The United States Embassy – The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of
the Somalia Unit has an opening for the position of Information
Specialist.
- The
incumbent serves as the lead Locally Engaged Staff advisor to the Public
Affairs Officer (PAO), the Special Representative for Somalia, the Deputy
Special Representative and other agency and section heads on issues
concerning Somali media.
- Monitors
local and significant Diaspora Somali media, flagging and providing
English language summaries for stories of interest.
- Prepares
media reaction reporting as needed and a weekly media report for the
Somalia Unit on local news items of significance.
- Places
Washington and PAS materials in local media.
- Works
with Somalia media to ensure accurate, positive, and frequent coverage of
Somalia events, initiatives, and USG foreign policy priorities.
- Cultivates,
develops, and maintains senior-level contacts at the TFG Ministry of
Information as well as the Ministries of Information of regional
administrations and with government and private media entities, and
professional associations.
- Assists
the PAO in organizing and coordinating media workshops, lectures, and
conferences to promote Mission goals and build local media’s professional
capacities.
- Assists
in planning and implementing major information program events.
- Acts
as press site officer for VIP and embassy personnel visits.
- Serves
as the Somalia Unit’s Virtual Presence Post webmaster and, in coordination
with the PAO, develops and implements a strategy for social media
engagement.
- Submits
Mission Activity Tracker (MAT) entries for all information programs and
assists with the media portions of MAT entries as needed.
- Translates/transcribes
from English to Somali, Somali to English as needed.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s
degree in journalism, communications, marketing, liberal arts, political
science or economics is required. At least five years of progressively
responsible experience in communications, media, or policy analyst
environment is required.
- Level
IV English and Level IV Somali ability is required.
- Must
have excellent general knowledge of the host country institutions,
history, and key figures, particularly in the mass media.
- Must
be able to develop and maintain effective working level contacts among
senior and mid-level government officials, media owners/publishers,
editors, broadcast managers, news directors, and working journalists.
- Ability
to offer oral translation from Somali to English. Must be computer literate,
with experience in Microsoft Office applications, face book and twitter.
Those fulfilling the requirements of the position should submit
on line application to the following link: http://americanembassy.myjobsinkenya.com before May 2, 2012.