Strategic Communications Director | USAID

Agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) | Strategic Communications Director | USAID
Organization: Bureau for Africa, Office of Sustainable Development, Prosper Africa Executive Secretariat (AFR/SD/PAES)
Location of Position: Washington, DC
Official Position Title: Program Officer, Backstop 02, FSL-0343-01
Functional Title: Strategic Communications Director
Open Period: 07/24/2023 – 08/07/2023
Appointment Type: This is an excepted service, time-limited appointment that is not-to-exceed five years.
Salary: $155,700 to $183,500 (annually)
Number of Vacancies: One

Description of Organization: AFR is the USAID/Washington, DC Operating Unit (OU) charged with managing USAID economic development programs in Africa. SD has the responsibility of providing technical support for these programs.

PAES, supported by USAID, and housed in and logistically and administratively supported by AFR/SD, coordinates, convenes, facilitates, and advises 16 agencies and departments (i.e., the interagency members) through working groups as the agencies endeavor individually and collectively toward meeting the Prosper Africa goal. The Prosper Africa initiative is a whole-of-U.S. Government (USG) effort to substantially increase trade and investment in the United States and African nations. The initiative aims to improve the U.S. Government’s ability to encourage and facilitate engagement by U.S. businesses in Africa, accelerate African economic competitiveness and the growth of the continent’s middle class, and improve the business environment in promising African economies. To achieve these objectives, the Prosper Africa initiative will prioritize and align actions along three lines of effort: (1) modernize and synchronize USG capabilities and efforts, (2) facilitate transactions, and (3) foster fair and accessible business climates and robust financial markets (i.e., policy and enabling environment).

Description of Position: 

The Strategic Communications Director leads strategic communications for the whole-of-government Prosper Africa initiative, reporting to the Prosper Africa Chief Operating Officer (COO), and supporting and synchronizing the activities of the 17 participating departments and agencies in Prosper Africa. The incumbent will drive and improve communications and outreach processes within the Prosper Africa Executive Secretariat and across the Prosper Africa interagency, lead the implementation of the Prosper Africa communications strategy, and advise the Prosper Africa COO and senior-level officials on National Security Council staff and from participating departments and agencies regarding strategic engagement opportunities.

The Strategic Communications Director will engage routinely across 17 participating departments and agencies, including leading a standing interagency committee to coordinate messaging and implementation of the Prosper Africa communications and private sector engagement strategies. The Strategic Communications Director will support the White House and interagency in the planning and execution of high-level events up to the Presidential level. The Strategic Communications Director will set communications policy for the initiative, advise and prepare senior USG officials to represent the initiative to the public and Congress, review and approve the use of the Prosper Africa brand across participating agencies, manage communications staff and resources for the Secretariat, develop and approve online content for the website and social media, respond to press and public inquiries on behalf of the initiative, and design and manage mechanisms to provide communications services for the initiative. The incumbent will undertake these duties in close coordination with the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA) and AFR’s Office of Development Planning (DP).

Qualifications:

• U.S. citizenship required with the ability to obtain a Secret clearance;
• One year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the FSL-02 level in the Federal Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis;
• Specialized experience includes: coordinating communications for a high-profile, multi-agency initiative; planning and executing high-profile public events; engaging with external stakeholders including the general public, media, foreign governments, and private sector; preparing remarks and briefing materials for senior leadership; and overseeing production of a wide range of communications products, including digital and social media content, fact sheets and other printed materials, and videos;
• Knowledge of USAID branding requirements;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Africa experience preferred; and
• Trade and investment experience preferred.

Application Instructions: Please submit a detailed resume/CV, a cover letter, and your security clearance level, if any, to mjordan@usaid.gov. Please put the position title and grade level (Strategic Communications Director, FSL-01) in the subject line. Application submissions are requested by 11:59 p.m. EST, August 7, 2023.

Any questions concerning this notice may be directed to:

Michael Jordan, AFR, +27-71-683-3513, mjordan@usaid.gov

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Strategic Communications Director | USAID