Communications Specialist - CDC

Introduction

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an opening for the position of Communication Specialist. The position will be available immediately. Closing date for this position is March 28, 2013.

Minimum Requirements

• A Masters degree in Public Health, Mass Communication or equivalent field is required.
• A minimum of 3 years progressively experience with a focus in Health Communication is required.  
• Level IV fluency in English required. Level III Kiswahili is also required.

Other Criteria

• Must have skills for making on-the-spot presentations to audiences to discuss CDC-Kenya’s position.
• Must have skills to write about CDC-Kenya’s programs for various audiences, including scientific and non-scientific audiences.
• Must have skills to post messages and manage a blog about CDC-Kenya on various social media outlets including facebook, twitter, and others.
• Must have skills for understanding being able to explain complex public health programs
• Must have skills to understand the media and how to communicate to government, private sector, and individual citizens in Kenya and the United States 

Job Specification

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION 

The incumbent undertakes development of complete communication plans that promotes information sharing for CDC- Kenya and provision to Program officials of advisory, planning, and technical services in designing approaches, resolving public affairs problems in various program areas under the ambit of CDC- Kenya.   

  

Duties & Responsibilities                                                                   

• Manages strategic communication functions for CDC- Kenya with responsibility for planning, developing, and communicating CDC- Kenya’s programs, policies and activities.  (50%) 
• Develops and transmits informational materials to a variety of governmental and non-governmental audiences to enhance the understanding of CDC- Kenya programs; 
• Analyzes and evaluates program needs to advise the Director and Deputy Director of the information  that should be made available to the public or approaches to take to attain CDC- Kenya  goals;  
• Works closely with key leaders within CDC-Kenya and other partners in development of communication materials; 
• Leads the development of material for the CDC-Kenya website;  
• Provides consultation to various parts of CDC-Kenya in developing direction in public affairs activities to support the total management effort; 
• Uses a variety of methods and techniques in achieving communication goals such as news releases, radio and television scripts, social media outlets, feature articles, personal appearances, new conferences, exhibits, brochures, pamphlets, etc.  
• Prepare briefing materials for visiting delegations.
• Plans, designs and executes comprehensive, public information campaigns to convey information concerning the CDC- Kenya’s programs to publics served or affected by such programs. (25%) 
• Evaluates information problems encountered in communicating the CDC- Kenya’s programs. Advises on and recommends specific information activities designed to meet these problems. Analyzes information needs in terms of the public needs to be met and provides advice on program information problems to program staff; 
• Develops plans for campaigns to disseminate information about CDC- Kenya’s programs. Organizes campaigns to bring about timely and coordinated use of all facilities and skills available in the organization, within the agency, and with cooperating  Kenya Government and other US agencies;  
• Develops  basic campaign materials including fact sheets, news releases, feature articles for magazines and trade papers, radio and television scripts, social media and other materials; 
• Establishes and maintains relationships with other communication officials in the US government, NGO, and other representatives of the news media in order to coordinate CDC-Kenya communication goals. (25%)  
• Develop and maintain contact with the US Embassy Public Affairs Office, other agency communication officers at post, and NGO and multi-lateral communication officers in order to coordinate and plan communication campaigns around health. 
• Work closely with Government of Kenya communication officials to jointly plan activities
• Performs other duties as assigned that are related to this position.

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