Strategic Communications Design and Knowledge Management Advisor

Chemonics International, Inc.•Washington, DC

2h•Onsite

About The Position

Chemonics seeks a Strategic Communications Design and Knowledge Management (SCD-KM) Advisor for the FEWSNET team. The SCD-KM Advisor will strengthen alignment between FEWS NET decision support products and the information needs of the United States Department of State (DoS) and other United States Government (USG) decision makers. The Advisor aims to ensure that FEWS NET products deliver clear, compelling, timely, and actionable information through the most effective communication channels for the USG. The SCD-KM Advisor will be based in Washington, DC, working out of the home office and directly supervised by the Deputy Chief of Party-Innovation, with dotted line supervision by the Chief of Pary on strategic communications components. The SCD-KM Advisor may be required to undertake international travel occasionally. This role also develops and maintains internal knowledge management systems to support consistent, high-quality analysis, reporting and decision support across the FEWS NET DST. The SCD-KM Advisor will, in effect, focus on improving and clarifying external communications with key stakeholders, while also ensuring the establishment and efficient use of internal systems and processes designed to capture, organize, share and effectively use FEWS NET’s extensive knowledge, with the ultimate outcome being that institutional knowledge is retained and easily accessible. Having an effective knowledge management system is essential to efficient workflows and analysis processes. Given that FEWS NET’s effectiveness is linked strongly to the ability of every member of its staff to communicate the conclusions of its analysis to the right people at the right time and in the right ways, the SCD-KM Advisor plays a critical role in helping to ensure that decision support products are designed to achieve this goal, and project staff have access to a knowledge management system that supports their ability to generate and communicate this analysis. The SCD-KM Advisor helps establish and maintain a strategic bridge between technical analysts and decision-makers, applying best-in-class communications design, user-centered design principles, and knowledge management practices to enhance FEWS NET’s impact. The SCD-KM Advisor provides strategic direction and advises on ways to achieve a continuous process of calibration between State Department decision-making needs and FEWS NET decision support products, including on aligning the content, structure and timing of FEWS NET products with relevant USG decisions and timelines, aiming to simplify complex analytical content into clear, direct, and visually engaging communications suitable for senior decision makers. In addition, the SCD-KM will be responsible for establishing and maintaining knowledge management systems that support institutional memory, workflow efficiency, and product quality across the Decision Support Team. He/she will also lead on training staff in communications-related areas, such as improved technical writing, briefing and representational skills.

Requirements

Fluency in English is required; additional language skills in French, Spanish and/or Arabic are preferred.
Education and experience in a discipline relevant to the food security (e.g., PhD and at least two years of relevant experience; Master’s degree and at least six years of relevant experience; Bachelor’s degree and at least eight years of relevant experience) is required. Advanced degree in communications, information design, international relations, knowledge management, public policy, or a related field desirable. Relevant experience includes working in communications design, strategic communications, user-centered design, or knowledge management, preferably in international development or humanitarian contexts.
Demonstrated experience translating complex technical information into policy-relevant, visually compelling communications.
Strong leadership skills and experience in capacity building or training roles.
Experience engaging with USG audiences (State Department, USAID, or similar).
Strong writing, editing, visual storytelling, and design skills.
Proficiency with modern communication and design tools (e.g., InDesign, Adobe Creative Suite, data visualization tools, collaboration platforms).
Experience developing and managing knowledge management systems in the Google Environment and SharePoint is required.
Strong interpersonal and mentoring skills and demonstrated ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams is required.
Demonstrated ability to work under tight deadlines and adapt to rapidly changing information needs is required.
Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well with US and field-based, local staff via telephone, e-mail, and other remote means, are required
Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, are required

Responsibilities

Support FEWS NET staff in designing effective briefings, including clear story-telling/narrative structuring, slide preparation, and presentation coaching.
Developing and delivering training programs aimed at improving the communication skills of our team in areas including but not limited to communication design, technical writing for the DoS/USG audience, and briefing development.
Mentor technical staff in communications, representational skills and media engagement.
Building a culture of clear and effective communication within the team.
Work with the FEWS NET Hub and FEWS NET DST leadership to build and maintain continuous awareness of State Department decision-making processes, communication preferences, and decision support needs.
Maintain a deep understanding of FEWS NET’s reporting processes and product lines to ensure full use is made of all available materials at the appropriate time.
Work with the Hub to test redesigned products through user feedback sessions, interviews, or rapid prototyping.
Recommend iterative improvements to processes, products, and internal systems.
Review, refine, and redesign as needed existing FEWS NET decision support products to ensure they are visually appealing, concise, jargon-free, and optimized for the intended audiences.
Support the creation of new products as needed, applying user-centered design and effective communications approaches as determined through the regular assessments referred to above.
Establish and maintain communication standards, style guidance, and templates for consistent product development.
Ensuring all communication products are of high quality, align with our brand identity, and effectively communicate our mission and work.
Develop and maintain centralized knowledge repositories, including templates, guidance documents, workflows, and lessons learned, making these easily accessible to project staff.
Create or refine standard operating procedures (SOPs), internal toolkits, and style guides to support consistent communication practices.
Ensure that critical institutional knowledge is captured, retained, and shared, including important know-how and lessons learned by veteran staff. Develop systems for providing easy access to this burgeoning repository of knowledge.
Oversee coordination, development, and delivery of DST briefings and presentations to key stakeholders, especially USG stakeholders.
Respond quickly and creatively to emerging information needs from DoS stakeholders
Facilitate clear communication of evolving stakeholder needs to FEWS NET leadership and technical teams.
Working closely with other advisors, the FEWS NET Hub, and our field partners to ensure a consistent and coordinated communication approach.
Work closely with the FEWS NET Hub to define and track metrics related to communication effectiveness (e.g., product uptake, user satisfaction, clarity).
Represent the DST at all project-wide communications working groups.
Lead discussions with the Hub on any website-related improvements driven by DST product and reporting needs.
Engaging with external stakeholders and partners to enhance the reach and impact of our communication efforts
Act as point of contact for communications with network partners, and particularly with the FAO’s Integrated Phase Classification (IPC)
Support the senior management team in managing media requests and coordinating with Chemonics’ communications specialists as needed.
Lead the drafting and finalization of technical input to the quarterly and annual performance reports for the DST
Serve as the direct manager of the DST technical editor position(s).

Benefits

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision
Chemonics will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by Chemonics, or (c) consistent with Chemonics legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

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