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Statement of Duties to be Performed

The S/DOC Specialist (hereafter referred to as “S/DOC”) will service the needs of USAID Uganda, per

the requirements below.

A. Strategic Communications (35%):

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The S/DOC is the expert authority on all communication and outreach strategies, policies, tools, and

approaches for the USAID Uganda portfolios. This expert authority extends to all technical and program

staff (approximately 220 staff), thereby affecting a large number of technical staff and having a direct

effect on the scope, manner and effectiveness with which USAID translates high level decisions,

initiatives, programs and activities into clear and direct messaging.

The S/DOC develops and manages comprehensive Development Outreach and Communication

Strategies. This sets communication policy for the USAID Uganda Mission, and is designed to promote

USAID and all USG programs to both internal and external audiences. The primary responsibility is to

ensure public awareness of programs and projects being funded by USAID and, where applicable, other

USG Agencies. The S/DOC also helps to facilitate information access and sharing within the entire

Mission; and, strengthening Mission reporting functions to USAID Washington, the Department of State,

and the U.S. Congress. The Development Outreach and Communication strategies should innovatively

translate the role, objectives, and achievements of USAID and USG assistance into clear messaging, and

should define how this information will be used to highlight the impact of USAID and USG assistance in

Uganda. The policies, communications strategies, and outreach plans will include developing and testing

new hypotheses and theories for opening new channels of communication and sustainably improving the

flow of information on development activities to local audiences.

The S/DOC manages all outsourced development outreach and communications-related services, as

applicable or as needed. S/he supervises a team to utilize a broad range of innovative, effective and

widely disseminated publicity tools to ensure target audience awareness of the scale and impact of

USAID and U.S. generosity throughout Uganda, ensuring a targeted, coherent, and consistent message.

As a senior official of USAID, the S/DOC also serves as the lead for all official communication needs of

USAID Uganda visitors from the U.S. Embassies, USAID Washington, VIPs, etc. The S/DOC is

USAID’s communications point of contact for such visits and events, responsible for managing all

aspects of outreach and communication related to USAID programming. This can include working

closely with the designated control officer to maintain site visit schedules, reviewing and clearing briefing

materials, and coordinating meetings and briefings with implementing partners, constituents, other

donors, and officials.

Additionally and relatedly, the S/DOC:

● Counsels and advises the USAID Uganda Mission Director and frequently directs USAID staff on all

communication and outreach efforts;

● Leads the Mission’s development, outreach and communications team, ensuring overall quality and

coherence of the team’s communications and outreach products and initiatives covering the entire

USAID Uganda area of responsibility;

● Guides all USAID staff and contractors in developing appropriate public information programs,

oversees all USAID branding, provides guidance to USAID staff and partners in their direct contacts

with the media, and ensures a targeted, coherent, and consistent message from all USAID staff and

partners;

● Substantially increases the effective and creative use of multimedia to enhance the message of

development throughout Uganda through written and visual means; and

● Oversees all internal communications functions, including quality assurance of annual required and

ad-hoc reports and communications with internal USAID and USG stakeholders.

B. Development Outreach and Media Activities (35%):

To ensure appropriate, consistent and accurate messaging and communication of USG and USAID

program objectives and achievements in support of U.S. foreign policy, the S/DOC organizes, coordinates

and implements press events for USAID activities in conjunction with the PDS, USAID Mission Director

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and Deputy Director, technical teams, implementing partners, regional and/or local governments, and

private sector counterparts. S/he directs DOC and Technical Staff in the preparation and maintenance of

information packages on the USAID and USG programs in Uganda – with standard basic packages for

differing purposes (media, the public, educational institutions, the Government of Uganda, and district

and local level governments, etc.), for briefings and for distribution to the public and the media; and, for

USAID Washington, the US Embassy, etc. The S/DOC monitors local and international press coverage

for awareness of, and attitudes toward USAID and USG writ large, and provides continuous feedback to

inform USAID staff on ongoing activities and future programming.

For media events, the S/DOC and his or her team are responsible for:

● Drafting of speeches, talking points, and background briefings for media engagements, including the

development of materials and preparation of speakers for radio, video and television sessions;

● Compilation and dissemination of press packets, handling of protocol issues, site selection, staging,

and on-site coordination of all media issues;

● Identification and scheduling of speakers and liaising with U.S. and local government officials as

needed;

● Writing and/or editing of USAID programmatic and strategic fact sheets and briefing materials for

public consumption;

● Writing and/or editing of Briefing Checklists (BCLs), scene setters, briefing materials and

memoranda for the Ambassador, the USAID Mission Director or his/her designees when their

participation in events is warranted; and

● Coordination of updates to USAID websites.

The S/DOC oversees the drafting of press releases on program successes, project inaugurations, and

significant developments, and provides drafts to the PDS for dissemination, as appropriate; follows up

with media to encourage and support coverage of public events; works with staff from throughout the

Mission to develop and maintain public relations materials, to the extent possible in both the English and

the country’s official language, including fact sheets, brochures, newsletters, presentations, websites, and

other visual displays on USAID programs and their objectives; distributes reports on field trips and

assessments conducted by USAID staff; and, participates in field trips as necessary.

C. Coordination of Communication Strategies and Activities (30%):

As the expert authority on outreach and communication, the S/DOC may be called upon to provide high-

level, sophisticated support and guidance to the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda and the USAID Mission

Director for Uganda. With continual changes in geo-political climate, multi-sector programmatic needs,

shifting political bilateral and multilateral relations between the U.S. and other government entities, and

several Presidential Initiatives, the S/DOC’s duties include extensive analysis of complex issues. The

S/DOC must continuously access and interpret often-nuanced information as it is made available or

accessible. He or she must use expert judgment to create or adjust policy statements and messages for use

by various levels of the U.S. Mission in Uganda.

The S/DOC coordinates with the Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) in Kampala; directs USAID staff on

such coordination efforts; develops and oversees implementation of communication strategies, branding

and marking plans of all partners to achieve maximum exposure and understanding of USAID and USG

humanitarian and development assistance efforts and initiatives; and designs and implements the

development communications and outreach strategy to increase understanding of, and support for,

USAID’s programs to external target audiences. S/he serves as USAID’s point of contact for all press

relations, both international and local media and works closely with the PDS on press relations while

maintaining contacts with high-level Western and local journalists from all media outlets. S/he exercises

independent judgment and leadership to coordinate with the PDS, U.S. military, other USG agencies (e.g.

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Treasury, Commerce, Agriculture), other donors, and USAID implementing partners to maximize

exposure and accurate understanding of U.S. humanitarian and development assistance efforts and

initiatives in Uganda.

The S/DOC represents USAID and the U.S. Mission at a senior level in all matters pertaining to

Development Outreach and Communication activities with the Ugandan Governments, other donors and

development partners, domestic and international media, regional African organizations, and other groups

and institutions; and, as appropriate, helps to build their capacity to manage public affairs and outreach

activities. The S/DOC is a creative agent for dissemination of important information through government

intermediaries.

POSITION ELEMENTS

Post Entry Training: On-the-job training will be provided relating to USG-specific procedures,

regulations, and methods. Appropriate training courses including E-training will be offered,

subject to course offerings and the availability of funds. The S/DOC shall annually complete

Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 450 form). The S/DOC shall attend mandatory annual Ethics

training conducted at USAID/Uganda by the Regional Legal Advisor. The S/DOC may also be

required to attend and successfully complete the mandatory Contracting/Agreement Officer

Representative (COR/AOR) training, other USAID Acquisition and Assistance, project

management, and implementation training as needed.

Available Guidelines: Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM), Foreign Affairs Regulations (FAR),

Automated Directives System (ADS), Mission Orders, and Mission Notices. Judgment and

ingenuity are required of the S/DOC to interpret the intent of policies, directives, and guidelines

in the field of expertise, and the S/DOC should have the ability and experience to develop

applications and guidelines.

Exercise of Judgment: The S/DOC has wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment

to accomplish work of outstanding difficulty and responsibility. Substantial reliance is placed on

the S/DOC’s use of judgment concerning priority and effectiveness of public relations

documentation and activities. Judgment and ingenuity are required not only to interpret the intent

of guidance and to develop application/guidelines but also to make quick decisions in settings

that require immediate development outreach communication action with crucial implications on

U.S. interest and no U.S. senior officials present to consult. The S/DOC must react to and

interpret changing circumstances in the local and international media and their effects on his/her

work schedule and direct colleagues and subordinates to use effective means and skills on

rescheduled work.

Authority to Make Commitments: None. S/DOC’s recommendations will lay the basis for

making commitments and contribute to policy decisions made by the Mission management team.

The S/DOC will, however, be required to head activities with no senior officials present that will

require expertise and leadership in such events as planning and coordinating partner workshops,

donor conferences, project/program Press briefings, and conferences.

Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: Personal senior level contacts are with the Mission

Director, USAID officials, local professional and international media, U.S. Embassy personnel

including the Ambassador, USAID/W Bureaus, staff of implementers and institutional

contractors’ Chief of Party, local community leaders, as well as key host country officials and

counterparts. Through effective development outreach communication actions, the S/DOC must

be skillful in determining the appropriate approach in working with senior professional contacts

for the purposes of negotiating, persuading, and gaining favorable impressions for USG

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activities, as well as acquiring support and rapport for U.S. projects and progress.

Information Systems and Information Security: The S/DOC is responsible for operating

USAID information systems and information security to a level of “Individual Accountability”,

“Need to Know” and “Separation of Duties as defined in ADS 545.6 and also below:

Individual Accountability - The principle requiring that individual users be held accountable

for their actions, after being notified of the Rules of Behavior in the use of the system, and the

penalties associated with violations of those rules. (Source: NIST SP 800-18) (Chapter 545)

Need to Know - The need for specific information not normally available without justification

and authorization prior to the release of the information in question. (Chapter 545).

Separation of Duties - A requirement that two or more individuals are needed to complete a

process. This ensures that no single individual has complete control over process execution.

(Chapter 545).

This compartmentalizes; the independent actions and decreases an individual’s ability to perform multiple

actions or to complete the entire process, which may result in a security breach.

Sunday Pay: Sunday pay is not authorized under this contract.

Support Items: The Senior Development Outreach and Communication (DOC) Specialist will be

provided with the support services, equipment, and supplies necessary to perform the work.

Travel Requirements: Must be willing to travel to work sites and other offices as/when

requested. Occasional travel internationally may be necessary.

Supervisory Relationship: The incumbent will report to the Program Office leadership with a dotted line

to the USAID Front Office, who will provide administrative direction with assignments broadly defined.

The S/DOC is expected to plan, design and carry out duties independently. Review of work will be based

on fulfillment of Communication Strategies objectives, effectiveness and influence of media and outreach

campaigns and overall ability to serve foreign policy priorities.

Supervision exercised: The incumbent will supervise a Personal Services Contract Deputy Development

Outreach and Communications Officer, and two Foreign Service National DOC team members as needed

or assigned. The S/DOC will regularly advise, guide and mentor technical office communications

advisors. On occasion the Advisor will direct other Mission staff tasked to support important outreach

efforts for VIPs, visits by government officials, and embassy-generated outreach efforts.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve unusual physical demands.