Overview
Hiring Path: • Open to the public
Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency: This position is open to:
All Interested Applicants / All Sources
For USEFM - FP grade is FP-05. Actual FP salary authorized by Washington D.C. Security Clearance Required: Public Trust - Background Investigation Appointment Type Permanent Appointment Type Details: Indefinite subject to successful completion of initial one-year contract. Marketing Statement:
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO): The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.
Summary:
The U.S. Mission in Belgium is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the position of Public Engagement Specialist (Press and Media) in the Public Affairs Office.
Supervisory Position: No Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No
Duties
The Press and Media Specialist works under the direct supervision of the Deputy Public Affairs Officer (or PAO designee). Oversees press and media operations for the Mission, promoting understanding of and support for U.S. policy. Serves as chief advisor to the Mission on policy advocacy through media engagement. Identifies long-term trends and emerging policy-relevant issues and advises Mission leadership on strategies for promoting accurate, balanced Belgian press and media coverage of U.S. foreign policy and American interests; correcting misinformation; and countering disinformation. Monitors, analyzes and reports on Belgian press and media coverage of issues of importance to the U.S. Builds productive relationships with press and media professionals, including media owners, editors, producers, and journalists. Develops and coordinates media tours and exchange programs.
Press and Media Engagement Operations
Advances U.S. foreign policy objectives through engagement with opinion leaders in the media and information spheres. Oversees press and media operations for the Mission, to explain and advocate for U.S. policy positions in Belgian broadcast, print, and online media. Serves as chief advisor to the Mission on media engagement, the Belgian media landscape, and issues relevant to U.S. policy and interests reflected in the media. Advises the Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission and senior Mission leadership and Washington policy offices on strategies for communicating U.S. policy effectively in Belgium. Leads efforts to ensure balanced and informed coverage of all aspects of the United States, such as U.S. foreign policy, economy and trade, culture, society, and education. Advises on tact and tone for Mission/U.S. Government responses to breaking stories, misinformation, and dis-information in traditional and online media.
Strategic Planning
Recommends communications strategies to shape Belgian opinion and affect behavior of Belgian policymakers using the full range of U.S. Government communications tools, both at post and in the broader geographic region, and among interagency partners. Designs and recommends Mission strategies to engage effectively with the press and media, both in response to Belgian coverage and to initiate dialogue on specific issues. Recommends media engagement strategies for the Ambassador and other Mission leadership, based on analysis of individual skill, language ability, portfolio, experience and expertise.
Intra- and Interagency Coordination
Develops and recommends Mission-wide press strategies and activities, and coordinates press and media engagement for all Mission agencies on judicial, legal, consular, economic, political, cultural, military, security and other issues. Plays a leadership role in ensuring that messaging and engagement are consistent across all Mission sections and agencies.
Administrative Functions
Prepares, manages and tracks annual budgets for press and media related activities; monitors and tracks USG funds allocated to counter disinformation and for media grants; ensures appropriate accountability measures are in place, USG branding requirements are observed; Recommends audits to prevent misuse of resources and contributes to the overall PD Resource Allocation Module (PDRAM), in consultation with the Resource Coordination unit.
Qualifications and Evaluations
Requirements:
All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) certification.
All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and may be subject to a pre-employment medical exam.
Selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time (15 weeks) upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
Education Requirements:
A university degree in Journalism, Communications, International Relations, Political Science, Economics, or related.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Education.
Evaluations:
You will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement.
You may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test.
You must complete the application form and provide the required documents. Your application must address all the position qualifications and requirements including education, experience, language, and any knowledge/skills/abilities listed. If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.
Qualifications:
Experience:
For grade LE 10 this position requires a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in a media outlet, think tank, university, NGO, international organization, embassy, government office or corporation is required, with responsibility for public relations, public affairs, journalism, communications, marketing, managing public relations, outreach events, press conferences, or other media interactions as significant parts of the job.
For grade LE 9 (trainee level) this position requires a minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in a media outlet, think tank, university, NGO, international organization, embassy, government office or corporation is required, with responsibility for public relations, public affairs, journalism, communications, marketing, managing public relations, outreach events, press conferences, or other media interactions as significant parts of the job.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.
Language:
Fluency in English.
Fluency in French.
Fluency in Dutch.
(This may be tested.)
Please address this language requirement in your ERA application.
Job Knowledge:
Detailed knowledge of Belgian political, economic, social and cultural policies and trends is required. Detailed knowledge of U.S. foreign policy objectives and American interests in Belgium, especially as they apply to press and media professionals, outlets and online publications is required. Comprehensive understanding of Belgian press/media institutions and professional journalism standards and practices, as well as trends in audience preferences for information consumption (print, TV, radio, online) is required. Must have detailed understanding of communication trends in the region and internationally as they affect Belgian information landscape and must be familiar with influence patterns in information flow. Knowledge of marketing techniques, market analysis and audience analytics in Belgium.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.
Skills And Abilities:
Analytic skills: Must be able to interpret Belgian policy, economic and social history and trends. Ability to identify, analyze, predict and continually assess attitudes of press and media outlets and information consumers across a wide range of thematic policy areas is required. Must have strong analytic skills to match specific U.S. foreign policy objectives with relevant Belgian attitudes, perceptions, and stereotypes, and the ability to conceptualize how best to use the full range of PD communication and program tools to move those attitudes in positive ways. Must have the ability to advise senior PD/Mission leaders of opportunities to promote Mission objectives with key audience segments and identify creative approaches to address sensitive challenges. Must be able to perceive significant changes in the Belgian influence landscape, and to adjust press/media operations and products to maximize balanced coverage for priority audiences.
Communication/Interpersonal skills: Must have excellent customer relations, interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills. Must be able to identify influential voices in both traditional and digital information outlets, and engage them successfully. Must be able to communicate effectively in formal and informal situations on nuances of U.S. policy; must have excellent written and oral communication skills in order to speak publicly; write reports, press releases and other products; engage in on-line fora; and contribute to publications in English, Dutch and French. Must be able to tailor communications to fit formal and informal situations. Must be able to brief senior U.S. officers and high-level visitors on a variety of issues and interpret between English, Dutch and French for written materials, press events, and programs.
Management skills: Strong event and management skills are required. Must be able to organize and run events such as press conferences, speeches, interviews, workshops and journalism training seminars, often on short notice or in emergencies. Must be able to negotiate agreements with partner institutions and manage their fulfillment.
Technical skills: Excellent keyboarding and data entry skills are required; excellent familiarity with electronic discovery tools, in particular the Internet, and standard information retrieval practices and procedures are required. Thorough, detailed knowledge of various computer software programs, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, and databases, as well as PD-specific software, databases, and reporting tools is required. Knowledge of PD-specific funding authorities is required. Detailed knowledge of and ability to use digital platforms, tools and products are required. Must have good numerical skills to develop budget projections and press and media analytics, and to manage project budgets. Must have detailed knowledge of TV and radio production skills. Ability to use social media and mobile platforms and photo editing software, photo and video sharing sites is required.
(This may be tested.)
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.
Benefits and Other Info
Benefits: Agency Benefits:
The U.S. Mission offers a competitive compensation and benefits package for local employees that may include: life insurance, hospitalization insurance (family included), meal tickets, transportation reimbursements, seniority leave, special holidays, training, Employee Assistance Program, etc.
For Eligible Family Member (EFM) applicants, benefits should be discussed with the HR Office. The pay plan is assigned by the HR Office and confirmed by Washington, D.C.
Other Information:
HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS:
A hiring preference is extended to eligible and qualified applicants in the order listed below. It is essential you accurately describe your status in your application, failure to do so may result in a determination that you are not eligible for a hiring preference.
HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER
1. Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM) / U.S. citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
2. AEFM / USEFM
3. Foreign Service (FS) on Leave without Pay (LWOP) and Civil Service (CS) with reemployment rights **
* IMPORTANT: US citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”) preferably Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability, equivalent documentation, or certification. A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.
** This level of preference applies to all FS employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.
For complete definitions of AEFM, USEFM, EFM, Member of Household, etc., please visit the
ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS
The following apply to EFMs, USEFMs, and AEFMs only:
4. Current employees who used a hiring preference to gain employment who are within their first 90 calendar days of employment are not eligible. This does not apply when the hiring mechanism is TEMP or the work schedule is intermittent or irregular.
5. Candidates with a hiring preference who have already accepted a conditional offer of employment may NOT be extended a second conditional offer of employment unless and until they withdraw their candidacy for the first position in writing.
The following apply to Locally Employed (LE) staff only:
6. Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible.
7. Current employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement, Unsatisfactory, or an MBC score of less than 100 points on their most recent Employee Performance Report are not eligible.