The Development Outreach Communication Specialist (DOC) reports to the Program Officer

• and/or their designee, and collaborates closely with the technical teams, implementing

• partners (IPs) as well as senior leadership to develop and implement the overall Mission communications strategy. 

• The Specialist collaborates with the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section (PAS) to ensure that Embassy personnel are properly apprised of USAID public activities and projects and serves as principal liaison with the USAID/Middle East Bureau communications team leader. 

• The USAID/Morocco Mission manages a development program budget of approximately $20 million per year. The Mission portfolio includes activities in the areas of economic growth, citizen participation in governance, community resilience, and primary education. The DOC supports the Mission in the achievement of its objectives by producing and disseminating public information about Mission initiatives and promoting a better understanding of USAID programs to a variety of local and international audiences.

•  The DOC Specialist is responsible for collecting, investigating, editing, managing, and distributing information associated with the USAID foreign assistance program in Morocco and serves as the primary Mission point of contact and liaison for information requests. The DOC also provides outreach capacity building support for Implementing Partners, USAID staff, and the new full-time DOC Specialist.

Duties And Responsabilities

Communications Management and Strategic Planning

• The DOC Specialist is responsible for contributing to policies and procedures for Mission Communications and outreach that clarify roles and responsibilities within USAID and IPs,including templates for various communication tools, standards for creating and finalizing DOCmaterials, and guidelines for planning and managing events. 

• The DOC Specialist designs,implements and provides annual updates to the Mission communications strategy, identifying objectives, messages, audiences, products, and budgets, and developing plans in coordination with USAID project managers and technical teams consistent with the Mission strategy and the overall Embassy communications strategy.

•  The Specialist leads in the design of public information products, ensuring that Mission communication products contain appropriate and consistent messages that support the approved Mission communications strategy and provides quality control on all print and electronic public information materials such as the external website, organizational brochures and information packets, and briefing books produced internally and by the public relations firm.

Media Relations

• The Specialist is responsible for Mission media activities and coordinates outreach activities with the U.S. Embassy PAO Press Office, working closely withPAO staff to generate press coverage of USAID activities.

•  The assignment includes arranging and preparing for press interviews, press conferences, briefings, tours of activities, and interaction with host-country, American, and international journalists, following up with media regularly to encourage continued coverage of USAID event and activities. 

• The Specialist also represents USAID in all matters pertaining to Development Outreach and Communication Activities with the Government of Morocco (GOM) serving as the primary point of contact forGOM press officers. The Specialist tracks USAID activity milestones in coordination with theMonitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist to ensure that appropriate press coverage is provided; advises the Mission Front Office and staff on press outreach priorities and whether coverage is culturally and politically appropriate; oversees and produces media materials(including news releases, backgrounders, and fact sheets) designed to inform editors and reporters of the technical achievement of USAID activities in an easy to understand manner;coordinates with technical offices and with the Embassy PAO to produce and release timely,accurate, and useful written material for the host-country and American media; and advises and works with the PAO to expand opportunities for coverage of USAID efforts. 

• The Specialisthelps technical offices to define activities for coverage, participates in field visits to assess newsworthiness, and accompanies the press to interviews and site locations for filming.

Public Events and Visitors

• The Specialist plans and executes activities to presentMission programs to the public and to VIP visitors, including a range of communications tools and distribution to a variety of audiences.

•  The Specialist prepares visits for high-level officials to highlight key USAID initiatives; and provides or supervises advance work for planning, including scheduling, coordination with the Technical Teams (and other Embassy Sections as appropriate), and overseeing the production of briefing materials and trouble-shooting duringVIP visits.

•  For project site visits or events that involve the Ambassador, Deputy Chief ofMission, and/or the USAID Director, the Specialist ensures that all event information (e.g.,scene setters, talking points, speeches) have been prepared and meet quality standards and time requirements. 

• The Specialist coordinates and consults with technical offices on activity signing ceremonies or other milestone events, including finalizing press releases and ensuring logistics are handled.

Website and Social Media Maintenance

•  The Specialist will be responsible for ensuring that all developed material is published on online publications associated with USAID.

• The Global USAID Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram sites shall be updated regularly with content developed by the Specialist in coordination with the technical teams and implementing partners.

Production of Publicity and Outreach Materials 

• The Specialist is responsible for the production of high-quality print and electronic communications products that translate complex activities and technical information into understandable, meaningful messages that resonate with a variety of audiences, both host country and American. 

• The Specialist serves as editorial director of all published and website materials, including information brochures, special publications, and the externalUSAID/Morocco website; manages a small public relations contractor in producing graphic designs, written text, photographs and other outsourced products; and ensures that contractor tasks are completed in a cost effective, high-quality, and timely manner

• USAID/Morocco anticipates that it will onboard the Mission's full-time DOC during the period of performance of this DOC.

•  This DOC will devote LOE to onboarding the new USAID/MoroccoDOC. This may include hands-on training on USAID’s branding and marking policy,introduction to USAID DOC tools and guidance, providing resources and contacts for DOCsupport in Washington and online, provide an introduction to the USAID style guide for writingand drafting documents, provide an introduction to working in an Embassy, provide guidance onworking with Press, Implementing Partners, and the Embassy interagency.

Position Requirements

• Education: A Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in international affairs, political science,public relations, communications, English, journalism or a related field is required. An advanced degree in related field is desired.

• Prior Work Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in international development, communications, or a related field is required. Broad Understanding of issues related to international development and transitional economies is desired.

•  Understanding of development assistance and project management is very important,with the ability to research and analyze data to draft communications documents. 

• The DOCSpecialist must be skilled in researching development topics and disseminating information to a variety of target audiences.

•  Previous work with the USG or another international development organization as well as experience in the region is desirable.Language Proficiency: Fluent (level 4) in English is required. 

• Good working knowledge(level 3) French or Arabic, both written and oral, is desired. 

• The ability to communicate orally and in writing in English is extremely important to the position.

•  An excellent knowledge ofEnglish grammar and American word usage and spelling is critical.