SERVIR-SEA Senior Communications & Outreach Advisor

About Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

ADPC is an autonomous international organization with a vision to reduce disaster and climate risk impacts on communities and countries in Asia and the Pacific by working with all key stakeholders.

Established in 1986 as a technical capacity building center, ADPC has grown and expanded its role to be for scientific, educational, developmental and humanitarian purposes. ADPC employs a wide range of professional expertise typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) in an effective manner.

ADPC develops and implements cross-sectoral projects/programs on the strategic themes of risk governance, urban resilience, climate resilience, health risk management, preparedness for response and resilient recovery. Our strategic themes are complemented and underpinned by the cross-cutting themes of gender and diversity, regional and transboundary cooperation as well as poverty and livelihoods.

Through its work, ADPC supports the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the New Urban Agenda, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the agenda defined at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, and other relevant international frameworks

For details, please refer to ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net/

Department Introduction:

The Geospatial Information Department supports stakeholders to increase their uses of geospatial technology, data, and information for supporting decision making related to disaster risk management and climate resilience. The department supports all thematic areas of focus of ADPC to achieve their goals, mainly through:

• Increased accessibility and technical capacity to develop, maintain, and use geospatial information including disaster and climate risk maps, forecasted and real-time disaster data for early warning, and damage data for post-disaster assessment and recovery planning,
• Increased awareness by decision makers on applications of geospatial information in disaster risk management and climate resilience decision making, and
• Geospatial solutions, such as maps, tools, models, and data, customized to the demands of stakeholders

SERVIR-Southeast Asia (SERVIR-SEA) is a 5-year project, co-created by USAID, NASA, and ADPC, to address disaster and climate resilience as well as environmental issues in Southeast Asia. SERVIR-SEA’s objective is Expanded and Scaled Climate Actions by using Satellite Data and Geospatial Information in Decision Making, which will be achieved through the following outcomes:

1. Regional platform(s) strengthened and/or established for accelerating, scaling, and/or sustaining adoption of data and information
2. Increased investment from diversified partnership with stakeholders to support the development and use of data and information
3. Increased accessibility of data and information

Strengthened capacity of Stakeholders to use data and information

Statement of Intent:

The SERVIR-SEA Senior Communications & Outreach Advisor leads all the communications and outreach activities of the project SERVIR-Southeast Asia while giving advice on the Geospatial Information Department’s overall communication products. The SERVIR-SEA Senior Communications & Outreach Advisor also serves as the SERVIR-SEA Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), supporting the Chief of Party on the operations of the project and working closely with the project’s communications specialist(s), Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist (MEL Specialist), Capacity Development Lead, and other team members.

Note:

It is not the intent of this Terms of Reference to cover every aspect of the position requirements, rather to highlight the most important areas of personal and joint responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Responsibilities:

• Provide overall leadership, management, and strategic direction for the project’s communications and outreach activities
• Take responsibility on all project reporting, ensuring compliance with ADPC policies and procedures and USAID rules and regulations, as stipulated in the project’s communications strategy and plan.
• Provide overall quality assurance of all project’s communications and outreach activities and products
• Serve as the primary liaison with USAID’s Development Outreach and Communications team
• Serve as the primary liaison with NASA’s Communications team via SERVIR’s Science Coordination Office
• Support the Chief of Party in ensuring that program activities align with the annual workplan to meet program objectives
• Develop and oversee systems for providing human resources and administrative support
• Oversee personnel management in coordination with the Chief of Party, including recruiting, hiring, performance management, and offboarding
• Oversee project communications and outreach, development of the learning agenda, and monitoring and evaluation approaches – with inputs from the MEL Specialist and the Capacity Development Lead of SERVIR-SEA
• Supervise the SERVIR-SEA Communications Specialists and communications team members, who are based at the headquarters and in countries
• Contribute to strengthening and creating new relationships with partner agencies
• Provide technical supports to the Geospatial Information Department on training courses, workshops, and other capacity-building activities in the planning, delivery, and follow-up, as needed
• Travel as needed to countries in Southeast Asia to coordinate the implementation of activities related to ADPC programs.
• Actively pursue new and maintain existing relationships with partner agencies

Corporate Responsibilities:

• Support and work with the ADPC corporate communications team to integrate SERVIR-SEA communications institutionally
• Provide technical inputs in developing training courses, workshops, and other capacity-building activities for other ADPC projects and activities
• Represent ADPC in meetings/workshops/events, as requested by the Director, Geospatial Information
• Conduct training and seminar to enhance internal geospatial capacity and communications of ADPC staff
• Proactively support other departments to increase uses of geospatial science in ADPC projects and activities
• Participate in technical and management meetings related to ADPC programs
• Find external opportunities and develop projects for ADPC

This job description covers the general responsibilities and representative tasks of this position. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to program priorities and needs.

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Integrity: Demonstrates the highest level of commitment and demonstrates respect for persons of concern to ADPC, partners and colleagues in all aspects of work. Ensures that personal and professional behavior is of the highest standard.
• Diversity Awareness: Able to embrace the uniqueness of all individuals along several dimensions such as race, religious beliefs, ethnicity, age, gender, physical abilities, political beliefs, socio-economic status, disability, political conviction, or any other distinguishing features.
• Equality Awareness: Understands that each individual has an equal opportunity to make decisions, participate in social activities, perform any work at the organization and to make the most of her/ his life and talents.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Works constructively within a team and across teams in ways that allow the achievement of shared objectives. Works effectively with colleagues and partners. Fosters a positive and collaborative environment.

Geospatial Information Department Functional Competencies:

• Results Orientation: Focuses on the delivery of agreed results through the effective management of internal and external resources to achieve results. Demonstrates a commitment to both personal and organizational excellence, with an emphasis on results.
• Proactivity/Self-motivation: Keeps abreast of new developments actively seeking to develop oneself professionally and personally. Recognizes the importance of continuous improvement for more effective and efficient working environment. Creates a learning culture.
• Creativity and Innovation: Demonstrates and encourages the development of new ideas/ approaches in own work area. Proposes changes that will improve organizational and staff performance to a common goal.
• Stakeholder Orientation: Able to see the fulfilment of ADPC’s mission by building networks of mutual trust with stakeholders in order to maximize results for people and key stakeholders.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications and Specifications

The SERVIR-SEA Senior Communications & Outreach Advisor will have the following minimum qualifications:

• Advanced Degree in Science Journalism, Communications, public administration, or International Development;
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience; 8 years of which in developing communications and outreach plan or products;
• Experience working with or supporting USAID or USAID projects on communications and outreach required;
• Experience developing and implementing effective communications and outreach strategies for development audiences at a range of scales required;
• Knowledge of scientific subjects related to SERVIR-SEA such as Geography, Climate Science, or Environmental Science considered favorably;
• Experience in translating science into impactful writing for non-scientific readers considered favorably;
• Experience in conducting business development and/or fund raising will be considered favorably;
• Project / Program management experience will be considered favorably;
• Exemplary English writing and editing skills (writing samples/writing test will be requested)
• Demonstrated skills in documentation and knowledge management interventions;
• Advanced computer literacy – including presentation software, publishing, and MS Office;
• Experience delivering presentations to large audiences, and important stakeholders, including academia, Government and non-government;
• Knowledge of the development context of Southeast Asia considered a plus;
• Work experience in Southeast Asian Countries considered favorably;
• Willingness to commit to further training and development as required

Reporting and Relationships:

The SERVIR-SEA Senior Communications & Outreach Advisor will report to the Director of the Geospatial Information Department. She/he will supervise the SERVIR-SEA Communications Specialists and communications team members, who are based at the headquarters and in countries, as well as the administrative staff of the project.

Contract Duration

The contract duration will be for 2 years.