Communications Specialist, USAID Inclusive Development Hub

Dexis is a professional services firm that solves the most pressing social challenges in complex environments, paving the way for a more secure and prosperous world.

Dexis 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.

At Dexis, you will experience a corporate culture of inclusiveness, fairness, and trust. You will be given the means and mentorship needed to succeed, and your creativity will be rewarded.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Global Solutions Ventures (GSV) — a joint-venture partnership between ZemiTek, LLC and Dexis— is seeking a Communications Specialist to support the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Inclusive Growth, Partnerships, and Innovation (IPI), Inclusive Development Hub (ID Hub). The ID Hub’s mandate is to promote the rights and inclusion of marginalized and under-represented populations around the world in the development process, working across various technical areas to “combat stigma and discrimination, promote empowerment and inclusion of marginalized or underrepresented groups, and improve the lives of populations in high-risk situations.”

USAID’s ID Hub promotes integrated development approaches to ensure full social participation in the development process by all involved, specifically by promoting participation from the world’s underrepresented, historically-marginalized groups. The ID Hub’s policies promote the needs and engagement of children in adversity, youth, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ persons. USAID’s Suggested Approaches for Integrating Inclusive Development Across the Program Cycle and in Mission Operations defines Inclusive Development as “the concept that every person, regardless of identity, is instrumental in the transformation of their own societies and their inclusion throughout the development process leads to better outcomes.”

The Communications Specialist is a mid-level communication advisor that will work with the Senior Communications Advisor to plan and implement communications activities and produce communication products for the ID Hub. The Communications Specialist will cover a range of communications duties and responsibilities, including planning events, drafting and editing written documents, editing photos, working with websites, and managing social media. The Communications Specialist will be a member of this team based in Washington, DC and will require onsite work in the Inclusive Development Hub’s office in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. This is a long-term position with an immediate start date.

Submission of cover letter and three written communications samples required with application.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the senior communications advisor and communications colleagues to plan and execute a range of communications deliverables highlighting ID programs and priorities.
• Work with technical specialists to produce internal and external communication products such as briefers and presentations.
• Work with technical specialists and USAID project staff to support the conceptualization, management, and implementation of virtual and in-person events.
• Provide meeting support including organizing and running meetings on a range of meeting platforms.
• Contribute content to the ID Hub and flagship social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) and collaborate with other sections of USAID including supporting ID Hub technical staff, USAID missions, operating units, and implementing partners to compile content for social media toolkits.
• Develop and maintain pages for ID Hub sections of USAID’s external and internal websites and the Children in Adversity (CECA) website.
• Manage the production of newsletters for ID Hub technical areas.
• Contribute to addressing cross-cutting Inclusive Development Hub and Agency priorities, including advancement of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) efforts.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, international relations, or a related field.
• A minimum of 3-5 years work experience in communications, public information, or media.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills, including the ability to summarize and distill large amounts of technical data and information into concise messaging.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and oversee multiple complex tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently and as a team, with a strong sense of initiative and responsibility.
• Strong word processing skills and ability to navigate comfortably in an online file management environment.
• Experience with Google Meets and/or other meeting/event platforms.
• Ability to work collaboratively and diplomatically with a geographically and culturally diverse group of stakeholders.
• Must be able to work a minimum of two days per week onsite at the project location, with flexibility to work additional days onsite as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience working with USAID, other U.S. government agencies, or international development organizations.
• Masters degrees in communications, journalism, international relations, or a related field.
• Experience using/following a range of style guides including Chicago Manual of Style, AP, etc.
• Experience in planning and supporting meetings and professional events.
• Experience with photo manipulation, graphics, and desktop publishing programs, GovDelivery, WordPress and other web content management systems is desirable.
• Bilingual preferred; at a minimum, the ability to communicate proficiently in a second language.
• Experience organizing, posting, and growing followings for social media accounts, such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
• Demonstrated interest in inclusive development, social justice, and engagement with historically marginalized groups.
• Demonstrated interest in international development and foreign assistance.

Dexis is on a mission to help solve today’s most pressing global political, social, and economic challenges and create a world where all people are safe and prosperous. As a Dexis employee, you will be challenged, empowered, and mentored. Our motto is “find a way or make a way” — that’s how Dexis goes “all in.” How will you?

If you are passionate about this opportunity, apply now!

Only those applicants who meet the above criteria will be contacted for interview.

Dexis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, pregnancy, disability, age, genetic information, military service, veteran status, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, childbirth and related medical conditions, including lactation, or any other protected class under applicable law.

If you are hired for a position that is paid from the Dexis home office, you will be required to submit proof that you have received the COVID-19 vaccine unless you qualify for a legally recognized medical or religious exception to the vaccine requirement. This does not apply to AL, AZ, FL, KS, MT, NH, ND, or TX residents.