The role of the Information Specialist involves serving as the key media outreach advisor and analyst for the U.S. Embassy in Kenya, supporting the Information Officer (IO), Public Affairs Officer (PAO), and other Mission agencies. This specialist is critical in planning, directing, and advising on overall information programs, ensuring materials align with USG objectives and local cultural sensitivities, and managing high-level media relationships.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
Media Advisor (30%)
- Serve as the expert media outreach advisor to the IO, PAO, and other Mission agencies/personnel for information program planning, media outreach, and analysis.
- Advise the IO, PAO, and Mission Agencies on the local cultural sensitivity of materials (op-eds, releases, etc.) prepared at Post and by Washington for placement in the Kenyan media.
- Advise on proposed Embassy and USG outreach activities involving the Kenyan media, providing assessment of the individual and collective value of proposed materials and outreach activities to the Mission and USG objectives.
- Monitor publication, broadcasts, and overall coverage of materials and activities and report on their efficiency, economy, and effectiveness.
- Contribute to Mission strategic plan media components, formulate target audience evaluation processes; plan, direct, and advise on overall information programs.
- Coordinate activities of other Public Affairs Section (PAS) media staff.
- Advise IO/PAO on the selection, targeting, and placement of USG and Mission press materials to meet Mission Strategic Plan (MPP) objectives.
Analysis (30%)
- Advise the IO, PAO, other Mission Agencies, and the Ambassador on media reaction, current public and media opinion, and media/story trends significant to the United States.
- Work with other PAS staff to review and edit daily press reports and media reaction products, providing analyses and interpretation of the local media treatment of stories of interest to the United States for distribution to Mission staff and visiting VIPs.
- Directly draft media products, including releases and advisories, as needed.
- Monitor media freedom issues and draft media input for the Department's Annual Human Rights Report and other annual reports as required.
- May be required to interpret Mission/USG presentations in the host country language and to translate materials for placement in local print and electronic media.
- Hold final responsibility for the policy accuracy of all local language translated materials, including official statements by the highest U.S. public and private authorities.
Media Relations (30%)
- Cultivate and maintain media contacts at all levels, including with media owners (at the highest level), managing editors, and station managers in press, radio, and TV to advance MPP goals.
- Periodically serve as traveling press liaison for Washington and Mission officials.
- Coordinate: press interviews and materials; invitations to representational functions; Mission media briefings; and cultural activities.
- Coordinate countrywide information activities, including Mission media strategies and cultural programs, press conferences and press materials.
- Assist the social media coordinator in identifying and locating websites of local bloggers and Kenyans in the Diaspora as part of the Mission outreach program.
PAS Support (10%)
- Report on media activities via the Mission Activity Tracker (MAT) and other reporting mechanisms.
- Serve as backup to other PAS locally engaged staff during periods of absence, travel, high-level visits, or other intensive media-related activities.
- These responsibilities can include, but are not limited to, drafting daily materials, posting outreach material online, and sending media releases and advisories through electronic means.
Note: This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by incumbent. Incumbent will be required to perform other duties as assigned by the agency.
Qualifications and Experience
Required Education:
- Must have a bachelor's degree in the social sciences or humanities, preferably in International studies or Communications media.
- Must have specialized training in media as well as in publications and/or public relations.
Required Experience:
- Minimum of five years experience in a reputable media house, private company media relations department, public relations organization, or government agency (if doing media work).
Required Skills and Attributes:
- Must possess advanced writing and analytical skills.
- Must possess an excellent public relations approach.
Mandatory Requirements
- All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a Security clearance.
- All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and may be subject to a pre-employment medical exam.
- Selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
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