Field Open Source Officer - US EMBASSY

Introduction

Open Source Center – an office of the US Embassy Nairobi – is looking to hire one full-time East African Open Source Officer with Somalia language skils who is knowledgeable in East African media and issues to provide collection and analytical support to US regional Embassy and military partners. 

Minimum Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  

• LEVEL 4 ENGLISH IS REQUIRED.   
• A UNIVERSITY DEGREE IN AREA STUDIES, MEDIA STUDIES, OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE FIELD SUCH AS JOURNALISM, POLITICAL SCIENCE, ECONOMICS, OR HISTORY.   
• KNOWLEDGE OF AND INTEREST IN CURRENT AFFAIRS AND TRADITIONAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA THROUGHOUT EAST AFRICA.  
• EXTENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF  MEDIA ENVIRONMENTS AND THEIR ROLE AND INFLUENCE IN THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT.   
• FLUENCY IN SOMALI AND ABILITY TO TRANSLATE INTO FLUENT ENGLISH.  FLUENT SPOKEN AND WRITTEN ENGLISH-LANGUAGE SKILLS ARE REQUIRED.   
• DEMONSTRATED ANALYTICAL WRITING ABILITY.  
• PROVEN RESEARCH AND DATA ASSESSMENT SKILLS.  
• ABILITY TO WORK SUCCESSFULLY AS PART OF A TEAM AND IN A VIRTUAL TEAM ENVIRONMENT.  
• ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO PERFORM A WIDE VARIETY OF TASKS, CHANGE FOCUS QUICKLY, AND ADAPT WORK HABITS/SCHEDULE TO MEET MISSION REQUIREMENTS. 
• ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUALLY UPDATE AND ACQUIRE NEW KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS. 

Job Specification

At the developmental level, the incumbent will manage open source collection to ensure US Government requirements are met and take action to enhance open source collection on clearly defined topics of interest.  The incumbent will exploit emerging tools and methodologies to prepare informational and analytic products addressing the impact of media on worldviews in support of diplomacy, analysis, and operations.   The incumbent will work as part of the OSC virtual international team that includes independent contractors and US staff.  The incumbent will coordinate with other staff members to establish collection and reporting priorities and develop/sustain relationships with partners and customers.  The position includes administrative duties, such as preparing contracts and monitoring payment rates.   

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  

40%  Evaluates open source and media environments and information requirements to determine the relative value of various open media information sources.  Identifies the potential policy impact of open source material as well as trends and relationships evidenced in the media.  Assesses print, broadcast, Internet, and gray literature sources and evaluates objective features of sources on coverage.  Collects and monitors open source information relevant to specified coverage area and anticipates collection gaps and recommends and effects coverage changes.

30%  Creates informational and analytic products that incorporate multimedia elements and when appropriate social media sources.     

20%  Develops relationships and sustains networks with international colleagues and customers to enhance information gathering and analytic capability. 

5%  Serves as operations focal point and coordinates execution of ad hoc taskings and forwards guidance and requirements to colleagues and independent contractors.   Keeps managers and colleagues informed of major developments and proposes appropriate action. 

5%  Administrative duties such as preparing, monitoring, and evaluating the work of contractors, providing operational guidance and feedback to independent contractors. 

This position will close on May 7, 2012

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