Regional Communications Specialist

About DAI

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works at the forefront of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world. DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner. DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All of our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

DAI is seeking qualified candidates for the full-time position of Regional Communications Specialist to join USAID Governance and Local Accountability (HOVERLA) Activity’s team. Interested candidates should submit their application through the following portal:

https://fs23.formsite.com/OLJTgx/yhwh62wp54/index

Applications will be accepted until May 20, 2024. Due to a high volume of applications received, we are unable to contact each applicant individually regarding the status of their application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted in response to this job advertisement.

Project Background

DAI Global is implementing the USAID-funded Governance and Local Accountability (HOVERLA) Activity, based in Kyiv, Ukraine. This project is designed to support Ukraine’s advance to self-reliant local governance including legislative reforms, participatory strategic planning methodologies, service improvement, local economic development, civil society engagement, and capacity building of sub-national government entities. The Activity has three objectives:

• Objective 1: Ukraine’s system of local self-governance is increasingly institutionalized and effective
• Objective 2: More self-reliant subnational governance
• Objective 3: Citizens play an increasingly influential role in local governance processes

Position Overview

The Regional Communication Specialist will work within the HOVERLA Communication team to ensure planning, designing, implementing and carrying out HOVERLA’s communication activities in HOVERLA targeted regions. The Regional Communications Specialist will support HOVERLA’s activities in communication channels and events, working with local partners and key stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, civil society, businesses, and mass media. This position requires excellent writing, communication, event organization and media skills. We are looking for a team member who is not afraid to take responsibility, take initiative and be creative. The person will support the regional offices of HOVERLA (Lviv, Volyn, Zakarpattia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Poltava and Odesa) with communication activities. He/she should be a focal point for media relations both local and regional and will handle any media requests or regional events for HOVERLA. The Regional Communication Specialist will be based in Kyiv or Lviv.

Objectives and Duties

Regional Communications Specialist will mainly focus on the following functions:

Media Relations:

• In consultation with the relevant Objective team leads and regional offices, write and distribute briefing/publicity materials including the daily bullets, news, project updates, project fact sheets, “success story” one-pagers, etc.
• Work with media on the regional and local levels to ensure the high-level and quality visibility and outreach of the HOVERLA activities.
• Solicit information from HOVERLA staff and partners to prepare and distribute daily and weekly reports to USAID and USAID partners on regional activities and progress.
• Write press releases, speeches, and talking points as required by the Communications Director or Senior Communication Specialists.
• Write and organize background briefings for media on project implementation and provide media support for the regions assigned.
• Coordinate with various partners and HOVERLA teams development and/or editing the news/articles/columns for the further distribution by regional and local media.

Communication Outreach Activities:

• Support the setup and coordination of press and field events related to HOVERLA activities.
• Assist in developing communications plans and activities for a variety of stakeholder groups, create messaging and materials for community action.
• Assist in developing innovative communications products to actively engage HOVERLA stakeholders within the HOVERLA partner regions, including institutional and private sector partners.

Events Support:

• Manage communications support of the event planning following DAI logistics, finance, and procurement processes.
• Ensure appropriate branding and visibility of HOVRLA events in the regions
• Coordinate closely with external contracted consultants and firms on event management (branding, visibility, outreach issues).
• Assist with field visit to Grants activities sights in the assigned regions. Ensure their media coverageExpected to be proactive and offer innovative ideas for HOVERLA events and partner events in the regions.
• Provide suggestions regarding strategic initiatives and activities (such as ceremonies, forums, and high-visibility events), as needed in the regions.
• Assist with maintaining HOVERLA’s internal and external events calendar and schedule for the regions assigned.

HOVERLA Communications and Content Development:

• Assist with implementation of USAID HOVERLA branding and marking during the performance of the technical tasks.
• Prepare and draft HOVERLA communication materials, texts, and success stories, in various formats (i.e. written, presentations, video, etc.).
• Work with staff to develop and produce communications, knowledge management and outreach materials (videos, infographics etc.).
• Draft the content (text and visual) for HOVERLA’s social media pages and other media channels being utilized by HOVERLA.
• Support the development of on-demand information/communications products requested by USAID or other stakeholders.
• Contribute to the preparation of weekly, quarterly, and annual reports.
• Contribute to the development of relevant SoWs, requests for proposals etc.
• Coordinate closely with grantees and external contracted consultants and firms on communication activities.
• Assist in the creation and management of a knowledge bank (OneDrive/TAMIS knowledge repository/SharePoint) for HOVERLA and external stakeholders.
• Other tasks as assigned by Communications Director, Sr. Communications Specialists, COP or DCOP.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, PR, languages, communications or in a related field; a master’s degree is an asset.
• At least 3 years of professional experience in communications, media relations.
• Experience in communications in the reform sphere in Ukraine is beneficial.
• Have good understanding of media relations on the national and regional levels.
• Experience with communications for USAID or other international donor-funded programs is a bonus.
• Experience in working with grantees is a bonus.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Word and PowerPoint); graphic arts and/or desktop publishing software is a plus.
• Native Ukrainian and excellent command of English; solid skills in writing and editing English and Ukrainian content for various channels.
• Knowledge of the Ukrainian government’s decentralization reform agenda and developments is a plus.