The Emerging Voices Coordinator (Regional) works under the direct supervision of the Public Diplomacy Officer – Emerging Voices (PDO [EV]) . The position has no supervisory responsibilities. Coordinates Mission Public Diplomacy outreach to Emerging Voices audiences through the YALI (Young African Leaders Initiative) program and other emerging voices outreach and develops projects and events in Kenya and regionally. Works with YALI alumni to develop activities to engage EV audiences through focused community engagement programs. Designs, develops, identifies co-sponsors and funding sources, plans and oversees a range of outreach activities in support of Mission goals. Manages recruitment and placement for Kenyan YALI participants.

Qualifications and Evaluations

Requirements:

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE: College or University studies (no specific field required) Plus 5 years of progressively responsible experience in a multilingual, multicultural, multinational, government, or museum environment with marketing, public relations, communication, or education duties as a significant part of the job is required.

JOB KNOWLEDGE: Detailed knowledge of U.S. foreign policy and American interests as they apply to Kenya and especially to the EV sector is required. General knowledge of USG and DOS structure, as well as of PD Bureaus within the Department, is required. Detailed understanding of the full range of PD tactics and tools designed to engage EV audiences, and general knowledge of cross-cultural communications is required. Must have knowledge of Department standards for project management, including defining project objectives, outcomes, and assessment methods. Full understanding of PD-specific funding authorities and their planning and reporting tools is required.
A thorough understanding of the attitudes and preferences of the EV audience sector in Kenya, including the regional, ethnic, socio-economic, cultural, and linguistic factors and the religious and educational institutions that shape those attitudes, is required.

Knowledge of typical customer service and marketing tools designed to engage specific audience segments, particularly the EV sector, in Kenya is required. Knowledge of latest trends in YALI and EV engagement in related public service institutions such as schools, museums, and training institutes, as relevant for the EV sector, is required. Knowledge of the types of technical and regulatory requirements associated with public engagement activities in Kenya is required. Must have knowledge of the primary influencers in popular culture, as well as Kenyan institutions, government structures and policies that shape local attitudes toward experiential learning techniques and/or EV audiences, particularly youth. Must be a practitioner of digital communication tools and practices trending with youth audiences, as well as those used by cultural or idea leaders influential with Kenya’s EV sector. Understanding of the complex and changing nature of the information environment, including current trends in international and Kenyan communications landscape is required.Education Requirements:

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE: College or University studies (no specific field required) Plus 5 years of progressively responsible experience in a multilingual, multicultural, multinational, government, or museum environment with marketing, public relations, communication, or education duties as a significant part of the job is required.Evaluations:

LANGUAGE: Level IV (Fluent) Speaking/Reading/Writing of English is required.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

Analytic skills: Must have strong analytic skills and the ability to conceptualize how best to use innovation and cutting edge experiential learning opportunities to attract EV audiences and engage them in positive ways. Must be able to advise senior leaders of opportunities to promote Mission YALI and other EV outreach objectives; identify, analyze, predict and assess EV audience attitudes; evaluate the impact of activities and projects and modify approaches for best outcomes. Must be able to perceive the emergence of new trends and new sources of influence on EV audiences and adjust operations and programming accordingly.

Communication/Interpersonal skills: Must have excellent customer relations, interpersonal cross-cultural communication skills, and be able to identify and engage key figures critical to developing YALI priority initiatives. Must have the capacity to quickly tailor communications to fit formal and informal situations and different ethnic, religious and linguistic cultural groups; must also have excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking, interviewing for evaluation purposes and writing reports and material for publication. Must be able to brief on a variety of issues.

Management skills: Strong project management skills are required, including the ability to establish credibility and lead group participation in projects such as workshops, seminars, conferences, and other outreach programs, including activities conducted virtually. Must be able to negotiate agreements with partner institutions and manage their fulfillment.

Technical skills: Good keyboarding and data entry skills, and excellent familiarity with electronic discovery tools, in particular the Internet, and standard information retrieval practices and procedures are required. Thorough, detailed knowledge of various computer software programs, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, and PD-specific software, databases, and reporting tools is required. Must be practiced in using social media and mobile platforms, podcasts, basic photo and video tools to generate group interest and participation. Must have good numerical skills to be able to develop and oversee project and grant budgets; must be able to develop descriptive statistical analysis of target audience segments and impact of YALI activities and initiatives.

Availability: Must be available to travel throughout Kenya to support YALI and other EV projects and activities.Qualifications:

All applicants under consideration will be required to pass security certifications.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO): The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Benefits and Other Info

Benefits:Agency Benefits:

For EFMs, benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources Office.

The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.Other Information:

HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS:  Applicants in the following hiring preference categories are extended a hiring preference in the order listed below.  Therefore, it is essential that these applicants accurately describe their status on the application. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not eligible for a hiring preference.

HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER:

1. AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
2. AEFM / USEFM
3. FS on LWOP and CS with reemployment rights **

* IMPORTANT:  Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”), equivalent documentation, or certification.  A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.  Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given. 

** This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.

For more information (i.e., what is an EFM, USEFM, AEFM, MOH, etc.?) and for additional employment considerations, please visit the following link.

FURTHER, THE FOLLOWING APPLY TO EFMs, USEFMs, and AEFMs ONLY:

1. Current employees who used a hiring preference to gain employment who are within their first 90 calendar days of employment are not eligible to apply.
2. Candidates with a hiring preference who have already accepted a conditional offer of employment may NOT be extended a second conditional offer of employment unless and until they withdraw their candidacy for the first position in writing.
3. The following may also be considered when determining successful candidacy: nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, etc.

4. How to Apply

   How to Apply:

   All candidates must be able to obtain and hold a Non Sensitive clearance. 

   Interested candidates for this position must submit their application to the following link for consideration: https://erajobs.state.gov/dos-era/ken/vacancysearch/searchVacancies.hms
   Required Documents:

   To qualify based on education, you MUST submit the requested certificates as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide requested information, or the information is insufficient to verify eligibility, may result in disqualification for this position.

   Please provide the required documentation listed below with your application:

   • Copy of Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)
   • DD-214 – Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
   • SF-50 (if applicable)
   • University Degree
   • Passport

   Next Steps:

   Applicants who are selected for an interview will be contacted via email. 

   For further information – the complete position description listing all of the duties, responsibilities, required qualifications, etc. may be obtained by contacting the Human Resources Office.

   Thank you for your application and your interest in working at the U.S. Mission in Nairobi.

    

   Apply