Communications Advisor

Overview

Summary Statement

Job Location: Washington, DC

Telework Eligible: Yes, at least 3 days per week in-person reporting at Washington, DC office.

Remote Eligible: No

Credence Management Solutions employs hard-working, passionate individuals who bring innovation, accountability, and a growth mindset to the many missions we support across the US Federal Government. Employee empowerment is part of the fabric of our corporate culture through which we emphasize opportunity, recognition, reward, and retention. At Credence, we follow the principles of servant leadership and believe that serving and supporting others is critical to both our individual and collective achievements. We have only one measure of success. Yours.

We are hiring for positions under the Global Health Training, Advisory, Support Contract (GHTASC) in support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Global Health (GH). These roles deliver institutional support services in a wide range of technical areas at the junior, mid-, senior, and expert levels.

We are a diverse, enthusiastic family of subject matter experts, business professionals, and practitioners who all share a common goal of providing excellent services to our government customers. If you want to work in a dynamic and fast-growing environment with highly motivated colleagues, then Credence is the right place for you!

Credence Management Solutions is seeking a Communications Advisor. See below for more information on this exciting opportunity and apply to join Credence today!

Position Summary

The U.S. Government (USG) has made the fight against HIV a top priority, not only for humanitarian reasons, but because the HIV crisis threatens the prosperity, stability and development of nations around the world. USAID has been, and continues to be, at the forefront of the USG response in the fight against the HIV pandemic, funding over $25 billion in activities since the inception of its international HIV program in 1986, with programs in nearly 100 countries worldwide. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), launched in 2003, is the largest commitment ever by any nation for an international health initiative dedicated to a single disease. The Global Health Bureau's Office of HIV/AIDS (GH/OHA) is the center of HIV technical leadership for USAID and has primary responsibility for the Agency's HIV program. The Strategic Coordination and Communication (SCC) Division within OHA.

Salary Range

Full salary range for this position is $94,900 to $147,940 per year, with the starting salary determined based on candidate's knowledge, skills, experience, as well as budget availability.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the duties listed below

The Communications Advisor is an integral part of OHA's Communications Team, working with the OHA Communications Branch Chief, Communications Advisor, and the Program Analyst. The work of this position is essential to ensure consistent information coming from the OHA. The Advisor will be responsible for coordinating and implementing the Office's communications strategy and will receive day-to-day guidance from the Communications Branch Chief as his/her Point of Contact (POC). The Advisor must possess strong oral and written communications skills and the ability to read, analyze, and interpret general Agency and technical documents, and the ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, technical staff, leadership, and implementing partners is required. Strong knowledge and expertise of plain language is also required.

Internal & External Communications:

• Lead drafting, reviewing, and clearance process for internal and external communications materials (Executive Messages, Press releases, Agency Notices, articles, external meeting briefers, etc.) for the OHA Director, GH senior management, and Agency Administrator before release.
• Supporting the Communications Branch Chief, Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs, and other US Government communications counterparts to share information, cross-promote and collaborate on strategic efforts, including OHA briefings on the Hill (i.e, develop talking points and briefing materials, manage scheduling of briefings, record keeping, and follow up taskers, etc).

Website:

• Coordinate online communications activities for OHA, including day-to-day web maintenance resulting from content updates in order to promote HIV/AIDS portfolio and impact, announcements and key results.
• Proactively identify enhanced web architecture to ensure a website that is responsive to the needs of users, as well as to align with the newest trends in web design (from a content perspective). Coordinate web maintenance calendar, interfacing directly with senior level technical experts, to ensure that web content is up-to-date and consistently provides accurate information.
• Source content for OHA's blog page by proactively identifying content opportunities and liaising with OHA technical staff and implementing partners to ensure content creation and timely delivery.
• Identify areas of cross-amplification with Bureau for Global Health and USAID web pages, particularly related to success stories and other relevant content.

Social media:

• Help oversee OHA's social media portfolio. Create and update annual strategic social media plan to align with OHA's changing priorities with the primary objectives of increasing interactions with audiences and amplifying the HIV/AIDS portfolio.
• Build relationships with implementing partners to share and promote success stories and other information, as appropriate.
• Ensure integration of social media best practices into each social media post/interaction, including the usage of hashtags, pithy language and correlating graphics.
• Create and utilize social media factoids, as permitted by the technology available. Serve as key social media expert and counsel to the Office of HIV/AIDS.
• Establish and maintain relationships with Bureau for Global Health and USAID social media teams to enhance USAID channels' cross-amplification of OHA content.

Other:

• Provide guidance on branding and marking. Provide editorial and creation support on newsletters, blogs, fact sheets, taskers and other collateral material.
• Coordinate implementation of communications activities around major events or observances, conferences, etc.
• Attend Bureau and Agency communications meetings, serving as a key communications subject matter expert and collaborating with Bureau-wide initiatives.
• Support Communications team in cultivating relationships with external partners, Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs, and other US Government communications counterparts to share information, cross-promote and collaborate on strategic efforts.
• Keep abreast of HIV programming literature and latest developments in the fields of public affairs. Participate in interagency and intra-agency working groups as appropriate to SOW.
• Travel to USAID Missions to provide support on communications around USAID/PEPFAR programming and collect information to showcase USG impact in HIV/AIDS investments.
• Participate in professional continuing education, skills training and professional meetings to enhance relevant technical skills and career development.
• Complete and execute an Individual Learning and Training Plan and Annual Work Plan.

Education, Requirements and Qualifications

• Master's degree with 6 years of relevant experience, bachelor's degree with 8 years of relevant experience, associate's degree and 10 years of relevant experience, or High School graduate and 12 years of relevant experience in international health, strategic communications or public affairs, international development, or social science preferred;
• US citizenship or US permanent residency with the ability to obtain and maintain facility access required.
• At least 5 years of professional experience with two or more public health technical disciplines (such as, Health Communications, HIV/AIDS, Maternal & Child Health, Nutrition, and Infectious Disease, etc.); job duties/responsibilities generally related to position description requirements preferred.
• Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible experience in public policy and communication, preferably working in a global health arena, with or without experience in an international or resource challenged setting preferred.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including editing. Graphic design skills are a plus, but not required.
• General knowledge and interest in global health and development issues, particularly in HIV/AIDS, as well as interest in working in the public sector. Demonstrated ability in communications program implementation and execution.
• Ability to handle several tasks simultaneously, work quickly to meet competing deadlines, develop a solid understanding of Agency policy and guidelines, incorporate practices and procedures and develop a thorough understanding of the PEPFAR goals and initiatives.
• Proven record of excellent organizational, management and interpersonal skills. Ability and willingness to navigate within a large, complex federal agency to meet goals. Strong writing and editing skills.
• Ability to travel internationally, approximately 20%.
• Fluency in a relevant foreign language is preferred.

Competencies/Performance Criterion

• Innovation: Takes initiative to propose new ideas/approaches and demonstrates ability to find new and better ways to accomplish work
• Client Service: Communicates with clients, handling any issues politely and efficiently; understands and is available to clients; maintains pleasant and professional image.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of work responsibilities and holds high standards. Keeps commitments and takes appropriate actions to ensure obligations are met. Pursues efficiency and effectiveness and adheres to organization policies and procedures.
• Interpersonal Skills: Works in cooperation with others and communicates effectively with co-workers, supervisors, subordinates, clients, and other outside contacts.
• Continual Learning: Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues professional development that is aligned with organizational role, contribution, and goals; proactively shares knowledge with others to foster learning across the organization.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

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