Employment Opportunities

TO ALL INTERESTED CANDIDATES

LENGTH OF HIRE : Permanent

Starting salary FJ$45,713 per annum

BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION

The incumbent is required to develop, implement and manage a variety of media affairs programs and activities for eleven Pacific-Island countries served by U.S Embassies in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau.  The incumbent is a principal point of contact for the media, creating media strategies, identifying media trends, writing press guidance, drafting speeches, generating reports and maintaining close relations with key media personalities and media organizations.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.  Identifies and maintains regular contact with PI senior editors, columnists, broadcasters, and journalists and advises the PAO on the current thinking of these individuals and on future information and opinion trends.  Counsels the PAO and senior managements on appropriate media strategies related to contact development, placement and outreach opportunities.  Provides to the PAO and senior management feed-back and strategic advice on issues in the public domain.  Maintains and updates entries on media members in the Post’s contact database, recording contacts and preparing reports which monitor outreach effectiveness.  Coordinates closely with Public Affairs staff to select and distribute resource materials relevant to the Mission program plan to media contacts.  Advises and coordinates with Mission webmaster, on appropriate materials and information to be posted on relevant Mission websites.  Serves as a principal point of contact and coordination for VIP and program-related visits; organizes and executes a complex public affairs program in support of the visits.

2.  Arranges interviews, press conferences, TV/radio appearances, and other media events for the Ambassador,  and other Mission officers, visiting American speakers, USG officials, and other newsworthy individuals.  This involves planning sessions with the local media, and briefing the newsmaker on current issues and possible questions, and post-program reporting.  Selects media to participate in Post programs, including electronic conferences, speaker programs, press conference, representational events, etc.  Assists media in identifying U.S. experts for interviews.  Selects materials from the Washington File for placement in PI publications, radio and television broadcasts, and on Mission websites.  Responds to media inquiries regarding U.S. policies across a broad range of topics.  Drafts and issues press releases and announcements for Mission(s) programs and events, official visits, U.S. ship visits, and other events of interest.  Maintains a media monitoring service digitally recording articles on issues of policy significance and advises officers on trends in news and media analysis of particular events, and drafts and edits media reaction reports on important commentary in the media.  Drafts frequent reports for the State Department and other USG elements on developments and trends in PI media and on analysis of PI media commentary.

3.  In consultation with PAO, manages the media component of the International Visitor (IV) program, preparing nominations of journalists, suggesting program options, debriefing returnees, and drafting final reports.  Arranges Washington support for journalists and other media contacts seeking facilitative assistance while on assignment to the U.S.  Prior to departure, assists PI correspondents assigned to the U.S. with background material on American policy issues and advice on Public Affairs facilities in the U.S.

Required Qualifications:

1. University degree in journalism, communications, political science, English, public administration or liberal arts is required.

2.  Five years of progressively responsible communications experience in journalism, corporate communications, public relations, or a closely related field.

3.  Level IV, excellent command of spoken and written English is required

4.  Must have excellent knowledge of: Pacific Island politics and cultures, media operations,    international relations, domestic politics and economics, and key personalities in these fields; and U.S. government, social and political issues.

5.  Professional stature sufficient to develop and maintain high-level contacts in the media and other key contact groups; organization skills to plan and execute complex media programs; ability to speak and write persuasively in support of U.S. goals and policies; and ability to maintain composure and professional judgment under considerable stress and time-pressure.  Skill in using computer word processing applications, internet searching, e-mail and data base applications, and familiarity with the internet and new technologies as applied in an electronic
and media environment.

PLEASE NOTE:  Applicants must have the required work permit for Fiji to be eligible for consideration.

The deadline for applications is September 05, 2008.

Letter detailing qualifications and relevant experience along with current resume should be forwarded to the Human Resources Office, American Embassy, PO Box 218, Suva or e-mail to Hrosuva@state.gov.