Outreach and Events Specialist, Program Office, USAID/Asia

Dexis Online - Washington, DC

Full-time - Mid Level

Hybrid - Washington, DC

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

Dexis is seeking an experienced Outreach and Events Specialist to provide support and expertise to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Asia Bureau, Program Office (ASIA/PO). USAID operates 15 bilateral missions across Asia and three regional missions, including the Regional Development Mission for Asia in Thailand, the Pacific Islands Mission based in Fiji, and the Central Asia Regional office based in Kazakhstan. USAID also has Country Representative offices in Laos and Papua New Guinea. The Program Office coordinates with USG counterparts and provides guidance and assistance on policy, strategy, program management, communications and outreach, and budgeting and risk management to Asia Bureau DC Offices and Missions across the region. The Outreach and Events Specialist is responsible for designing and implementing an outreach and events strategy to raise awareness of USAID's work in Asia. They will help educate and inform Asia Bureau's key stakeholders, including Congress, think tanks, media, the private sector, diaspora, and the public about critical information on U.S. foreign assistance in Asia. The position reports to the Asia Bureau/Program Office/Outreach and Communications Division Chief. The Outreach & Events Specialist role is a full-time (defined as 40-hour work week) position based in Washington, DC. This is a long-term, hybrid position requiring three days a week minimum in the USAID offices.

Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, and execute strategic public engagement opportunities that support the interagency, Agency and Asia Bureau's objectives
• Advise Asia Bureau staff and leadership on strategic public engagement opportunities, working with relevant stakeholders to advance the communications goals of the Bureau
• Advise Asia Bureau leadership and Asia Missions on strategic public engagement, and draft and execute a consistent, coherent and strategic public outreach and events strategy
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with USAID officials - including the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA) and the Administrator's public outreach and events managers and other strategic communications officials - to ensure that Asia content is highly represented in the Agency's flagship public outreach opportunities
• Cultivate relationships with State Department and other interagency counterparts to ensure that USAID's Asia public outreach content is highly represented at key interagency events
• Design and lead training sessions, and establish processes and standard operating procedures, for event management and promotion
• Provide guidance for Asia Bureau staff and field personnel on engaging Agency and Asia Bureau leadership in public engagements
• Develop and maintain relationships with think tanks, universities, businesses, diaspora groups and other important stakeholders on Asia development outreach
• Collaborate closely with internal Bureau and Agency stakeholders
• Drafting remarks, talking points, building blocks, video speeches, social media content, press releases, meeting notes, briefing checklists, runs-of-show, or other products related to Asia Bureau public engagement
• Attend to logistics related to all public engagements, both domestic and international
• Other tasks as requested.

Requirements

• The ability to obtain an interim-level and receive a full secret-level clearance required.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field and at least eight (8) years' experience OR a Master's degree in a related field and at least three (3) years' experience in a responsible role managing and/or conducting outreach and communications events, preferably related to Asia and/or international development (Related field of study, such as communications, creative writing, marketing, public relations, political science, international affairs, creative writing, journalism, etc.)
• Professional familiarity with a range of types of public engagements (especially round tables, traditional speeches, fireside chats, public discussions, recorded direct to camera remarks, etc.)
• Knowledge of communication principles, methods, practices, and techniques of public engagement/relations in order to communicate with the US Congress and with other USG agencies and develop and implement communications strategies.
• Excellent skills in working with and effectively communicating with a diverse population to include internal and external audiences at all levels, Congress, industry representatives, think tanks, press, and members of the public.
• Excellent analytical skills and reasoning ability, adeptness at synthesizing information and problem-solving with limited guidance, and must possess the ability to adapt information effectively to present to various audiences.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, teamwork, and collaboration skills.
• Understanding of cultural and social diversity, and diplomatic skills.
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity.
• Ability to work independently, to organize and manage completion of multiple tasks concurrently, and to work under pressure to meet short deadlines.
• Knowledge of project management and/or international development, and related administrative, management, and/or financial matters a plus.
• Proficiency in the use of office technology and software (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Drive, Internet search engines, and e-mail applications).

Nice-to-haves

• At least 4 years' experience in increasing roles of responsibility in managing and/or conducting outreach and communications events, preferably related to Asia and/or international development.
• Prior experience with donor-funded projects preferred.
• Active secret-level security clearance.