Communications Specialist

Position: Communications Specialist

Period of Performance: One year, with probation period and renewable upon showing of above average or excellent performance.

Base of Operations: Dili, Timor-Leste

Position Reports to: Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party

Nature of Contract: LTTA

Introduction

Dexis is a professional services firm that solves the most pressing social challenges in complex environments, paving the way for a more secure and prosperous world. Dexis embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to build and maintain a safe environment where we celebrate diverse backgrounds, treat everyone with respect, and value the unique lived experiences each person brings based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, military or veteran status, national origin, age, marital status or family status and related conditions. At Dexis, staff will experience a corporate culture of inclusiveness, fairness, and trust where they are given the means and the mentorship needed to succeed, and their creativity rewarded.

Dexis is presently implementing a three-year contract with a one-year option to implement the USAID/Timor-Leste Accountability and Integrity Mechanism (AIM), a project designed to strengthen Timor-Leste's accountability ecosystem and advance the Government of Timor-Leste’s (GOTL) anti-corruption reforms, including the GOTL’s new Anti-Corruption Law and good governance targets set within Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan (2011 - 2030). The USAID/Timor-Leste AIM project forms part of USAID’s new generation of democracy support in Timor-Leste and aims to bolster key institutions, to include governmental, parliamentary and civil society actors, to improve the ability of Timor-Leste’s democratic system to deliver “an inclusive, prosperous, and healthy Timor-Leste”

for its young and growing population. Accordingly, Dexis will work with civil society, the government, and parliament of Timor-Leste to strengthen the strategic, institutional, communications, and coordination capacity of key accountability institutions, especially the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, and the audit chamber. Stronger institutional independence of these oversight agencies coupled with the development of sound legislative and governmental policy will ensure that citizens are empowered and can hold government accountable, thus leading to more inclusive and sustainable economic development.

Position Description

AIM seeks a communications specialist to temporarily lead the Activity’s communications and knowledge management activities until a permanent communications specialist is recruited under a long-term contract.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The Communications Specialist will be responsible for coordinating with AIM staff, key stakeholders, and partners to develop, publish, and disseminate knowledge products and learning experiences using various communications technologies. The position will also lead the development of communications-driven activities and ensure the compliant, innovative, and impactful production of communications and knowledge products.

Duties will include:

• Provide communications and documentation support for AIM project activities.
• Ensure all AIM communications, events, outreach, and activities comply with USAID branding and marking requirements.
• Train or orient AIM staff and partners on AIM objectives, appropriate messages, and branding and marking guidelines;
• Use innovative tools or methods to communicate project impact and messages.
• Identify and manage the appropriate communications tools to reach targeted audiences. This may include but is not limited to writing press releases, success stories, partner and beneficiary testimonies, providing professional photography, producing videos and data visualization, managing social media, and developing conference and activity materials.
• Produce impactful and compliant materials for the project team when requested.
• Support the MEL Specialist, Objective Leads, and Technical Specialists in achieving AIM’s objectives by providing communications expertise to technical teams.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5 years of relevant professional experience (or 3 years of professional experience plus an advanced degree in a related technical area).
• Communications, outreach and advocacy experience of no less than 2 years, preferably for projects funded by USAID or another international donor.
• Bachelor's degree in political science, international development, or related field. Postgraduate degrees preferred.
• Demonstrated experience writing story-driven content about complex technical subjects and projects in a variety of formats (e.g., newsletters, success stories, news stories, op-eds/blogs, videos, photo essays, podcasts, one-pagers) that engages target audiences and communicates impact.
• Familiarity with USAID's branding and marking requirements.
• Self-initiative and ability to work independently.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Innovative thinker with experience designing and executing creative communications campaigns.
• Positive and results-orientated working style, and the ability to work under pressure and collaboratively with counterparts and colleagues.
• Oral and written command of the English and Tetum languages.

Preferred Qualifications

• Data visualization skills.
• Knowledge of monitoring, evaluation, and learning policies and procedures.
• Familiarity with anti-corruption work.

Supervisor

• Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party

How to apply?

To apply, kindly submit a Cover Letter with the subject, “Communications Specialist”, and an updated CV or Resume in English on or before March 11, 2024 to the following email address, [email protected] . Due to the expected volume of applicants, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Position will remain open until a suitable candidate has been identified.