Digital Communications Specialist

Macfadden, part of PAE, is seeking a Digital Communications Specialist who will support the Content Development and Online Communications Team within USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). BHA leads and coordinates the U.S. Government’s humanitarian assistance efforts overseas, responding to an average 75 crises in more than 65 countries every year.

The Digital Communications Specialist works with members of the Content Development and Online Communications Team, which is responsible for managing BHA’s digital platforms—including more than 100 webpages on USAID.gov—as well as maintaining and growing BHA’s social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Medium, and LinkedIn. The team is also responsible for producing innovative and compelling content that broadly informs the public about the good work BHA does around the world and positions the Bureau as a go-to source for information. The team leads on creating stories, videos, interactive maps, social media posts, infographics, motion graphics and other content—working in coordination with BHA staff.

The Digital Communications Specialist reports to the Policy Support Team Lead and works closely with team leads and client leadership within USAID/BHA, particularly within the Office of Global Policy, Partnerships, Programs, and Communications.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Online Outreach and Content Creation:

• Create, modify, and update BHA content on USAID.gov to better communicate BHA’s mission and impact to the public.
• Populate USAID website with BHA information and materials, including public fact sheets, maps, situation reports, graphics, multimedia content, and other materials.
• Review, monitor, and update online disaster and crisis response content for quality and timeliness, as well as for compliance with the agency’s information management procedures and practices.
• Liaise with BHA web team to make updates and apply editorial processes to systemically keep BHA webpages free of errors and up-to-date.
• Collaborate with team to produce compelling storytelling content—and facilitate the creation of content from key external stakeholders—in line with BHA messaging and strategy. This could include writing and producing blogs, social media and videos, and/or collaborating with other team members on campaigns, interactive maps or new webpages.
• Support the maintenance of BHA-funded Center for International Disaster Information website and PSAid student contest website.
• Help maintain BHA’s online photo database in close coordination with team members.

Social Media Outreach:

• Produce and populate BHA’s social media platforms with up-to-date content to increase engagement and followers.
• Engage with BHA staff, partners, and other relevant parties to obtain compelling content.
• Draft social media posts, working in close coordination with the BHA Press and Strategic Communications Team.
• Review social media posts of team members.
• Monitor comments and mentions; participate in relevant online conversations; respond in a timely manner.
• Track/monitor metrics and analyze social media trends to advise on ways to keep BHA’s social media platforms in line with current trends.
• Coordinate with team on creation of social media campaigns and toolkits to highlight specific BHA activities and programs and/or amplify specific BHA events.
• Look for new engagement opportunities and messaging methods.

Strategic Communications:

• Work with BHA’s Strategic Communications and Humanitarian Information Division to identify, develop, and implement Bureau’s strategic communications goals; track and determine impact of targeted strategies.
• Work with division and team members to adapt communications outputs to reflect changing priorities and evolving needs of BHA.
• Develop new strategies in coordination with division and team members to expand BHA’s public outreach and reach new audiences.
• Coordinate with USAID’s Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA), USAID’s Social Media Team, and other Agency communicators to ensure information about BHA is timely, accurate, and strategically aligned with Agency priorities.
• Sign-up for and serve as needed, on Washington-based Response Management Teams (RMTs), which provides 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.

REQUIREMENTS

• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government issued Secret clearance for the duration of your employment on this contract. Only applicants who currently hold an active Secret or higher-level security clearance or who are eligible to receive a Secret security clearance will be considered for this position.
  Education, Experience and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of progressively responsible experience working in online communications, journalism, digital marketing and/or and social media, including the management of social media platforms, content development, and website maintenance.

• Master’s degree with 6 years of progressively responsible experience working in online communications, journalism, digital marketing and/or and social media, including management of social media platforms, content development, and website maintenance.