Job Announcement
RWANDA / USAID
SUBJECT: Solicitation for Resident Hire US Personal Services Contractor
(PSC) for Senior Development Outreach and Communications Specialist
Ladies/Gentlemen:
The
United States Government, represented by the US Agency for International
Development (USAID), is seeking applications from qualified U.S. Citizens residing
in Rwanda to provide personal services as described in this solicitation. USAID/Rwanda
anticipates awarding one contract as a result of this solicitation, subject to
availability of funds.
Submissions
shall be in accordance with the instructions provided in this solicitation, at
the place and time specified. Interested
applicants must submit all the materials required by the solicitation such as
(but not limited to):
(i) A
signed U.S. government form AID 302-3 which is available at the USAID/Rwanda
website
http://www.usaid.gov/rwanda/partnership-opportunities
(ii) The
applicant’s detailed CV and a cover letter; and
(iii) Three
(3) references, who are not family members or relatives, with telephone and
email contacts.
A full solicitation can be found
at http://www.usaid.gov/rwanda/partnership-opportunities.
Electronic
submission is authorized and preferred. Electronic application packages should
be submitted by email to:
KIGALIHR@USAID.GOV.
Please quote the solicitation number and position title of this solicitation on
the subject line of your email application. Be sure to include the solicitation
number at the top of each of the additional page.
POINT OF CONTACT
Human Resources Office, Tel: 0252 596 400; Ext. 2605
To
ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, please
reference the solicitation number on your application and as the subject line
of the cover letter. Highly ranked applications may be selected for an interview.
Applications
must be received no later than the date and time specified on this cover
letter. Please note that USAID/Rwanda
does not accept responsibility for delays in transmission or receipt of
application. Applications received after that date and/or time specified may not
be considered.
USAID/Rwanda
reserves the right to award, or not award a contract as a result of this
solicitation. This solicitation does not represent a commitment on behalf of
USAID. Additionally, the US Government is not obligated to pay any costs
associated with the preparation of an application in response to this
solicitation.
Only
shortlisted applicants will be contacted; no response will be sent to
unsuccessful Applicants
Attachment to Solicitation No. SOL-696-16-000009
1.
SOLICITATION NO.: SOL-696-16-000009
2. ISSUANCE DATE: July 14, 2016
3.
CLOSING DATE/TIME: July 29, 2016 at 5:00 pm (Kigali Time)
4. POSITION TITLE: Senior Development
Outreach and Communications Specialist
5. MARKET VALUE: Position is
classified at
GS-13 with annual
salary range of $73,846 to
$96,004. The actual salary will be negotiated based on
qualifications, work experience and previous salary history
of the successful candidate.
6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:
Two years. Level of effort is full time (40 hours per week).
7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Kigali, Rwanda
8. SUPERVISION: Contractor will report
to the Program Office Director
9. SECURITY ACCESS: Employment
Authorization
10. MEDICAL CLEARANCE: The apparently successful applicant
shall be required to obtain a Kigali
Health Unit Medical clearance to work in Rwanda.
11. WHO MAY APPLY: U.S. Citizens or persons
who at the time of contracting are lawfully admitted permanent residents of the
United States residing in Rwanda as a dependent of a US government agency or
contract/agreement (see below for more details)
BACKGROUND
Rwanda’s represents one of Africa’s most dramatic and
encouraging success stories; yet remains among the world’s poorest,
least-developed, and most densely populated countries. The Government of Rwanda (GOR) is committed
to making Rwanda a middle-income country by 2020 through the implementation of
its
Vision 2020. The primary goal of U.S. assistance in Rwanda
is to support the country’s commitment to address its development challenges
head-on to achieve fundamental, broad-based economic and social
transformation. To achieve this goal,
USAID assistance supports innovative, targeted agriculture investments in key
crops and policy reform to encourage agriculture-sector investment and regional
trade. USAID support for foundational
literacy and numeracy skills for children in primary school, as well as youth
employment training, provides a long-term foundation for building a workforce
oriented towards a service-based economy.
In addition, U.S. assistance promotes reforms and greater
democratization of decision-making by building the capacity of key actors
involved in political reform, ensuring more robust consultation and participatory
planning with local populations and stakeholders, and encouraging improved
community relationships and social cohesion.
Assistance in health promotes the capacity of the health system to
deliver high quality healthcare, and for Rwandans to utilize and apply
high-impact health practices.
BASIC
FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION:
The
Senior Development Outreach and Communications Specialist (SDOC) works with the
leadership and staff of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
in Rwanda to formulate Mission-wide messages and implement development outreach
and communications efforts to increase awareness of USAID programs in Rwanda.
S/he reports to the Supervisory Program Officer in the USAID/Rwanda Program
Office but has extensive direct contacts with the Mission Director and Deputy
Mission Director. The SDOC also coordinates and collaborates with the U.S.
Embassy’s Front Office and Public Affairs Section (PAS) to ensure consistency
in messaging and strong coordination between USAID and other U.S. Government
(USG) colleagues under the U.S. Foreign Assistance umbrella. The SDOC liaises
frequently with USAID’s Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs and with the
Africa Bureau DOC in USAID/Washington.
S/he supervises USAID’s Development Outreach Communications Specialist,
a Foreign Service National employee. The position will also coordinate with
USAID/Rwanda’s implementing partners.
MAJOR
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The SDOC will manage the full range of public
information and outreach activities, supervising and guiding the Development
Outreach Communications Specialist, to collaboratively support USAID/Rwanda’s
programs and development objectives, targeting information to specific
audiences in both the U.S. and Rwanda.
Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the
following:
Communications Strategy:
- Lead the development
and implementation of USAID/Rwanda’s communications strategy and outreach plan
on an annual basis to increase understanding of, and support for, USAID
programs to external target audiences.
- Coordinate with PAS,
other USG agencies, and implementing partners to promote press and media
coverage of USAID activities, ensuring quality control and standard messages
with a priority on expanding USAID engagement in Kinyarwanda, particularly
through radio, with the assistance of the locally employed Development Outreach
and Communications Specialist.
Facilitate local media coverage of selected events, including press
conferences, background briefings and ceremonies.
- Ensure targeted,
coherent, and consistent messaging from all USAID staff and implementing
partners.
- Monitor and analyze
local and international press coverage, awareness, and attitudes concerning
USAID programs and monitor effectiveness of the communications strategy.
Provide recommendations to inform ongoing activities and future programming.
- Utilizing analysis of
local press coverage and understanding of attitudes toward USAID programs, as
well as USAID’s Outreach and Communications Strategy, counsel the technical
teams on the selection, targeting, and placement of potential USAID outreach
materials in keeping with USAID’s country program strategy.
- Propose and develop
innovative outreach events and approaches that into account the interest of
local audiences and U.S. policy; the importance of ensuring that publicity
material used will be noncontroversial; and the visual appeal, accuracy, and
human interest element of the materials.
- Establish and lead a
Mission-wide development outreach and communications team, ensuring overall
quality and coherence of the team’s communications and outreach products and
initiatives. Work with other PEPFAR
partners within the U.S. Mission to ensure a coordinated communications
strategy on PEPFAR-funded activities.
- Develop and maintain
contacts and working relationships with implementing partners, international
and local NGOs, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other USG agencies to
collect and share information, including media and other communications strategies.
Develop and cultivate long-term relationships with Rwandan journalists who
report in English and Kinyarwanda and encourage broad media coverage of USAID
programs and events.
Branding and Marking:
- Serve as a resident
expert on USAID branding and style guidelines, ensuring regulations are
followed by recommending revisions and appropriate application as outlined in
ADS 320 and the Agency’s Graphic Standards Manual.
- Oversee and provide
regular trainings to USAID staff and implementing partners on the appropriate
use of branding and marking. Work closely with Contracting and Agreement
Officer’s Representatives to ensure adherence to branding on public materials,
at events, and in the field.
- Review and provide
feedback and clearance on branding and branding strategies proposed by
implementing partners.
- Serve as technical
point of contact on waivers to branding requirements in relationship to media,
liaising with the AFR DOC, LPA, and the Regional Legal Advisor as necessary.
Outreach
Materials:
- Advise USAID staff and
implementing partners on developing appropriate public information programs and
initiatives.
- Collect, design,
research, develop, update, and disseminate outreach materials to promote USAID
programs to target audiences and the media. These materials include fact
sheets, press releases, photo essays, videos, and public service announcements
for broadcast and print media.
- Travel to the field to
capture success stories for dissemination through the USAID/Rwanda website,
outreach folders, and the media.
- Coordinate updates to
the USAID/Rwanda public website and intranet, including relevant content on
map.usaid.gov.
- Maintain
a Mission photo library based on project site visits and other events.
- Manage
strategy and content for Mission social media sites
Media Relations:
- Serve as USAID/Rwanda’s
point of contact for all press relations, both international and local media.
- Work closely with the
PAS on press relations and maintain contacts with high-level Western and local
journalists from all media outlets.
- In collaboration with
and under the guidance of the PAS, arrange press conferences, round tables, and
other media events to keep the media abreast of USAID/Rwanda’s programs.
- In collaboration with
and under the guidance of the PAS, serve as the principal USAID contact for
representatives of the local and international media in Rwanda to promote story
ideas and feature stories on USAID programs.
- As appropriate,
organize media tours and facilitate contacts among members of the media and
USAID implementers to encourage in-depth coverage of USAID programs in the
local and international media.
- In collaboration with
and under the guidance of the PAS, advise the Mission Director and USAID staff
on press and media relations.
- Coordinate with GOR
public relations offices, maintaining good relations and advising on working
with Rwanda and international media.
- In conjunction with the
PAS, the USAID Mission Director and Deputy Director, technical teams, and
implementing partners, organize and coordinate press events for USAID projects.
Write press releases, speeches, and talking points; organize background
briefings for media; compile and disseminate press packets; deal with protocol
issues, site selection, staging, and logistical issues; identify and schedule
speakers; liaise with U.S. and local government officials; and provide on-site
coordination of media. Follow up with media to ensure coverage of public
events.
Events Management:
- Maintain a calendar of
USAID program events in close coordination with the PAS, implementing partners,
Contracting and Agreement Officer’s Representatives, and Activity Managers.
- Serve as the primary
Mission point of contact for site visits by official visitors from the U.S.
Embassy, USAID/Washington, Congress, and other USG agencies or entities.
Coordinate VIP schedules and site visits as necessary.
- Lead the preparation of
briefing materials, speeches and talking points, scene setters, and other
information products and processes to support the Mission Director, Ambassador,
or other USG representatives and VIPs.
- Advise the Mission and
serve as the main Program Office point of contact on the implementation of and
necessary updates to the VIP Visits Mission Order.
- Develop and update
basic events management templates and trackers.
- Coordinate with USAID
technical teams, implementing partners, and PAS in planning public diplomacy,
press conferences and field events related to USAID activities. This will involve developing key messages and
event schedules, coordinating meetings and briefings with partners, other
donors and officials, ascertaining staging requirements, negotiating protocol
with government officials and , and on-site coordination of media.
- Photograph program activities and events as needed,
coordinate photo files, ensure compliance with copyright regulations and photo
releases, and oversee use of photos and video.
Information Requests:
- Serve as the Mission’s
primary point of contact for information requests about USAID/Rwanda programs
and activities. These may include requests from USAID/Washington, the Embassy,
the GOR, international development partners working in Rwanda, and other
stakeholders.
- As directed by the
Mission Director, Deputy Director, or the Supervisory Program Officer, and in
collaboration with the PAS, respond to inquiries from the general public,
media, and other sources about USAID programs and projects.
- As directed by the
Supervisory Program Officer, coordinate responses to Freedom of Information Act
requests that pertain to USAID/Rwanda programs and activities.
Build Mission Capacity for More
Effective Public Outreach
- Provide guidance to
technical teams and implementing partners on issues related to communications,
branding, and public outreach activities. Advise technical teams and partners
on USAID outreach and communication policies, and provide creative leadership
in implementation through projects and public events.
- Develop and implement
internal Mission programs to increase Mission staff awareness of public
outreach efforts. Provide training and
support to staff through regular programs or on an ad hoc basis, with an
emphasis on enhancing the capacity of USAID staff and implementing partners on
how to publicly represent USAID programs, with an emphasis on Kinyarwanda
press.
- Implement monitoring
and evaluation tools for the Mission's outreach and communication
activities. This includes maintaining
press tracking mechanisms to monitor coverage of USAID events and news stories.
- Develop and standardize
various Mission processes and policies related to public outreach and event
planning. Bring best practices used in
other missions and replicate similar ideas for the mission to enhance USAID's
public image in Rwanda.
- Lead and plan
Communications Working Group meetings with communications-leads from
implementing partners to improve their ability to do effective communications
at the activity level.
Period of Performance
The Personal Services
Contract will be for (24) months, with possible extensions, subject to
availability of funds. Extensions will be contingent on the need of continued
services, satisfactory performance and availability of funds.
Qualifications/Selection Criteria:
Only citizens of the
United States or persons who at the time of contracting are lawfully admitted
permanent residents of the United States are eligible for selection. In addition, as recruitment is being done
locally under a class justification excepting this requirement from full and
open competition, only those who meet the following definition of a resident
hire are eligible for selection:
Resident Hire means a U.S. citizen
who, at the time of hire as a PSC, resides in the cooperating country:
(i) as a spouse or
dependent of a U.S. citizen employed:
(A) by a U.S. government agency; or (B) under any U.S. government-financed
contract or agreement; or (C) under any other contract or agreement that
provides for repatriation to the United States; or
(ii) for reasons
other than employment: (A) with a U.S. government agency; or (B) under any U.S.
government financed contract or agreements; or (C) under any other contract or
employment arrangement that provides for repatriation to the United States
The
following technical evaluation criteria will be used to evaluate the
applications. These criteria will be assigned values from a total of 100 points
set forth below.
a) Education 10 points
b) Work Experience 25 points
c) Skills and Abilities 20
points
d) Knowledge 25 points
e) Past performance
20 points
TOTAL 100 points
The
Application criteria will be evaluated and scored by the technical evaluation
committee.
Additional guidance
regarding the technical evaluation criteria are set forth below.
- Education (10 points): The
candidate must have at least a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant
field. Relevant fields include – but are not limited to – journalism,
communications, public affairs, international relations, public policy, public
administration, international development, development/area studies, political
science, and economics.
- Prior Work Experience (25
points): The candidate must have at least five years of
experience that includes significant media, writing, outreach, or other
communications responsibilities, such as journalism, project management, international development, marketing, and/or
business development.
- Language
Proficiency (20 points): Level IV fluency in written and spoken
English is required.
- Job
Knowledge (25 points):
- Demonstrated success in
developing and disseminating information to a variety of target audiences.
- Demonstrated success in
designing and implementing effective public relations/communications campaigns
targeted at specific audiences as well as the general public.
- Demonstrated success in
planning and executing media campaigns and programs.
- Demonstrated success in
crafting information messages in various media formats (press releases, web
sites, fact sheets, success stories, talking points, scene setters, etc.) that
target a variety of audiences.
- Evidence of broad understanding
of issues related to international development.
- Extensive writing and
editing experience.
- Knowledge of Rwandese
political, economic, and social environments.
- Demonstrated success in
establishing and maintaining collegial relations with press and media contacts.
- Previous work
experience with the USG or another international development organization in an
overseas context is highly desirable.
- Skills and Abilities (20 points):
- Ability to work effectively as a member of a
multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team.
- Ability to make cogent arguments clearly and
succinctly in written and oral presentations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication
skills with a demonstrated ability to translate highly technical material into
easy to understand narrative.
- Initiative and proactive engagement with
colleagues to complete assigned tasks in accordance with agreed timetables.
- Ability to work independently, managing
several activities at once, and to work under pressure to meet very short
deadlines.
- Outstanding coordination and organizational
skills.
- Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Word
and Microsoft PowerPoint, and familiarity with design/layout programs such as
Microsoft Publisher, Adobe In-Design and Adobe Photoshop.
- Ability to manage web site content; and
familiarity with social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
- Visual skills, including graphic design and
photography.
- f. Past performance
/ Professional reference checks (20 points)
Applicants must list at least three
references and provide current contact information, including both an e-mail
address and telephone number. The
applicant’s past performance in positions that require similar skills to that
required by this solicitation will be evaluated.
Compensation
This position is classified at GS-13 scale.
The actual salary of the successful candidate will be negotiated within that
pay range depending on qualifications, work experience and previous earning
history.
Benefits/Allowances: In addition to the salary, a Resident Hire
US/PSC will receive the following benefits in accordance with USAID
regulations/procedures and policies.
- Contribution
toward Health Insurance not to exceed 72% of the actual cost of your annual
health insurance, or the maximum U.S. Government contribution announced
periodically by USAID’s Office of Acquisition & Assistance whichever is
less.
- Contribution
for Life Insurance up to 50% of the actual annual costs to your life insurance
not to exceed $500 per year.
- Annual
and Sick Leave at the rate of 4 hours each per pay period; or if you have
previous service as a US/PSC or USG employee you are eligible for 6 or 8 hours
of annual leave.
Excluded Benefits/Allowances: Locally hired US/PSC employees (Resident
Hires) do not receive benefits that are provided to off-shore hired US/PSC
employees. If applicants have any questions about benefits/allowances they
should inquire from the contact person for this solicitation.
Benefits that are excluded include:
- Medevac insurance, access to embassy medical
facilities, cost of travel to/from post; shipment of UAB, HHE or POV; R&R
and Home Leave Travel; and housing.
- Post Allowance
(Section 220), Post Differential (Chapter 500), Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure
(Section 600).
US Taxes: The successful candidate is subject to US
taxes and will have Federal Income and Social Security Taxes withheld from
their salary.
Applicable Policy Directives and Regulations
Pertaining to PSCs
(1) Acquisition and
Assistant Policy Directives (AAPDs) or Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs)
contain changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations and
contracts. Those documents can be found at this websites:
http://transition.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/cib/subject.html#psc
(2) USAID Acquisition
Regulation (AIDAR) applicable to award and administration of USPSC resident
hires is contained in AIDAR Appendix D and can be found at:
http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/aidar.pdf.
The link comprises of prescribed Contract Schedule, General Provisions as
appropriate, as well as the FAR Clauses to be incorporated in full text and by
reference.
(3) Standard of Ethical
Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch can be accessed at:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2007-title5-vol3/pdf/CFR-2007-title5-vol3-part
2635.pdf or
http://www.oge.gov/Laws-and-Regulations/Employee-Standards-of
-Conduct/Employee-Standard-of-Conduct/
Instructions to
Applicants
- Interested
applicants are requested to submit the following information:
a)
A
recent CV or resume. The CV/resume must include sufficient relevant information
to evaluate the application in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria
and must contain the following information:
(i)
Personal
Information: Full name, mailing address, email address, day and evening phone
numbers, country of citizenship, highest federal civilian grade held (also give
job series and dates held).
(ii)
Education:
Colleges and universities name, city and state, majors, type and year of any
degrees received.
(iii)
Work
Experience: provide the following information for your paid and non-paid work
experience related to the job for which you are applying (do not send job
descriptions): job title (include series and grade if federal job), duties, and
accomplishments, employer’s name and address, supervisor’s name and phone
number, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours per week, salary.
Indicate if we may contact your current supervisor.
(iv)
Other
Qualifications: other pertinent information related to the qualifications
required for the position, as noted above including job-related training
courses (title and year), job-related skills; for example, other languages,
computer software/hardware, tolls, machinery, typing speed, job-related
certificates and licenses (current only), job-related honors, awards, and
special accomplishments, for example, publications, memberships in professional
or honor societies, leadership, activities, public speaking and performance as
awards (give dates but do not send documents unless requested.
b)
Applicants are
required to address the above
selection criteria in a summary statement attached to the application. This
summary statement, limited to two pages, must describe specifically and
accurately what experience, training, education, and/or awards the applicant
has received that are relevant to each selection factor above. The summary
statement must include the name of the applicant and the announcement number at
the top of each page. Failure to address
minimum selection and/or quality factors may result in your not receiving
credit for all your pertinent experience, education, training, and awards.
Broad general statements that are vague or lacking specificity will not be
considered as effectively addressing particular selection criteria.
c)
Applicants
are required to provide three (3) references with complete contact information
including email address and telephone numbers. The Applicant’s references must
be able to provide substantive information about the applicant’s past
performance and abilities. USAID/Rwanda reserves the right to obtain from
previous employers relevant information concerning the applicant’s pas
performance and may consider such information in its evaluation.
d)
Written
cover letter of not more than one page.
e)
Form
AID 302-3 must be signed and those submitted unsigned will be rejected.
- Applicants
should retain for their record copies of all enclosures that accompany their
submissions.
- The
solicitation number must be referenced on the application.
- Any
attachments provided via email must be in or compatible with Microsoft Word
Version 2010 or Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) and not “Zipped.”
- Highly ranked
applicants may be interviewed in person or by phone. Those applicants determined to be competitively ranked will also be
evaluated on interview performance. These
interviews may be conducted by telephone. A writing test and samples of past
work may be required.
Above positions requires a university Degree, Technical Diploma or related experience in the field.
