Communications Specialist (USAID/BHA)
Who We Are:
ZemiTek, LLC is a Woman-Owned, SBA-certified 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) based in the Washington, DC metro area. We have a strong record delivering innovative and high-quality solutions. Since 2007, ZemiTek has provided technical assistance, project management, information technology (IT), knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation, training and learning development, and institutional support services.
Position Description:
USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) is the lead federal coordinator for international disaster assistance. USAID/BHA provides and coordinates U.S. Government (USG) international humanitarian assistance to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and reduce the physical, social, and economic impact of rapid and slow-onset disasters by helping people in need become more resilient to future crises.Team Credence, through the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance Support Contract (BHASC), provides operational and administrative support to provide and coordinate humanitarian assistance and maintain 24/7 response capability.
The Communications Specialist will support internal communication and information sharing efforts across the Office of Asia, Latin America, and Caribbean (ALAC) within BHA through production of written deliverables, infographics, presentations, website management, and other projects, as assigned.The Communications Specialist will coordinate closely with ALAC senior leadership and other stakeholders to ensure that strategic messaging is aligned with office and bureau goals and priorities. Day-to-day work assignments and oversight will be provided by the ALAC Management and Integration Team (MIT) Leader and MIT Deputy Team Leader.
Location: Washington D.C.Work Schedule: Full-time, Hybrid (3 days in office)
Starting Salary Range: $95,000 - $102,000 a year with the starting salary determined based on candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, and education, in addition to budget availability.
Clearance: Ability to obtain a Secret clearance (US citizenship is required)Travel: Ability to travel internationally and/or domestically approximately
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with ALAC office leadership to develop and implement deliverables that facilitate internal information sharing within ALAC and between ALAC and other BHA offices.
- Develop and maintain an ALAC-wide communication and outreach plan/tracker, in coordination with ALAC’s senior leadership team.
- Design, draft, and circulate regular updates to ALAC staff with news, announcements, and other information.
- Develop and implement a variety of communications to effectively share information about policies, procedures, approaches, systems, processes, and tools with ALAC staff.
- Identify and implement tools for improving communication and information sharing between ALAC’s sub-regional hubs.
- Manage, develop, and coordinate products and materials for ALAC outreach with stakeholders both internal and external to BHA, as needed.
- Manage and maintain ALAC’s internal Google site.
- Liaise with communications staff throughout the bureau to contribute to and support bureau-wide communications products, such as the bureau newsletter.
- Assist in maintaining resources, guidance, and other relevant documents for ALAC staff.
- Edit and proofread office deliverables, as needed, to correct grammatical errors and/or formatting issues and ensure uniformity and adherence to agency style guidelines.
- Prepare correspondence, internal newsletters, PowerPoint presentations, and other internal products as requested by the ALAC Front Office, working in coordination with relevant ALAC staff.
- Support Office leadership to develop and implement a variety of communications to ensure that information about policies, procedures, approaches, systems, processes and tools reaches ALAC staff.
- As needed, support onboarding activities for new ALAC staff members.
- As needed, support capacity building and professional development within ALAC, including the office-wide mentoring program and other initiatives.
- Sign-up for and serve, as needed, on Washington-based Response Management Teams (RMTs), which provide services and support to Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will be varied.
- As needed, serve on DARTs, which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment overseas for an extended period of time.
Qualifications:
Minimum qualifications:
- Masters degree and zero (0) years of relevant experience, OR
- Bacehlors degree and two (2) years of relevant experience, OR
- High school diploma and six (6) years of relevant experience o Experience must culminate in a set of responsibilities similar to those of this position.
Preferred Education and Experience:
- Masters degree and at least two (2) years of professional experience in communications, communications strategy, public relations, or journalism, OR
- Bacehlors degree and at least four (4) years of professional experience in communications, communications strategy, public relations, or journalism, OR
- High school diploma and 6 years of experience in communications, communications strategy, public relations, our journalism.
- Experience with strategic communications and outreach preferred.
- but are not limited to
- journalism, communications, humanities, public relations or affairs, international relations, international development, public administration, development/area studies, and social studies
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a US Government issued Secret clearance for the duration of your employment.
Additional Qualifications and Requirements:
- Experience creating tailored communications products, such as newsletters, PowerPoint presentations, and other deliverables, for an organization.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and exceptional attention to detail.
- Strong applied knowledge of the MS Office Suite, Google applications, and Adobe applications.
- Strong organizational and systems-based thinking and problem solving
- Demonstrated skill in Adobe Suite graphic design software and familiarity with newsletter and communication production protocols.
- Excellent planning, coordination, and organizational skills.
- Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment with multiple, overlapping deadlines.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with team members to en
- Demonstrated problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
- Ability to be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances.
- Ability to travel internationally and/or domestically approximately
- Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:
o In-person work requirement with the ability to telework;
o Lifting in excess of 25 lbs, standing for long periods of time, transporting equipment, etc. may be required depending on role.
What We Believe:
ZemiTek is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant’s qualifications are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.
ZemiTek is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, ZemiTek will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to accommodations@zemitek.com.
ZemiTek embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to build and maintain a safe environment where we celebrate diverse backgrounds, treat everyone with respect, and value the unique lived experiences each person brings based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, military or veteran status, national origin, age, marital status or family status and related conditions.