Strategic International Communications Lead SАRDІ

Chemonics International Inc.  

SCOPE OF WORK  

USAID Transformation Communications Activity  

Job Title: Strategic International Communications Lead for the Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (SARDI)

Estimated Period of Performance/Level of Effort: 13 months (up to 40 hours per week within 13 months)

Background: 

In January 2023, the Government of Ukraine established the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure (hereinafter referred to as “SARDI” or “the Agency”). SARDI has been tasked with ensuring the efficient and transparent implementation of projects aimed at the country’s current rapid recovery and future post-war reconstruction.  The Agency was created by merging the State Agency of Highways of Ukraine and the State Agency of Infrastructure Projects. Both agencies have a history of construction projects, primarily focused on building roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects. However, the mission and scope of the newly created agency include not only transport infrastructure but also critical infrastructure, energy infrastructure, housing, and social infrastructure. At the same time, the Agency’s staff currently only consists of 190 positions, in contrast to the former Ukravtodor’s (State Agency of Highways of Ukraine) 172 positions. This creates enormous pressure and challenges for the Agency’s team. The Ukrainian government has publicly committed to investing a minimum of UAH 110 billion of domestic resources to support infrastructure restoration in 2023 and intends to secure six times that amount from the international community for other vital recovery projects, including housing and essential social infrastructure. Furthermore, the 2024 budget saw a reduction in funding for the Ministry of Reconstruction and its subsidiary Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, decreasing from 119 billion to 39 billion, without a corresponding reduction in reconstruction tasks. This underscores the need for intensified engagement with international stakeholders and an enhanced international communications strategy. Given the challenges outlined above, it becomes imperative to reinforce the Agency’s capacity to ensure the efficient, effective, and transparent allocation of funds and the rapid attainment of high-quality results in the restoration process. To achieve this goal, the Capacity Building Office (referred to as “the CBO” or “the Office”) has been established under the leadership of the Agency’s Head. The Office functions as an Advisory Body, comprising independent experts who lend their knowledge, provide support, shape policies, conduct analyses, oversee operations, and facilitate project implementation on a day-to-day basis. The Office is structured into five core sectors: Integrity and Anti-Corruption, Procurement, Communications, Organizational Development, and Projects Implementation Unit. Specifically, the Strategic Communications Unit within the Agency of Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine has a pivotal role. Its objective is to enhance communication, transparency, and stakeholder engagement, thereby contributing to the success of the agency’s projects and the realization of its mission to restore and develop Ukraine’s infrastructure. The key responsibilities of the Communications Unit encompass ensuring public oversight of the Agency’s activities, establishing transparent communication channels with stakeholders, civil society, and the general public, ensuring the timely dissemination of information, and granting society access to all pertinent details regarding the Agency’s operations.

To bolster the Strategic Communications Unit’s capabilities, four communications specialists were hired by USAID Transformation Communications Activity (USAID TCA) in July-August 2023, focusing on providing daily communications support and maintaining coordinated communication with the Ministry of Reconstruction. As the Agency continues to prioritize international communications and engagement with global stakeholders, USAID TCA now plans to hire a Strategic International Communications Lead to support Agenies efforts at the international level.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategic communication plan that effectively showcases the Agency’s local and global initiatives its transparency to international audiences, aligning them with the broader mission and goals.
• Collaborate seamlessly with the Communications Team Lead, who oversees domestic communications, to align messaging and ensure a unified communication strategy.
• Cultivate and nurture relationships with key international stakeholders, including international media, NGOs, and international partners, to enhance the agency’s global presence and support its objectives.
• Develop and implement robust systems, tools, approaches, and policies for international communications that are tailored to the global context, effectively showcasing the agency’s initiatives and commitment to transparency.
• Oversee the agency’s global reputation by continuously monitoring international media and proactively addressing reputation-related challenges or crises with transparency and accountability.
• Promote transparency and integrity in all agency projects at the international level, ensuring that accurate and timely information is consistently provided to the global audience to build trust.
• Be prepared to lead crisis communication efforts at the international level, providing timely and transparent updates during emergencies ensuring the agency’s reputation remains intact.
• Serve as the agency’s primary contact for international journalists and media outlets, promptly addressing inquiries and facilitating interviews with agency officials while maintaining a focus on ethical and transparent communication.
• Exercise oversight over creating and disseminating various content types, including press releases, newsletters, speeches, and social media posts, ensuring they align with the agency’s objectives and resonate with the international target audience.
• Collaborate closely with other agency departments to ensure that communication strategies align with and support the overall organizational goals and objectives.
• Foster a unified and coordinated communication approach with partner institutions, such as the Ministry of Reconstruction and other reconstruction-focused organizations, to present a joint and cohesive message to international audiences. Enforce the one voice policy consistently throughout all communication efforts, ensuring a unified and coherent messaging approach that effectively advances the agency’s objectives.
• Work as an integral part of the overall TCA-SARDI communications team, collaborating closely with content writers, the Communications Team Lead, and the designer to promote a unified voice and message consistency across all communication channels.
• Implement direct requstes from USAID TCA strategic communications requests and participate in the USAID TCA events when needed.

Reporting and TCA Support: 

• Plan working hours according to Ukrainian legislation and report on results to USAID TCA weekly and monthly. 
• Provide written reports on a monthly, and as-requested basis on the progress of their work within the Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.
• Support USAID TCA in developing and strengthening established partnerships with Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.

Primary Deliverables/Outcomes:  

• A comprehensive strategic communication plan for international audiences.
• Communications strategy input for the Agency for one year and recommendations on adjusting the strategy after one year (if necessary). The strategy shall include written guidelines, processes, tools, and templates that can be used by the Agency’s future communications team and Agency staff at-large.  
• Proactive stakeholder engagement strategies, including regular consultations, feedback mechanisms, and collaborative efforts with key stakeholders.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive crisis communication plan with well-defined protocols, training, and resources for effective crisis management and response. This plan should address potential crises that the agency may face.
• Final reports to the Agency and USAID TCA which includes best practices of one year, lessons learned, and recommendations for the next two months after the end of the contract.  

Requirements:

• At least 10 years of experience in strategic communications with an international angle including in governmental-related agencies
• Master’s degree (preferably in communications, law, economics, marketing, or other relevant field related to PR and Communications).  
• Professional Ukrainian writing and speaking. 
• Fluent in English writing and speaking. 
• Strong leadership, facilitation, and communication (written and oral) skills, ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
• Strong knowledge of communication systems and tools in the international context.
• Proven ability to train, mentor, and build capacity. Ability to unite people around common goals.  
• Experience in developing communications strategies and working with international media.
• Experience in building data-driven communications.
• Proven organizational skills. 
• Strong analytical skills, risk assessment and anti-crisis communication skills, and exceptional attention to detail. 
• Proactive, results-driven approach, track record of successfully working in a reform-driven environment. 
• Ability to work both in a team and autonomously with minimum supervision but with respect to given constraints and guidelines. 
• Advanced computer literacy. 
• Experience in working with government bodies and donor-founded projects is highly preferred.
• Intercultural, inclusion and gender-sensitive literacy.
• A solid network with international media and news agencies will be an advantage.
• Candidates with alternative qualifications and a demonstrated ability to excel in related areas may also be considered.

Application instructions:

To apply, please submit your application via the following link no later than October 22, 2023. https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/6116f86e2e7d442f96cc45447742b1d6. 

Please complete the required information and upload your cover letter and CV for consideration. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.

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