Statement of Work
Public Relations Coordinator and Executive Assistant
Peace Corps Kyrgyz Republic
Principal Duties: Lead outreach and public relations efforts of Peace Corps to major stakeholders; Provide administrative support to the Country Director to advance knowledge Peace Corps programs and its public image.
Coordinates with: Peace Corps staff from Program, Security, Medical and Admin Units, and Volunteers and PC HQ.
Travel: This position requires 15% travel throughout Kyrgyz Republic, including some remote villages where Peace Corps Volunteers are serving.
Supervised and evaluated by: Country Director
Position summary: The Public Relations Coordinator and Executive Assistant supports Peace Corps Kyrgyz Republic (PCKG) and the Country Director in establishing and maintaining positive outreach to stakeholders including: the Kyrgyz Republic government – national, regional and local levels; other the government and private agencies; program counterparts and their supervisors; and host communities where volunteers are placed. This will be achieved by identifying feature stories from Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs), their projects and events and working with Program Mangers and Monitoring, Reporting & Evaluation (MRE) Specialist to develop annual and periodic reports for the various stakeholder groups. The Public Relations Coordinator and Executive Assistant will also support the Country Director in administrative and other support duties as required to advance the public image and reputation of Peace Corps.
CORE EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL STAFF
1. Represent and promote the Peace Corps’ mission and three goals.
2. Create a framework for a safe, meaningful and effective experience for Peace Corps Volunteers/Trainees and staff.
3. Engage with all Peace Corps partners in a spirit of cooperation and learning.
4. Strengthen a culture of performance improvement by collecting, analyzing, and sharing information for effective decision making.
5. Perform with diligence, strive for excellence, and maintain a healthy balance between professional and personal life.
6. Adapt in a timely manner to meet changing needs and conditions.
7. Respect the diversity of beliefs, cultures and lifestyles of the Volunteers/Trainees, staff, counterparts and communities we serve.
8. Collaborate with fellow staff and Volunteers/Trainees to create an atmosphere of inclusion, mutual learning, open communication, accountability and trust.
9. Ensure that Peace Corps’ management of its human, material and financial resources is efficient, cost-effective, and socially and environmentally sustainable.
10. Consistently follow and implement Peace Corps policies in both letter and spirit.
Specific tasks for the Public Relations Coordinator and Executive Assistant include (60%):
1. Develop and strengthen professional relationships with key national media – TV, print, radio, online, and social media.
2. Maintain databases for media contacts, print articles, electronic media articles, and Social media content, you tube video, and photographs about Peace Corps.
3. Develop and maintain professional relationships with the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section in order to coordinate as needed on public events and messaging.
4. Develop print, photographic, and video materials on the PCKG programs for use in site development (ie. informing communities about PCV work and benefits; advancing specific Peace Corps KG messaging and year-round public outreach with PC KG’s key stakeholders.
5. In collaboration with PC headquarters and IT, review and update the official PCKG website to ensure information is current, creative, in keeping with best practices, and appropriate for the intended audiences. Leverage PC headquarters resources to best support Peace Corps KG.
6. Produce, maintain, and monitor materials for a unified PC Kyrgyz Rep Facebook page. Develop strategies to strengthen value and reach of PCVs and PC KG posts.
7. On behalf of the Country Director, track known and periodically observe PCV blogs for appropriateness of content and compliance with PC guidelines. Reach out to PCVs to KG messaging and outreach priorities.
8. Working with the CD Unit, Program and Training Unit and the Admin Unit prepare a weekly Post update shared with PCVs covering timely info to inform PCVs.
9. Working with CD prepare periodic newsletters for key stakeholders in KR and DC (eg. EMA Quarterly Report, KG RPCVs).
10. Working with CD, DPT, and PMs prepare a quarterly report for each program sector aimed at respective ministries or GoKR partners; and same for each of the six (6) Oblasts Governor’s office where PCVs are serving.
11. Working with CD, DPT, PMs, and MRE Manager, plan periodic face-to-face meetings with key government stakeholders at national and local levels.
12. Develop weekly press releases and outreach to media based on PCVs activities, camps clubs after school events, etc. Facilitate media coverage as needed.
13. Draft press releases for major events such as swearing in of new volunteers, anniversaries, or other occasions.
14. Work with PCHQ Communications Office to share and promote PCKG events, activities, and stories in U.S.-based media outlets.
15. Act at all times in a collaborative and ethical manner with other staff, PCV’s and stakeholders. Adhere to Core Expectations of Staff.
Additional administrative duties will include (40%):
1. Lead the drafting of annual reports and official government correspondence ensuring coordination with program and admin staff to collect updates and information.
2. At the request of the Country Director, coordinate the planning of special events including Swearing-In Ceremonies, staff retreats, or other events involving participation of key stakeholders with the purpose of improving partnership and promoting PC KG.
3. May be required to prepare translation of formal speeches at special events. Provide oral or written translation of memos, of meetings, and media or government correspondence for the CD.
4. Coordinate key events of the Country Director’s calendar, appointments, and international and in country travel.
5. Participate in and document key staff meetings as requested by the CD.
6. Other duties as requested.
Safety and Security
Incumbent is required to immediately communicate Volunteer safety and security concerns and issues to the Safety and Security Manager (SSM) and CD. Incumbent should become knowledgeable and supportive of Peace Corps safety and security policies and procedures, including the timely reporting of suspicious incidents, persons or articles. As needed, may serve as a Duty Officer.
Required Knowledge and Skills:
· Education: The Public Relations Coordinator and Executive Assistant should have the equivalent of a Bachelor’s Degree in economics, area studies, art, social sciences, humanities, communications or journalism.
· Prior work experience: Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in professional outreach and public relations with a variety of media such as TV, print, online, radio, and through social media including Facebook, You Tube, Twitter, and Instagram.
· Public Outreach / Publicity: Demonstrates knowledge and skills to successfully engage variety of media to positively advance Peace Corps KG messaging and public image with key national and local stakeholders. Media includes TV, Radio, Print, on line, and social media – FB, Twitter, & You Tube.
· Team Player: Demonstrates collaborative skills, adapt wells to frequent changes and priorities, anticipates opportunities and challenges, and positively contributes to a team environment.
· Technology: The position requires frequent use of graphics, video and photo editing software and experience using social media for promoting feature stories and news releases via Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and Instagram aimed at mobile phone, social media communities. It may be an advantage for applicants who can provide portfolio or work samples. Also, incumbent is expected to be proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
· Languages: Oral and written Fluency in English, Kyrgyz, and Russian is required.
Logistics and Level of Effort
Perform duties at assigned Post during a 40 hour work week. Schedule may change, based on post requirements and may include evening, holidays and weekends work.
OCCASIONAL MONEY HANDLER
This incumbent may be required to courier cash and/or purchase orders to various vendors who furnish supplies and/or services to training site, or other locations as directed by the Administrative Officer. The Incumbent may also be required to courier cash to Peace Corps trainees or volunteers on occasion. The incumbent will not be functioning as a procurement or disbursing official but will only be acting as an intermediary between the Administrative Officer or Cashier and the recipient. In the case of dealing with vendors, the Incumbent will not exercise any procurement discretion concerning the supplies or services to be purchased or the cost limits of these purchases; these will be determined by the Administrative Officer.
Authority to Make Commitments: Has no budgeting or contracting authority.
The Incumbent is subject to worldwide availability and may be requested by the Peace Corps to be reassigned or transferred permanently to another Peace Corps Post/Headquarters or perform temporary duties (TDY) as required and to travel to other assignments within Peace Corps’ as assigned. Any such reassignment or transfer shall be subject to agreement of the Incumbent. The Statement of Work as defined will remain the same; however the duties may be subject to change as determined by the Administrative / Contracting Officer.