Organization: US Agency for International Development
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 07 Oct 2015
Position Title: Press and Public Outreach Officer
Solicitation Number: SOL-OFDA-15-000084
Salary Level: GS-13 Equivalent: $90,823 – $118,069
Issuance Date: September 16, 2015
Closing Date: October 7, 2015
Closing Time: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time
Dear Prospective Applicants:
The United States Government (USG), represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), is seeking applications from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal services as a Press and Public Outreach Officer a United States Personal Services Contract (USPSC), as described in the attached solicitation.
Submittals must be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Applicants interested in applying for this position MUST submit the following materials:
- Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your application, your resume must include:
(a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.
(b) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.
(c) Names and contact information (phone/email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). Current and/or previous supervisors may be contacted for a reference.
(d) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments.
(e) U.S. Citizenship
Your resume should contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information should be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration.
- Supplemental document specifically addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) shown in the solicitation. 3. USPSC Application form AID 302-3. Applicants are required to complete and sign the form.
Additional documents submitted will not be accepted.Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. OFDA reserves the right to select additional candidates if vacancies become available during future phases of the selection process.
Applicants can expect to receive a confirmation email when application materials have been received. Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications. Your complete resume and the supplemental document addressing the QRFs must be emailed to:
OFDA Recruitment Team
E-Mail Address: recruiter@ofda.gov
Website: www.OFDAjobs.net
Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to OFDA Recruitment Team via the information provided above.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Press and Outreach Officer will work closely with other members of the Communications Team to develop and implement strategies to increase awareness and appreciation for OFDA and partner activities. The Press and Outreach Officer will report to the Strategic Communications Team Leader but work closely with other teams within HPGE, including the Information Support Unit (ISU) and with the Regional Disaster Response Divisions of OFDA. Specific responsibilities include:
Emergency and Regional Response
· Work closely with designated regional teams to produce talking points, press releases, and other written materials for internal and external messaging.
· Develop ways to effectively convey or tailor messages in a clear, concise manner, avoiding jargon and technical language.
· Provide editorial input for materials generated by the Communications Team and OFDA staff.
· Work with regional teams to generate success stories and other publications to communicate OFDA’s impact, expertise, and value.
· Coordinate closely with USAID’s Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA), USAID regional bureaus, and USG interagency to ensure communications efforts are responsive to current Agency-wide priorities and key messaging strategies.
· During emergencies, provide support to OFDA staff and regional teams, generating talking points and press releases, fielding media requests, and engaging in proactive press outreach.
· Serve on RMT, if activated, to provide operational communications support to teams in the field. Long rotations on the RMT may be required.
· Deploy with OFDA DARTs to the field if requested by the Division Director.
· Serve as the OFDA after-hours duty officer on a rotational basis, for approximately one week every six months.
Online Outreach Strategy Development
- Identify, develop, and maintain an online outreach strategy that is in line with OFDA’s communications goals.
- Work closely with other Communications Team members, ISU, and OFDA website development team to ensure OFDA’s web pages, social media presence, and other online content (including situation reports, alerts, and fact sheets) are up-to-date.
- Provide editorial input and guidance for online materials generated by the Communications Team.
- Coordinate closely with LPA and USAID Social Media Team to ensure OFDA’s online messaging is aligned with Agency priorities.
Strategic Communications
· Work with Communications Team to implement OFDA’s strategic communications plan; track and determine impact of targeted strategies.
· Work with Communications Team to adapt communications strategies to reflect changing priorities and evolving needs of OFDA.
· Identify key outreach opportunities to advance strategic OFDA’s messages.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
(Determines basic eligibility for the position. Applicants who do not meet all of the education and experience factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.)
Bachelor"s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including, but not limited to, communications, public outreach, journalism, international relations, political science, or a related field), and minimum seven (7) years of relevant work experience. Two (2) years of this experience must be working directly on international humanitarian and disaster relief issues, working with USG agencies or humanitarian aid agencies and strategic messaging. Significant experience working on communications issues, with excellent verbal and written communication skills required.
OR
Master’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including, but not limited to, communications, public outreach, journalism, international relations, political science, or a related field), and five (5) years of relevant work experience. Two (2) years of this experience must be working directly on international humanitarian and disaster relief issues, working with USG agencies or humanitarian aid agencies and strategic messaging. Significant experience working on communications issues, with excellent verbal and written communication skills required.
SELECTION FACTORS
(Determines basic eligibility for the position. Applicants who do not meet all of the selection factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.)
· Applicant is a U.S. Citizen.
· Complete resume submitted. See cover page for resume requirements. Experience that cannot be quantified will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.
· USPSC Application form AID 302-3. Applicants are required to complete and sign the form.
· Supplemental document specifically addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) submitted.
· Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top Secret level clearance.
· Ability to obtain a Department of State medical clearance.
· Satisfactory verification of academic credentials.
QUALITY RANKING FACTORS (QRFs)
(Used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified applicants in comparison to other applicants. The factors are listed in priority order from highest to least.)
QRF #1 Demonstrated experience and ability to work with press in challenging environments and with challenging topics;
QRF #2 Demonstrated experience with media working on various crises;
QRF #3 Demonstrated ability to produce clear and concise communications products in a variety of media forms;
QRF #4 Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and under tight deadlines (provide examples); and
QRF #5 Demonstrated experience working on humanitarian and/or international issues.
BASIS OF RATING:Applicants who meet the Education/Experience requirements and Selection Factors will be further evaluated based on scoring of the QRF responses. Those applicants determined to be competitively ranked may also be evaluated on interview performance and satisfactory professional reference checks.
Applicants are required to address each of the QRFs in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, and/or education they have received as it pertains to each factor. Be sure to include your name and the announcement number at the top of each additional page. Failure to address the selection factors and/or Quality Ranking Factors may result in not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, and/or training.
The most qualified candidates may be interviewed and required to provide a writing sample. OFDA will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for applicants being considered for selection. Note: Please be advised that references may be obtained independently from other sources in addition to the ones provided by an applicant. OFDA reserves the right to select additional candidates if vacancies become available during future phase of the selection process.
The Applicant Rating System is as Follows:
QRFs have been assigned the following points:
QRF #1 – 8 points
QRF #2 – 8 points
QRF #3 – 8 points
QRF #4 – 3 points
QRF #5 – 3 points
Interview Performance Round 1 – 10 points
Interview Performance Round 2 – 25 points
Writing Test – 20 points
Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – 15 points
Total Possible Points: 100
How to apply:
APPLYING:
Applications must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in the cover letter.
Qualified individuals are required to submit:
****1.****Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your application, your resume must include:
(a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Dates (month/year) and locations for all field experience must also be detailed. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.
(b) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.
(c) Names and contact information (phone/email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). Current and/or previous supervisors may be contacted for a reference.
(d) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments.
(e) U.S. Citizenship
Your resume should contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information should be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration.
****2.****Supplemental document specifically addressing the QRFs shown in the solicitation.
****3.****USPSC Application form AID 302-3. Applicants are required to complete and sign the form.
Additional documents submitted will not be accepted.
By submitting your application materials, you certify that all of the information on and attached to the application is true, correct, complete, and made in good faith. You agree to allow all information on and attached to the application to be investigated. False or fraudulent information on or attached to your application may result in you being eliminated from consideration for this position, or being terminated after award, and may be punishable by fine or imprisonment.
To ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your application, and as the subject line in any email.
DOCUMENT SUBMITTALS
Via email: recruiter@ofda.gov
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