Vacant Position advertisement: USAID/Mali United States Personal Services Contract Resident Hire Senior Development and Outreach Coordinator 

REF No.:    72068819R10012 (must inserted in the subject line of the email)

GRADE LEVEL:   USPSC GS-13

The Senior DOC will manage the full range of public information and outreach activities in support of USAID/Mali’s programs and objectives, targeting information to specific audiences in both Mali and the US, in accordance with the Mission’s public strategy and evolving circumstances.

Specific duties include but are not limited to the following: 

Supervisory and Coordination (30%)

• Lead the Mission’s DOC team to ensure overall quality and coherence of the team’s communications and outreach products and initiatives.
• Lead the development and implementation of the Mission’s communications strategy and outreach plan.
• Represent the Mission at the senior level in all matters pertaining to public affairs and outreach activities with other branches of the USG, the Government of Mali, implementing partners, other donor nations, the UN, World Bank and other donors and stakeholders.
• Train USAID/Mali’s technical staffs in support of their public speaking and media outreach roles. Oversee the integration of communications in the project design and implementation processes.
• Serve as the senior advisor to Mission management regarding all public information, media relations, and outreach matters.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of all USAID/Mali activities and processes, as well as a keen awareness of political and policy issues.
• Advise USAID staff and implementing partners on development appropriate public information programs and initiatives.
• Serve as a resident expert of USAID branding and style guidelines, ensuring regulations are followed by recommending revisions and appropriate application as outlines in ADS 320 and the Agency’s Graphic Standards Manual.
• Oversee and provide regular trainings to USAID staff and implementing partners on the appropriate use of branding and marking; work closely with C/AORs to ensure adherence to branding in the field; and, seek guidance from LPA on any disputes or waiver requests.
• Coordinate with PAO, other USG agencies, and USAID implementing partners to achieve maximum exposure and understanding of U.S. development and humanitarian assistance efforts and initiatives in Mali, as defined by the Chief of Mission and USAID Mission Director.
• Establish and maintain contacts with donor representatives, implementing partners, and other USG agencies to collect information for reports.

Public Information and Publicity Materials (30%)

• Coordinate information dissemination, media outreach, and public events within the Mission; with the Mission’s offices, units and technical staff.
• Oversee the drafting, editing, and dissemination of timely and accurate information, through fact sheets, press releases, newsletters, videos, brochures, presentations, responses for requests for information, and all other public information materials relating to USAID/Mali’s activities. These must be prepared in clear, concise English and or French, prepared with both the media and general audiences in mind.
• Oversee the preparation of a weekly summary of events, and submissions for USAID Frontlines and other USAID and State Department information platforms including the Administrator’s Blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other new or emerging social media sites.
• Work with Technical Teams (i.e. Health, Economic Growth, Education and Democracy and Governance) to develop and implement communication strategies for their respective portfolios.
• Oversee the use of social media platforms as an engagement tool with a focus on digital advocacy and outreach; a social media strategy will be development to complement the broader communications plan.
• The DOC will manage the preparation and maintenance of an updated standard information package on the USAID program in Mali for briefings and for distribution to the public and media; and for USAID/W, LPA, State Department, Congress, etc.; program briefing papers, project status reports, maps, photos, information about other donors, and general information about Mali.
• S/He oversees the maintenance of the Mission’s web materials to ensure they are accurate and up-to-date.

 Media and Public Relations (20%)

• Promote separate, pro-active, targeted, information and media outreach activities. These activities are specifically designed to push accurate information about USAID programs deep into local, regional and national markets, through the selective use of radio, television, newspapers, public service announcements, and other communications methods.
• Oversee all international and local media relations. Work closely with PAO on press relations and maintain contacts with high-level Western and local journalists from all media outlets.
• Advise and work with Embassy PAO to expand opportunities to keep media abreast of USAID/Mali programs, through TV, radio and other media. This may include arranging interviews, briefings, media tours of USAID projects, etc.
• In collaboration with PAO, advise the Mission Director and USAID staff on press and media relations. Ensure a targeted, coherent, and consistent message from all USAID staff and implementing partners.
• Supervise the monitoring of the local and international press coverage, awareness, and attitudes concerning USAID programs and monitor effectiveness of the communications strategy. Provide feedback to inform ongoing activities and future programming.
• As directed by the Mission Director, Deputy Director and in collaboration with PAO, respond to inquiries from the general public, media, and other sources about USAID programs and projects.

 Publicity Events (20%)

• Organize and coordinate press events for USAID projects in conjunction with the PAO, USAID Mission Director and Deputy Director, technical teams, and implementing partners. This includes conferences, openings, ribbon-cuttings, and other ceremonies.  Write press releases, speeches, and talking points; organize background briefings for media; compile and disseminate press packets; deal with protocol issues, site selection, staging, and logistical issues; identify and schedule speakers; liaise with US and local government officials; write or edit Briefing Checklists (BCLs). Scene setters, briefing materials and memorandums to the Ambassador or his/her deputies with participation in events is warranted; write or edit BCLs and scene setters for USAID’s Front Office when participation in events is warranted; provide on-site coordination of media.  Follow up with media to ensure coverage of public events.  Manage the posting of all event information and materials to the Mission website.
• Review and edit press releases, speeches, and talking points drafted by implementing partners for USAID events; review and edit BCLs and scene setters drafted by implementing partners for USAID events.
• Submit all press releases and interview requests – in-house and those drafted by implementing partners – to PAO (and LPA, when appropriate) for review and approval.
• Oversee the maintenance of a calendar of USAID program events and its distribution within USAID/Mali, and to Embassy and USAID/W stakeholders.
• Photograph and/or shoot videos of USAID events for the USAID and Embassy websites for USAID/Mali’s archives.
• Serve as the Mission’s primary point of contact for publicity events and site visits by official visitors from the US Embassy, USAID/W, Congress, and other USG agencies or entities. Coordinate VIP site visits as necessary.  Coordinate with the Embassy on schedules and logistics.  Lead the preparation of briefing materials, scene setters, and other information products and processes to support these visits.  Maintain a diverse list of potential site visit locations appropriate for a variety for CODEL, STAFFDEL, and other high-level visitors to USAID/Mali, coordinating closely with partners in advance.
• Perform other duties/activities that the US Ambassador, USAID Mission Director and Deputy Director, USAID/W and circumstances may dictate.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants MUST meet the minimum qualifications below:

Applicants meeting the required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and obtained through reference checks. USAID Mali reserves the right to conduct interviews with the most highly ranked applicants and make the interview a deciding factor in selection:

• Local U.S. citizens (residing Mali at the time of hire as a PSC)
• It is preferred, that the candidate holds a Master’s degree with significant coursework in relevant fields. A Bachelor’s Degree is required. Relevant fields include – but are not limited to – journalism, communications, public relations or affairs, international relations, international development, public administration, development/area studies, and social studies.
• At least eight to 10 years’ experience in journalism, public affairs, communication, outreach, and/or international relations is required. The candidate must have at least five years’ relevant experience in a developing country.
• Ability and skills requirements are per the below:
• Demonstrated ability to produce high quality video and audio productions for public consumption through television and radio.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound, independent, professional judgment.
• Excellent organizational and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a demonstrated ability to translate highly technical material into easy to understand narrative.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to influence relationships positively
• Superior project management skills and the ability to take initiative working with the direction of management; must be able to take ownership of projects, creatively problem solve and see through to completion
• Strong and demonstrated knowledge of the principles and practices of public relations, media relations, and journalistic writing and reporting techniques.
• Knowledge of technical aspects involved in the production of different public outreach activities, such as production of radio and television programs.
• Maintain superior levels of professionalism while working under pressure in a fast-paced and sometimes difficult environment.
• Willingness to assume duties and responsibilities in all communications areas, as needed.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Applications (i.e. Google Docs, Google Spreadsheets, etc.).
• Familiarity using a digital camera and videotaping equipment.
• Communication and Language requirements are per the below:
• The candidate must be fluent in both spoken and written English and French at a level IV. 

Full Statement of duties and the qualification requirements are available on https://www.usaid.gov/mali/work-with-us/careers   or https://ml.usembassy.gov/embassy/jobs/

EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The Contracting Officer (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.

Only short listed candidates will be contacted, and requested to provide educational documents such as degrees, diplomas, certificates and other pertinent documents as needed. Failure to provide the required documentation will result in the rejection of their application from further consideration.

Candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on the following selection criteria: 

Technical Knowledge/Work Experience (40 points)

• At least eight to ten years’ experience in related fields, such as public relations, journalism, communications, outreach and/or international development.
• Experience supervising staff and work flows, working as a team member, and providing leadership in the areas of his/her competencies.
• Demonstrated success in development and disseminating information to a variety of target audiences.
• Demonstrated success in designing and implementing effective public relations/communications campaigns targeted at specific audiences as well as the general public.
• Demonstrated ability to craft information messages in various media formats (press releases, web sites, stories, etc.) targeting a variety of audiences.
• Evidence of broad understanding of issues related to international development.
• Extensive writing and editing experience.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain collegial relations with press and media contacts and exercise sound judgment in representing the USG while discussing program activities with the press and media.
• Broad operational planning experience, analytical ability, and the capacity to convert planning concepts into firm plans to meet a variety of contingencies.
• Previous work experience with the USG or another international development organization in an overseas context is highly desirable.

Communication Skills/Group Dynamics (30 points)

Applicants must provide evidence and examples of:

• Effective team leadership skills and the ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team.
• Ability to make cogent arguments clearly and succinctly in written and oral presentations.
• Initiative and proactive engagement with colleagues to complete assigned tasks in accordance with agreed timetables.
• Ability to work independently, managing several activities at once, and to work under pressure to meet very short deadlines.
• Evidence of outstanding coordination and organizational skills.

Writing Skills (20 points)

Applicants must provide at least two writing samples with their application.  The samples should be 350 to 1,500 works (preferably 750-1,500 words).  They can be excerpts from larger articles or papers, and do not have to concern development or be written specifically for this solicitation.  The samples should demonstrate the applicant’s ability to clearly and lucidly communicate complex ideas to the public.  The samples must be by the applicant, co-written articles are not accepted.

Education and Training (10 points)

• A Master’s degree is preferred by not required, preferably in journalism, communications, international relations, international development, public administration, development/area studies, social studies or a related field. An undergraduate degree in similar disciplines with additional work experience.
• Training in one or more of the following areas: development outreach and communications, writing, journalism, web site content management, presentation skills, or other areas that are relevant to the detailed duties and responsibilities outlined in Section III of the solicitation.
• Extensive experience with the Microsoft Office and Google Application suites. Familiarity with Adobe Suite, particularly using Adobe Photoshop desired but not required.  Experience with Social Media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and RSS feeds.

Maximum Points Available: 100

SUBMITTING AN OFFER: Interested applicants must submit:

1. Her/his resume or most current curriculum vitae (CV) – The CV/resume must contain sufficient relevant information to evaluate the application in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria; Written statements that addresses how the applicant meets the required qualifications; any other documents (certificates, degrees, diplomas, etc.).
2. Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals,” available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms.
3. Applications must be received by the closing date and time specified in this solicitation 72068819R00012 to USAID/Mali PSC applications mail Box at bamakoaidmalipsc@usaid.gov
4. Offeror submissions must clearly reference the number of this Solicitation to ensure the offer is for the position in this Solicitation.
5. Three (3) professional references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and email

USAID/Mali reserves the right to obtain from previous employers relevant information concerning the applicant’s past performance and may consider such information in its final decision.

The U.S. Agency Forms (available at Federal Offices or at the USAID/State websites)  https://www.usaid.gov/forms or www.fedforms.gov or http://fillform.gsa.gov)

CLOSING DATE FOR THIS POSITION IS:  October 11, 2019 at 5:00pm