Job Title: Public Engagement Specialist
Organisation: United States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Salary: UGX 118,018,022 /Per Year
Position Number: Kampala-2023-052
About US Embassy:
The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years. Ambassador Natalie E. Brown currently heads the U.S Mission to Uganda. The Mission is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador.
Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are:
- United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- Peace Corps
Job Summary: The Public Engagement Specialist is the leading locally employed (LE) staff adviser for the Mission’s Public Diplomacy (PD) engagement with Emerging Voices (EV) and Established Opinion Leaders (EOL) audience sectors. Plans, oversees, and evaluates the impact of all PD activities, projects, and initiatives to engage EV and EOL audience sectors, and supervises staff responsible for the Mission’s education, exchanges, and youth-focused portfolios. Designs and implements Mission PD outreach strategy to EV audiences, primarily youth, underrepresented groups, and those who influence them, and to EOL audiences, primarily through professional exchanges. Designs and recommends PD strategies to connect with EV and EOL audience sectors to promote an understanding of and support for U.S. policy and dispel inaccurate perceptions.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Planning, Analysis, Evaluation, and Recommendations (40% of time)
- Serves as the lead observer, strategist, and advisor on Mission engagement with EV and EOL audiences through programs and exchanges. Actively supervises, coordinates, and plans Mission engagement with EV and EOL audiences at least one year in advance to intensify its impact and expand EV and EOL sector support for Mission objectives and U.S. foreign policy goals. Contributes fully defined EV and EOL elements to the annual Public Diplomacy Implementation Plan (PDIP).
- Leads in designing and recommending engagement and marketing strategies most likely to succeed with key audience segments and reach priority communities (e.g., ethnic, linguistic, or ideological groups of rising importance to U.S. objectives). Contributes EV and EOL components to the Mission Integrated Country Strategy (ICS).
- Evaluates previous PD activities for impact and cost-effectiveness as the basis for improved planning and enhanced performance.
- Assesses evaluation of previous activities to fine-tune projections for planned initiatives; identifies project objectives, assessment methods, and outcomes.
- Coordinates with the Strategic Communications Specialist to analyze demographic, communication, and influence patterns of the EV and EOL sectors to identify those audience groups with the greatest potential to affect U.S. foreign policy priorities, and the nature and level of impact of the EV and EOL sectors on Ugandan public and governmental perspectives.
- Drafts cables and reports to capture the results of these evaluations to share across the Mission, with the AF Regional Bureau, and with external audiences.
- Expands Mission understanding of the genesis of emerging networks and changing influence patterns in the Ugandan EV and EOL sectors by developing substantive relationships with Ugandan political, intellectual, and cultural leaders and institutions who follow EV and EOL sector issues as the basis for strategic planning, analysis, and identifying performance targets.
Implementation (20% of time)
- Advances U.S. foreign policy objectives through local and Mission-wide engagement with EV and EOL audiences in the fast-paced virtual and physical communication spaces in which they are active, and which are already heavily influenced by non-nation voices via preexisting traditional and social media cross-border networks.
- Designs and oversees programs and projects tailored to attract EV and EOL audience segments to leverage EV and EOL individuals, their institutions, and their networks in support of U.S. goals and values on critical issues.
- Recommends monitoring techniques and metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of engagements, initiatives, and the overall program.
Administrative Functions (20% of time)
- Supervision: Supervises Public Engagement staff responsible for Mission’s EV and EOL exchange, alumni, experiential learning, English language, and educational outreach activities.
- General: In coordination with the Resource Coordination Specialist, maintains required office records and files and ensures that EV and EOL activities and outcomes are recorded in PD Tools and contact databases as needed.
- Grants: Serves as Grants Officer’s Representative (GOR) with responsibilities as indicated in the Delegation of Authority letter.
Resource Management (10% of time)
- Recommends the allocation of funding, program, and human resources for EV and EOL activities to the PDO for Public Engagement (or PAO designee).
Intra- and Interagency Coordination (10% of time)
- Oversees Public Engagement efforts and activities as necessary with regional PD colleagues, including the Regional English Language Officer (RELO) and Regional Public Engagement Specialist (REPS) units, as well as with the Regional Educational Advising Coordinator (REAC).
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
NOTE: All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.
- The applicants for the United States US Embassy Public Engagement Specialist job opportunity should hold a university degree in Communications, International Affairs, Public or Business Administration, Marketing or local equivalent is required.
- At least four years of experience is required, with communications, public engagement management, or education duties as components of the work. Prior experience in an international, academic, or governmental work environment is required. Supervisory: At least one year of supervisory experience is required.
- Must have knowledge of marketing techniques, market analysis and analytics, and customer service standards in the United States and Uganda;
- Broad knowledge of trends in experiential learning and audience engagement; and an understanding of communications in the region and the international information environment as it affects Uganda.
- Must have general knowledge of project management, including defining project objectives, outcomes, and assessment methods.
- Language: English: Level 4 (Fluent) Speaking/Reading/Writing English is required. This maybe tested.
How to Apply:
All those interested in working with the United States Embassy, US Mission in Kampala should send their applications online at the link below.
Deadline: 21st June 2023