The U.S. Mission to Nigeria comprises of the Embassy in Abuja, FCT, and the Consulate General in Lagos. U.S. Consulate General Lagos is the Mission’s representative to the Nigerian people in the southern region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: USAID Senior Development Outreach and Communications Specialist

Announcement Number: Abuja-2023-016
Location: Abuja
Hiring Agency: Embassy Abuja
Series/Grade: LE – 0405 12
Promotion Potential: LE-12
Work Schedule: Full-time – 40 hours per week

Overview

• Hiring Path: Open to the public
• Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:
  • For definitions use URL www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/glossary
  • Employees of Mission – Nigerian Citizens and Permanent Residents only
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust – Background Investigation
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Appointment Type Details: Five (5) years renewable, estimated to start o/a June 2023.
• Marketing Statement:
  • USAID is an independent Federal Government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., USAID fosters transformational development around the world.
  • Our work supports economic growth and trade; agriculture and the environment; education and training; democracy and governance; global health; global partnerships and humanitarian assistance.
  • We operate in the following regions of the world: Afghanistan and Pakistan, Africa (all of Africa), Asia, Europe and Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East.

Summary

• The USAID Senior Development Outreach Communication Specialist (S/DOC) position is in the Program Office (PRO) and reports to the Senior Communications Foreign Service (FS) Officer (FS-01) (SCO).
• S/he is responsible for ensuring the implementation of USAID Nigeria’s strategic communication plan, advising, and supporting all outreach and communication for the USAID/Nigeria program.
• The work schedule for this position is: Full Time (40 hours per week)
• Supervisory Position: No
• Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No Occasional Travel
• Travel Required: The contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the United States, or to other Missions abroad, to participate in the “Foreign Service National” Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.

Duties
Strategic Planning – 25%:

• Nigeria is the continent’s most populous country, largest economy, and one of the U.S. government’s top priorities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• The USAID/Nigeria program is one of the Agency’s largest, most complex bilateral programs and its highly consequential programming attracts significant Congressional attention.
• The Mission promotes stability in Nigeria through approximately $800 million in annual support to broaden inclusive growth, promote a healthier and more educated population, and strengthen good governance. USAID’s Mission to Nigeria also implements humanitarian assistance in partnership with the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.
• The Mission is comprised of six technical and four support offices and implements programs in support of the Global Food Security Act, Electrify Africa Act, the President’s Malaria Initiative, PEPFAR, and the Global Health Initiative. The S/DOC serves as a primary advisory to the Mission and PRO and is the principal FSN advisor on overall policies and procedures for USAID communications and outreach.
• The S/DOC develops and operationalizes the mission’s communication strategy. The S/DOC is responsible for clarifying roles and responsibilities within USAID and with other U.S. Embassy Nigeria sections and IPs, on procedures such as templates for various communication tools, standards for creating and finalizing DOC materials, and guidelines for planning and managing events.
• The S/DOC leads in developing annual updates to the USAID/Nigeria communications strategy, identifying objectives, messages, audiences, products, and budgets, and developing plans in coordination with USAID managers and technical teams consistent with the USAID development strategy and the overall U.S. Embassy Nigeria communications strategy.
• The S/DOC is primarily responsible for collecting, investigating, managing, and distributing information associated with the USAID foreign assistance program in Nigeria and serves as a primary point of contact and liaison for information requests

Communications Management – 30%:

• The S/DOC drafts public information products, ensuring that Mission communication products contain appropriate and consistent messages that support the approved USAID communications strategy.
• S/he provides quality control on all print and electronic public information materials such as the external website, organizational brochures and information packets, and briefing books produced by public relations contractors and other USAID staff.
• The incumbent collaborates closely with the SCO, Supervisory and Deputy Program Officers, Mission and Deputy Mission Directors, USAID Office Team Leaders, and implementing partners (IPs).
• In addition, the S/DOC advises and collaborates across the interagency, including with the Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Nigeria Public Affairs Section (PAS) in Abuja and Lagos to implement the overall Mission communications strategy.
• The S/DOC also serves as a principal liaison with the USAID/Washington Bureau of Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA).

Branding, Marking, and Publicity Materials – 25%:

• The S/DOC is responsible for the production of high-quality print and electronic communications products that translate complex messages and technical information into understandable, meaningful messages that resonate with a variety of audiences, both host-country and American.
• Working under the direction of the SCO, the S/DOC drafts or generates drafts of published and website materials, including information brochures, special publications, and materials for the external Nigeria page on the Agency-wide website.
• The S/DOC will serve as the principal point of contact for Agency branding and marking (B&M) strategies within USAID/Nigeria and its partners; will review B&M strategies for new activities; communicate priorities and expectations to new partners; and provide guidance on B&M inquires.
• As designated by the SCO, the S/DOC may also be responsible for overseeing or developing regular and specialized information materials for Washington opinion leaders and audiences, in coordination with the Regional Bureau and LPA colleagues.
• S/he will also travel to USAID program/project/activity sites throughout the country and the region to interview beneficiaries and photograph programs/projects/activities for the USAID website and for news press releases.
• S/he will serve as the USAID/Nigeria alternate Point of Contact for Agency Branding Graphic Standards, within USAID/Nigeria and among partners

Qualifications and Evaluations
Requirements:

• Physical Demands:  The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

Education Requirements:

• A Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, Public Relations, Communications, English, or a related field is required.

Evaluations:

• Applicants who clearly meet the minimum Education, Experience and basic eligibility requirement will be further evaluated based on scoring of the Evaluation Factors listed below. The highest-ranking applicants may be selected for an interview.

Evaluation Factors:

• Knowledge – 15 points
• Skills and Abilities – 10 points
• Language Skills – 5 points
• Interview Performance – 70 points

Total Possible Points: 100 points:

• Applications that do not meet the required minimum qualifications will not be scored. Candidates meeting the required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application. USAID reserves the right to conduct interviews with the top ranked short-listed candidates. If the interview is conducted, the interview will be one of the determining factors in the final selection.

Usaid Is an Equal Opportunity Employer

• All qualified candidates will be considered regardless of age, race, color, sex, creed, national origin, lawful political affiliation, non-disqualifying handicap, marital status, sexual orientation, affiliation with an employee organization, or other non-merit factor. Management may consider the following when determining successful candidacy: nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status.

Qualifications
Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations, or journalism, in an English-language work environment, is required.
• This experience should provide assurance that the S/DOC is skilled in disseminating information to a variety of target audiences. At least one year of supervisory experience is required.

Job Knowledge:

•  The S/DOC must have a thorough knowledge of the principles, methods, practices, and techniques of communication, and skill in applying such knowledge to develop written and video information materials for dissemination through a variety of media, to determine and effectively use the most appropriate means for transmitting information, and to evaluate the effectiveness of plans developed to communicate with targeted audiences.
• This includes an understanding of the use of written communication in developing news releases, feature stories, background statements, fact sheets, media spots, and scripts that effectively transmit information about complex programs/projects/activities and functions.
• The work requires an excellent knowledge of English grammar and U.S. word usage and spelling; a good knowledge of graphic design, printing, and publishing processes, and the ability to oversee printers and/or publishers; good knowledge of social media outlets; a general understanding of procurement processes; and a broad understanding of issues related to international development. A solid understanding of social media platforms and website design is desired.

Skills:

• Work requires skill in developing and maintaining effective relationships with professional colleagues, with staff of IPs, media representatives, and the public affairs personnel of organized groups, and in establishing and enhancing communication between USAID and its audiences’ using media and groups.
• In addition, skill in making oral presentations designed to seek cooperation of specialized groups and media in providing fuller coverage to USAID/Nigeria programs/projects/activities, and to encourage open communication between USAID/Nigeria and its audiences is required.
• The incumbent must also have strong analytical skills to participate in analyzing the effectiveness of communication plans once implemented and developing recommendations to change the nature of the USAID/Nigeria public affairs program.
• The work requires excellent oral and written communications skills, including news and technical writing, editing, and research skills; strong organizational and project management skills, that may be applied within a multicultural work environment; and the ability to work independently, taking initiative once guidance is provided, and managing several activities simultaneously and under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Applicants may be asked to take written test(s) to demonstrate communication skills.
• The S/DOC must have strong interpersonal skills. The ability to establish and maintain collegial relations with press and media contacts, as well as Embassy and IP counterparts, and to exercise sound judgment in representing the USG is demanded, along with the ability to manage interactions with high-level dignitaries and officials with maturity and confidence.
• The ability to travel throughout the host country, to organize and implement outreach events and visit project sites, is a requirement of the position.
• The ability to travel throughout Nigeria to organize and implement outreach events and visit project sites is a requirement of the position.
• Thorough knowledge in MS office and Google Suite applications, such as Word and PowerPoint, and other data management skills is required. In addition, a basic familiarity with Web design, Dream works Acrobat, and other web site design software is highly desired. The work also requires excellent photography skills.

Language:

• Level IV fluency in English language is required. A good working knowledge of one or more Nigerian languages (Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo) is required

Benefits
Agency Benefits:

• As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

Health Insurance:

• Annual Salary Increase (if applicable)
• Annual and Sick leave
• Annual Bonus

Allowances (as applicable):

• Transportation Allowance
• Meal Allowance
• Miscellaneous Allowance
• Housing Allowance

Salary
NGN 20,039,818 annually

Application Closing Date
17th February, 2023.