Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity. Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.

EDC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Project Description

The USAID Youth Empowerment Activity will reach 25,000 South Sudanese youth in 13 counties across five States (Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Unity, Upper Nile, and Western Bahr el Ghazal) over four years. This activity supports South Sudanese youth and communities in developing, promoting, and strengthening the skills and assets of youth and creating an enabling environment for the youth to be productive and positively contribute to their communities. The purpose of this activity is to support and empower at-risk out-of-school youth ages 15-29 to gain the necessary skills they need to lead productive lives, gain employment, and positively contribute to their communities with the following intended results:

• Improved youth access to functional literacy, numeracy, soft skills, and life skills
• Increased youth entrepreneurial, employment, and vocational opportunities.
• Increased behavior changes among youth to make positive adolescent reproductive health choices.
• Improved social cohesion among youth and their communities.

The activity is implemented through a consortium led by EDC comprising 5 national and international NGOs. It supports service delivery via over 100 community-based organizations and entities.

Position Description

The Communications Specialist will implement a communications strategy reflective of USAID Communications, Branding, and Marking Guidelines for the life of the activity. S/he will source and develop project communications including fact sheets, success stories, press releases, social media content, narratives for short videos, speeches, and other communications as requested. S/he will develop and maintain continuous engagement with local, national, and international media. S/he will maintain communications resources for the project and work with the monitoring and evaluation team to ensure that impact data is used regularly for key communications. S/he will support the development of all activity reports. S/he will work with the EDC Home Office Communications Team to ensure the activity has high-quality visual assets that will showcase the activity for diverse audiences.

The Communications Specialist will support the implementation of the USAID Youth Empowerment Activity’s branding strategy and ensure all branding and marking for the activity is compliant. S/he will work closely with the Chief of Party to develop an outreach strategy to engage with other USAID Activities and stakeholders and publicize the Activity interventions and results at state and national levels and, as appropriate, internationally. This may include organizing press releases, media attendance, and communications for all events in collaboration with USAID and partners. S/he will engage with partner counterparts and ensure the fidelity of all activity communications. S/he will disseminate key communications about activity results to USAID, stakeholders, and the general public following USAID and EDC guidelines. The Communications Specialist reports to the Chief of Party. This is a full-time position based in Juba, South Sudan, with travel to the states where the activity works.

Essential functions include:

• Designing and implementing a communications strategy for the life of the activity, to include creative product ideas and dissemination channels (may include working closely with local artists to develop communications for a diversity of audiences);
• Sourcing storylines and developing communications such as fact sheets, success stories, press releases, social media content, narratives for short videos, speeches, and other communications as requested;
• Developing and maintaining continuous engagement with local, national, and international media;
• Identifying and working with high-quality photographers and videographers in South Sudan or the region to build visual assets;
• Supporting the development of monthly, quarterly, and annual project reports;
• Supporting the organization of and communications materials needed for events;
• Collaborating with the EDC Home Office Communications Team to adapt social media posts and success stories for international audiences and build out key products;  
• Collaborating with Chief of Party, Activity staff, and EDC Home Office Communications Team for the development of slide deck presentations;
• Building and maintaining a social media presence;
• Coordinating with Chief of Party and EDC Home Office, and the USAID Communications Officer to ensure materials are following USAID’s branding and marking guidance;
• Coordinating with stakeholders and partners to ensure fidelity of all Activity communications;
• Contributing to the design and implementation of the activity’s learning agenda, including the cross-cutting Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) approaches.

The candidate for the position of Communications Specialist shall have, at a minimum, the following qualifications:

Education: 

Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or a similar field is required.

Skills and Experience: 

• 5 to 7 years of directly relevant communications experience required, preferably working for an international organization or agency
• Established contacts with local and national media (newspapers, television, radio, etc.);
• Demonstrated ability to work with different teams, including USAID, international staff, local project staff, consultants, and government officials;
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and work well under pressure; 
• Proven experience coordinating, managing, and collaborating with a range of individuals in diverse contexts, including working with various artists, event coordinators, monitoring and evaluation teams, and partner communications staff;
• Strong interpersonal skills and excellent oral and written communication skills in English required; Arabic communications skills a plus;
• Strong creative skills; relationships with high-quality artists in a variety of mediums, a plus;
• Strong proficiency in the use of MS Word, PowerPoint; proficiency in Adobe Acrobat or InDesign or other graphic design tools a plus;
• Experience in developing content for social media, including Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook;
• Experience in photography, a plus;
• Experience working on USAID-funded projects preferred;
• Experience working outside of Juba is preferred, in particular in Western Bahr El Ghazal, Unity, Upper Nile, Jonglei, or Eastern Equatoria.

Language:

Advanced proficiency in written and spoken English and Arabic. Knowledge of and proficiency in at least 2 local languages spoken in Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Unity, Upper Nile, and Western Bahr el Ghazal is highly preferred.

Job closing date: January 11, 2024

Applications will be progressively reviewed as they are received.

Due to the volume of applications submitted, only finalists will be notified.  No phone calls, please.

EDC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.