Two Opportunities with MAAC
1) Vacancy Announcement
Media and Communications Specialist
Objective
Casals & Associates (Casals), as implementer of the USAID Mobilizing Action Against Corruption (MAAC) Activity, seeks to recruit the services of a Media and Communications Specialist. Working under the direction of the COP, the Media and Communications Specialist implements MAAC Component 4, a program of increasing awareness amongst the youth and adults about corruption and its effects.And other activities included under the other components.
Background
USAID has contracted Casals to implement the MAAC Activity. MAAC has a five-year contract that expires in July 2012.
The fundamental objectives of the MAAC Activity are to reduce corruption by: 1) providing Armenians with opportunities that would enable them to help combat corrupt practices that they encounter, 2) changing social attitudes and behavior among youth and adults, and 3) enabling systems-level changes to prevent or reduce corruption.
Scope of work
Main duties and responsibilities:
Working under the direction and supervision of the Chief of Party, the Media and Communications Specialist is responsible for the design and implementation of programs that increase people’s awareness about corruption and ways of fighting it. The Media and Communications Specialist shall accomplish, inter alia, the following tasks:
- Play the lead role in implementation of MAAC Component 4;
- Provide media support to other components of activity and service information needs of the activity as a whole;
- Develop and disseminate MAAC information materials – quarterly newsletters, activity brochures, etc.;
- Oversee the administration of the annual Corruption Surveys of Households and Bi-Annual Corruption Surveys of Enterprises and Government Officials;
- Implement and assess the effectiveness of MAAC Communications Strategy aimed at mobilizing citizens’ anti-corruption activities;
- Provide technical assistance to government institutions in implementing anti-corruption communications strategies;
- Support public awareness and education programs of MAAC civil society counterparts;
- Explore new partnerships with civil society, private sector, and government organizations;
- Design and evaluate MAAC media grant programs aimed at increasing anti-corruption public awareness with different audiences, with particular attention to youth;
- Regularly edit and update the contents of MAAC website, YouTube channel, Twitter page, and Facebook account;
- Ensure that all MAAC public communication is properly branded and marked in accordance with MAAC Branding and Marking Plans and USAID guidelines; coordinate proper branding and marking of all MAAC grantees;
- Design Scope of Work and oversee the implementation by the international communications sub-contractor of technical assistance;
- Coordinate with USAID/Armenia the organization of public events, development and dissemination of media and public materials, invitation of the journalists; oversee the drafting of regular Calendar of Public Events.
- Support activities under other MAAC components, including at times, playing a lead role in implementation.
As part of his/her activities, the Media and Communications Specialist shall be required to travel frequently within Armenia.
The Media and Communications Specialist may be required at times to assist other members of the MAAC Activity team.
Required qualifications
- Master’s degree in public relations, journalism, social sciences, political science or other related field;
- Good knowledge and experience in working with Armenian media;
- Demonstrated ability of organizing public awareness/direct outreach programs;
- Proven record of developing, publishing, and disseminating public information materials;
- Good knowledge and experience in working with civil society organizations:
- Minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience on USAID projects or other internationally-funded development projects in Armenia;
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Armenian and English; knowledge of Russian is desirable;
- Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, SPSS, Adobe Contribute (or any other web editor), Microsoft Expression Web (or an alternative general web design program), Internet, Email);
- Team player, communicative, able to work independently;
- Able to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines; and
- High degree of discretion dealing with confidential information.
Reporting-The Media and Communications Specialist reports to the Chief of Party.
Level of Effort- Forty (40) working hours per week
Duration - July 2010 till July 2012
Instructions
Interested candidates are invited to submit their cover letter and resume to maac@casals.com.
Opening Date
28 June 2010
Application Deadline
20 July 2010
2) Internship Opportunity
Objective
MAAC is pleased to offer a summer internship for 2010. University students and 2010 graduates interested in learning about and taking part in international development, more specifically, in the area of anti-corruption, are invited to apply. This is a volunteer internship and no compensation is provided under this internship.
Background
USAID has contracted Casals to implement the MAAC Activity. MAAC has a five-year contract that expires in July 2012.
The fundamental objectives of the MAAC Activity are to reduce corruption by: 1) providing Armenians with opportunities that would enable them to help combat corrupt practices that they encounter, 2) changing social attitudes and behavior among youth and adults, and 3) enabling systems-level changes to prevent or reduce corruption.
Scope of Work
The intern shall accomplish, inter alia, the following tasks:
- Assist in organizing a retreat of Anti-Corruption Centers;
- Assist in reviewing monthly reports from MAAC grantees and translating them into English;
- Assist in translating written communications to MAAC grantees from Armenian into English languages;
- Assist in maintaining filing records;
- Conduct any other programmatic and administrative tasks as required.
Required Qualifications
- Armenian university student or recent (2010) graduate in a related field;
- Excellent communications skills, including written and oral English language;
- Willing and available to travel throughout Armenia.
Duration
15 July - August 31, 2010
Location
Yerevan, Armenia
Application Procedures
Applicants are requested to submit their resume and cover letter to Mikayel Koshkaryan at the following email address: mkoshkaryan@casals.com .
Opening Date
08 July 2010
Application Deadline
12 July 2010