Communications Officer - International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc., Sana'a

Closing date:  17 Feb 2012

International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI), a U.S.-based international development consulting company, is seeking a Communications Officer to lead its communications and outreach activities. This is a full time position based in Sana’a, Yemen, under the Yemen Monitoring and Evaluation Program (YMEP) implemented by IBTCI.

YMEP provides M&E services and support to USAID/Yemen and its implementing partners, with a central goal of assessing the effects of Mission programming on stability in Yemen.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
A. Strategic Communications Management:

1. Works closely with the Mission to maintain and update the Communication Strategy and for assuring its adherence to USAID policy and to the US Mission’s Strategic Communication Plan.
2. Facilitates information access and sharing among implementing partners (IP) and USAID/Yemen. Provides advice to USAID staff on the selection, targeting, and placement of potential information consistent with the Strategy.
3. Responsible for proposing, articulating and implementing USAID/Yemen outreach and communication policies and procedures. This may include working with IPs and USG staff to clarify roles and responsibilities and provide templates for various communications tools, standards for creating and finalizing materials, and guidelines for planning and managing events.

B. Media Affairs:

1. Works closely with the US Embassy’s Public Diplomacy Office (PD), the USAID mission and its IPs to manage a coordinated media relation effort.
2. Reviews the daily press to keep abreast of coverage that relates to development in Yemen and USAID activities.
3. Advises and works with PD to expand opportunities for coverage of USAID assistance, including all media formats. Works with YMEP communications subcontractor and helps USAID’s Technical Office and IPs to define prospective activities for coverage, participates in field inspections and final selection, and accompanies TV/radio crews to site locations.
4. Plans, researches, drafts, and/or edits press releases and fact sheets on behalf of USAID/Yemen. Coordinates these with the USAID, IPs and PD to produce and release timely, accurate, and useful written material for local media and other media.

C. Public Events Management:

1. Works with USAID to plan, schedule, publicize, and carry out activities to present USAID/Yemen programs to the public, including a range of communications tools and distribution to a variety of audiences, with particular field trips to specific events or activities, as well as outreach and media coverage for overall programming.
2. Advises USAID and IPs on events and media activities and confirms cultural sensitive and coherence with the Communications Strategy.
3. Coordinates drafting of press releases for placement in the Yemen press and on the USAID website homepage. Oversees the arrangement of translation or interpretation services by YMEP to the Mission.

D. Production of Public Information and Publicity Material:

1. Oversees the production of high quality, targeted information and briefing materials, ensuring suitability to audience and message coherence.
2. Ensures that all materials produced by YMEP meet USAID branding guidance and advises USAID and IPs on USAID branding policy.
3. Identifies communication products requiring Arabic translation and coordinates with YMEP subcontractor to ensure completeness and accuracy. Makes recommendations for distribution of Arabic language materials and other communication products.
4. Maintains an up-to-date file of information on where USAID programs are working in particular regions of Yemen, including tracking successful site visits and lessons learned for future visits and for reporting purposes. Manages and updates country-specific background information, including economic, political and human development indicator summaries, sub-regional and sectoral information and maps to be relied upon for briefings and other purposes.
5. Responsible for updating (and redesigning as necessary) USAID/Yemen’s website to ensure that its content will have optimal impact in providing information about USAID/Yemen and its programs for a wide range of audiences as well as the YMEP Project Website. Responsibilities include coordinating the selection of information displayed on the website, clearing content, and overseeing placement.

E. Editorial Quality Control:
Acts as editor of YMEP documents, reports, and correspondence. Responsible for ensuring that documents meet quality standards.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum Requirements
A. Education: A bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, international relations or development, public administration, public relations, or a related field is required. A master’s degree in one of the above fields is preferred.

B. Prior Work Experience: Seven years of progressively responsible experience in related fields is required, with at least three years of experience in public relations and/or journalism. Previous work experience with USG or another international development organization is highly desirable. Experience in stressful environments with high workflow, especially conflict and post-conflict environments, is highly desirable.

C. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
i) Superior writing and communication skills and a keen editorial eye for detail and quality of communication products.
ii) Demonstrated skills and extensive hands-on experience in public and media relations are required.
iii) A broad understanding of issues related to international development in general and stabilization programming in particular is required.
v) Demonstrated organizational, workflow management and the ability to work in a diverse team environment is required.
vi) The qualified person must be a strategic thinker with operational planning experience, analytical ability, excellent communication skills, and the capacity to convert planning concepts into firm plans to meet a variety of contingencies.
vii) S/he must be comfortable working independently, managing several activities at once, and working under pressure to meet very short deadlines.
viii) S/he must have management ability to plan and execute media campaigns and programs.

D. Language Proficiency: Native speaker of English; excellent written and oral communication skills are required. Basic Arabic language skills are a very strong asset.

E. Computer skills: Excellent working use of MS Office, MS Outlook, and MS PowerPoint are required. Familiarity with various new media applications and online sharing tools is required. Basic web design and maintenance is desirable.

 

How to apply: 

Please send a cover letter and full Curriculum Vitae (CV) by e-mail to recruiting@ibtci.com with subject line: YMEP – Communications Officer. No phone calls please. Only finalists will be contacted.

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