United States of America: Strategic Communications and Outreach Specialist

Macfadden is an employee-owned, international professional services corporation that applies integrated information technology solutions and program/project management expertise to help solve critical issues impacting the health, safety and security of the world around us. Since 1986, federal agencies have relied on Macfadden for critical support in the areas of international disaster response, development and humanitarian assistance, information technology solutions, financial management systems support and knowledge management and communications.

Today, Macfadden provides innovative solutions that enable our customers to protect America's food supply more efficiently and bring medical breakthroughs to market sooner; rapidly respond to complex international disaster relief efforts; develop and maintain critical government IT financial systems and safeguard key government information systems. We support our customer's mission to help emerging democracies in Eastern Europe and Eurasia develop their economic infrastructures; help meet compliance requirements and improve transparency through effective records and information management programs; and help preserve many of our nation's most treasured historical documents through our data capture and digital conversion services.

With more than 200 employees, Macfadden is headquartered in Silver Spring, MD with multiple client site operations in the greater Washington, DC region and Tidewater, VA area.

Position Summary:

Key Internal Interfaces: Program Manager, COR, CMC Team
Key External Interfaces: Public, DOD

This position is located in the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, Office of Civilian-Military Cooperation (DCHA/CMC). The position will serve as the principle strategic communications specialist for CMC. CMC has three strategic goals:

1. DOD and USAID policies incorporate defense and development considerations, where appropriate;
2. DOD and USAID plans and programs reflect shared priorities and leverage capabilities of each; and
3. Roles, capabilities, policies, plans and programs are effectively communicated to DOD and USAID audiences and to external stakeholders

DCHA/CMC manages a personnel exchange between USAID and DOD, with the ultimate goal of more synergistic operations in foreign assistance and foreign affairs across the USG, more effective achievement of USG development and security goals, and more efficient use of resources.
Staff are engaged in the critical nexus where development and security concerns come together in countries of national security interest, regionally, and at the Washington policy level. Communications are sensitive nature and can be highly specialized and technical. The incumbent will assist office leadership conceptualize, develop and execute a strategy for internal and external communication of the work of the office effectively to senior political leaders, USAID staff, the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and other legislative and executive branch stakeholders.

Essential Functions:

Apply knowledge of communications tactics, techniques, and strategies necessary to support the Office of Civilian-Military Cooperation, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance of USAID. The incumbent performs a variety of outreach and public affairs, and strategic communications functions, including developing communications materials. Materials development includes weekly and monthly reports for senior political leaders, position papers, invitations, articles, web copy, speeches, talking points, and Q&A documents. The incumbent will also perform duties such as:

• Provide advice and counsel to office and bureau leaders and the USAID senior management team on external communication activities
• Plan and execute an outreach/communications strategy and internal communications initiatives.
• Review and analyze written material for objectivity, style, presentation, coherence, sentence structure, grammar, and readability.
• Ensure that written materials are accurate (fact checking), logically consistent, well organized, well researched, and appropriate for the intended audience.
• Manage weekly and monthly reporting, using input from field staff, identifying appropriate communication vehicles, pitching written materials for USAID, DoD, and other executive and legislative branch stakeholders.
• Write persuasive prose for diverse audiences on the nexus between development and security in the foreign affairs arena.
• Developing key messages and communication materials appropriate for different target audiences;
• Writing and editing text for various communication vehicles including reports, briefing documents, speeches and fact sheets.
• Ensuring that written products project the policies and objectives of USAID and the Office of Civilian-Military Cooperation.

Education: Master’s degree and 6 years of relevant experience or Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of relevant experience.

Experience: Demonstrated experience in developing, managing, or evaluating communication products and strategies. Experience producing, editing and reviewing a range of written, verbal, and article communications materials (e.g. brochures, publications, articles, speeches, PowerPoint presentations).

Skills:

• Competency with computer programs and web page content development.
• Strong organizational techniques.
• Ability to professionally communicate with all levels within an organization and the general public.
• Skilled in communication strategic thinking and planning.
• Skilled in written and verbal communication.
• Knowledge of USAID, Department of Defense, foreign assistance, development, and security policy issues.

U.S. Citizenship is required; selected candidate must be able to qualify for a government sponsored security clearance.

Work schedule: Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Compressed/Flexible Schedules Available. This position also has the potential to work from home (Telework).
Candidate must provide a writing sample with application.
Other duties as required.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds.

https://chp.tbe.taleo.net/chp03/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=MCFA&cws=1&rid=1085