office.
He/she assists in arranging interviews, briefings, and tours of
OPEI programs for VTPs, dignitaries, and members of the media, and keeps
records of such activities.
He/she keeps abreast of OPH events and daily press, related to the
OPH portfolio, to ensure appropriate press coverage is provided.
The DOC Specialist identifies potential program/project sites
for media coverage, and works with the Embassy PAO to expand opportunities for
coverage of OPH activities, including print media, television, and radio.
b. Public Events and Activities: 15%
The incumbent serves as an event coordinator with regards to
press and launch functions, inaugurations/signing ceremonies, and VIP and site
visits, handling a wide range of logistical responsibilities that include, but
are not limited to,:
drafting press releases, developing schedules and itineraries,
organizing
meetings, creating appropriate guest lists and seating arrangements, acquisition of information and data from the press corps, processing press release clearances and approvals;
meetings, creating appropriate guest lists and seating arrangements, acquisition of information and data from the press corps, processing press release clearances and approvals;
drafting speeches, talking points;
and related material; sending thank you letters to those in attendance, etc.
and related material; sending thank you letters to those in attendance, etc.
The DOC Specialist attends events to monitor content and
activities, distribute press clips to targeted audiences, and compile press
registration details and contact data for post-event follow-up.
c. Publicity Material: 40%
The DOC Specialist assists in drafting and reviewing proposed
speeches, video footage on
program/project activities, technical materials, brochures,
press releases, fact sheets, booklets, handouts, signs, and other public
relations materials to evaluate quality, sensitivity to local culture, and
accuracy of content.
The incumbent maintains a current log of fact (site)
sheets.
He/she ensures that all materials meet USAID branding
guidelines.
Periodically schedules a review of Mission communication
materials, to revise for updates, and to assure they are user-friendly for the
public.
He/she assists with USAID/Washington needs for information, and
regularly supplies material that can be used in official speeches and other
public messages.
Manages the preparation and updating of profiles, which must be
coordinated with Mission staff.
d. Editorial Drafting and Quality Control: 20%
The DOC Specialist provides technical writing and editorial
assistance to the OPH Team, and to the
Mission, as it works to further health objectives.
He/she assists in the drafting of the Country Operational Plan,
Malaria Operational Plan, other annual reports, yearly funding requests, and
other required documents as necessary to assist OPH Team and Mission decision
makers.
The incumbent reports and other material, and prepares
selections from articles on behalf of OPH Team activities.
He/she assists in the review and editing of official reports,
correspondence, other necessary
Mission documentation, and of website content, to ensure that all documents are accurate and meet
Mission and USAID quality standards.
Mission documentation, and of website content, to ensure that all documents are accurate and meet
Mission and USAID quality standards.
He/she provides recommendations on revisions, reprinting,
or other appropriate actions when necessary.
e. Maintenance of USAID/Kenya Website: 10%
Working with AID/Washington, the incumbent maintains and keeps
up portions of the USAID/Kenya external website, assuring that OPH will have
optimal impact on providing information about OPH activities, and its
programs/projects, for a wide range of audiences.
Performs other duties as assigned or required.
Required Qualifications:
Any application that does not meet the minimum requirements stated below will not be evaluated.
Only short listed applicants will be contacted. If you have not been contacted within one month from the closing date of this advertisement, please consider your application unsuccessful.
Education:
A Masters degree in journalism, communications. international
relations or development, public administration, or a related field is
required.
However, a Bachelors degree and ten (10) years of experience, in
lieu of a Masters degree, will be considered for the position.
Experience (40%):
At least five (5) years (with a Masters degree) or ten (10)
years (with a Bachelors degree) of progressively responsible experience in
public affairs, technical writing, or in related fields is required.
Such work experience in a health-related area is strongly
preferred.
Previous work experience with the USG, or with another
international development organization is highly desirable.
Post Entry Training:
Familiarization training in USAID and USC-specific press
procedures/regulations, and methods.
Orientation to performing public relations work from a
donor-Agency perspective, etc., will be provided.
Formal courses offered for USAID staff as appropriate; and
courses, seminars, conferences, and other activities in fields related to the
function and needed to maintain and update qualifications as they become
available, subject to availability of funds .
Language:
Level IV (fluent) English writing, speaking and listening
proficiency is required.
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language,
including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
is required.
Knowledge (30%):
Thorough knowledge of USO activities, projects, and programs,
and USAID/Kenya and Embassy/Nairobi press policies.
Extensive knowledge of: local electronic and print media, their
areas of interest and reliability, and deadlines;
Kenyan political, economic, social, and educational
structures;
Kenyan institutions, political parties, and key figures in the
mass media, the professions, government, cultural, educational, labor, and
business circles.
Skills and Abilities
(36%):
The incumbent must have outstanding organizational and planning
skills, and the ability to multi-task. Excellent interpersonal and
communication. skills are required.
The incumbent will have to convince people to make specific
actions a priority in their already busy work schedules.
The incumbent must be able to deal with people at all levels
within Kenya, neighboring countries, and the USG, and be able to deal with each
in a polite, professional, and informative fashion.
The incumbent must be able to explain USG rules and policies to
others, and to do so clearly.
Good working knowledge photo, video, and desktop
editing software and Microsoft Office Suite is required.
editing software and Microsoft Office Suite is required.
Knowledge of digital still and video cameras and
photography skills desired.
Position Elements:
Supervision Received:
The incumbent will be directly supervised by the Director
USAID/Kenya Office of Population and Health.
Assignments are made orally and in writing.
The work is subject to review to ensure compliance with USAID
policies and procedures.
The incumbent works under the general supervision of the
Director/Deputy Director, USAID/Kenya Office of Population and Health.
Assignments are made orally and in writing.
Most assignments occur in the normal course of work, but the
incumbent is required to maintain close contact with the Director of the OPH to
determine those activities that must be coordinated with others within, and
outside, the Office.
The supervisors provide a review of the assignment, the goals
and objectives to be achieved, and the results expected.
The incumbent will seek advice and assistance as required.
Work is reviewed in terms of results achieved
Available Guidelines:
Available guidelines include OPH, USAID/Kenya and
Embassy/Nairobi press policies, USAID Fact Sheets, the PEPFAR Country
Operational Plan, the Malaria Operational Plan, USAID Mission Orders, the
Automated Directive System (ADS), relevant reports, press-guidance cables,
notices and e-mails from USAID/Washington, and other sources and oral guidance
from the supervisor arid other senior staff members.
Exercise of Judgment:
The DOC Specialist is expected to exercise well-considered and
mature judgment.
The DOC establishes priorities independently, identifies problem
areas, determines solutions, and takes action.
The incumbent may receive direct tasking from the Office of the
Mission Director, and is expected to keep the supervisors apprised and to seek
additional guidance and assistance when needed.
Authority to Make Commitments:
The incumbent must take action and establish priorities based on
available guidelines arid professional judgment.
Guidance should be sought when needed, and the supervisors
informed of progress and status.
The incumbent may negotiate ad referendum for the supervisors.
Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts:
The incumbent should have a full range of contacts within
USAID/Kenya, at all levels.
Within USAID/Washington, contacts are primarily the Office of
Health the Kenya Desk Officer and Officer-in-Charge, and with LPA.
Within Embassy/Nairobi, contacts are with PAO and on occasion
the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) and Ambassador, as required.
Within CDC, contacts are the Country Director and DOC.
Host-government contacts vary with the nature of the event, or the information being sought, and can be at the village or municipal levels, or higher.
Host-government contacts vary with the nature of the event, or the information being sought, and can be at the village or municipal levels, or higher.
He/she maintains contact with local and international electronic
and print media, in support of OPH HIV/AIDS Team, and USAID/Kenya activities,
projects, and program implementation, through press events and information
gathering and dissemination.
Supervision Exercised:
Supervision over the work of others is not contemplated.
Time Required to Perform the Full Range of Duties:
One year.
Note:
Current USG employees must meet the “time-in-grade” requirement of 52 weeks in the previous lower grade to qualify for the position at the level in this vacancy announcement or be at the same grade for which the position is being recruited.
Applicants who meet
the job qualification requirements but not the “time-in-grade” requirement may
be considered for the position but will have to abide by the in-grade
requirement prior to being considered for the next higher grade.
In addition the
employee must have received a Personnel Evaluation Report (PER) during the most
recent rating period which clearly indicated the employee is ready and capable
of assuming a more responsible position.
How to Apply:
Current USO employees should submit a memo explaining their qualifications against our requirements, updated resume/curriculum vitae, copies of all relevant academic certificates, and the most recent Performance Evaluation Report (PER) to the Human Resources Office stating their interest
External applicants should submit an application letter outlining their qualification for the position, updated resume/curriculum vitae, and copies of all relevant academic certificates to the Human Resources Office.
Please note that this position has also been advertised in the local Daily Nation and The Standard newspapers and athttp://kenya.usaid.go/employment-opportunities.
Note: Incomplete application packages will not be considered.
All applications must reach the USAID Human Resources Office, Ground Floor, by COB June 13, 2012 at the following address:www.myjobsinkenya/usaid
or
The Human Resources Office
USAID, P.O. Box 629, Village Market 00621, Nairobi, Kenya
Re: DOC Specialist, OPH/USAID/Kenya