The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is seeking a Program Assistant (Communications) for the Africa Program. The Wilson Center is the living, national memorial to President Wilson established by an Act of Congress in 1968 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Center provides an essential link between the policy and academic communities by creating programs and communication opportunities that examine current and emerging challenges confronting the United States and the world. It is a non-partisan/non-advocacy institution supported by both public and private funds. The Center is (along with the National Gallery of Art and the Kennedy Center) one of the three special institutions created by congressional statute to perform a national mission within the Smithsonian Institution. It is governed by its own presidentially appointed Board of Trustees. The Center sponsors basic, original scholarship and dialogue covering both international and domestic issues through its programmatic offices. The Center conducts an active program of publishing and outreach through its various print, electronic and multimedia presentations. All duties and responsibilities are conducted within the framework of the Center’s congressionally mandated mission with a view toward advancing our understanding of a variety of issues and in strengthening the importance between worlds of learning and public policy.
Summary
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is seeking a Program Assistant (Communications) for the Africa Program. The Wilson Center is the living, national memorial to President Wilson established by an Act of Congress in 1968 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Center provides an essential link between the policy and academic communities by creating programs and communication opportunities that examine current and emerging challenges confronting the United States and the world. It is a non-partisan/non-advocacy institution supported by both public and private funds. The Center is (along with the National Gallery of Art and the Kennedy Center) one of the three special institutions created by congressional statute to perform a national mission within the Smithsonian Institution. It is governed by its own presidentially appointed Board of Trustees. The Center sponsors basic, original scholarship and dialogue covering both international and domestic issues through its programmatic offices. The Center conducts an active program of publishing and outreach through its various print, electronic and multimedia presentations. All duties and responsibilities are conducted within the framework of the Center’s congressionally mandated mission with a view toward advancing our understanding of a variety of issues and in strengthening the importance between worlds of learning and public policy.
The Africa Program’s mission is to analyze and address some of Africa’s most critical, current and over-the-horizon issues; to foster policy-focused dialogue and options for stronger and mutually-beneficial U.S.-Africa relations; and to enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Africa Program has four programmatic pillars: i) governance and leadership; ii) security, conflict management, and peacebuilding; iii) trade, investment, and sustainable development; and iv) Africa’s evolving role in the global arena. The roles of youth, women, and technology are critical to Africa’s future - to good governance, securing peace, mitigating poverty and assuring sustainable development and human security. As such, these issues are addressed across all four thematic areas.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent serves as the principal communications assistant for the Africa Program and is responsible for coordinating and executing the Program’s communications and publications efforts. As such the incumbent is responsible for:
Drafting web content and ensuring the Africa Program section of the Wilson Center website remains current.
Managing the Program blog Africa Up Close, including soliciting, content- and copy-editing, formatting, and posting blogs.
Managing Program social media including Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Conducting web and social media analytics for reporting purposes and drafting communications sections of grant reports.
Serving as the point of contact for Africa Program publications, including liaising with authors and maintaining timelines.
Working with Africa Program scholars and other contributors on publications, editing content and structure to conform to Wilson Center standards, as well as copyediting and working with the External Relations team to design the final outputs.
Formatting, proofing, and sending emails to the Africa Program mailing list.
Photographing and live-tweeting Africa Program events.
Working closely with and keeping the Wilson Center’s External Relations team updated on key Africa Program activities.
Working with External Relations team to field media requests and coordinate interviews between reporters and Africa Program staff and scholars, particularly supporting interviews by the Director.
Liaising with design and printing companies on work to be printed.
Tracking and submitting communications-related financial expenses and reports to the shared tracking system.
Maintaining and updating the Program’s communications database.
Providing logistical, event planning, research assistance, and other support for the Program’s events, workshops, conferences, seminars, and meetings.
Tracking and monitoring key Africa-related news and activities.
Possess experience using a PC or Mac and a variety of software to perform or automate office work, such as Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as research tools such as LexisNexis, or similar products; and have experience using social media tools such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and/or YouTube. In addition, the following skills are highly desirable: knowledge of HTML and ability to use content management systems to update websites (familiarity with Drupal a plus); experience using Google Analytics or other web and social media performance metrics; experience with Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Adobe InDesign; experience and/or education that demonstrates a basic interest in African studies/affairs; and knowledge of organizations, networks, and listservs that are part of the U.S.-Africa policy community in Washington, D.C.
Qualifications
Specialized Experience Statement:
Candidates possess excellent organizational skills; compose professional correspondence, reports, and a variety of other publications using proper English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style; copyedit and proofread materials for publication; possess experience using a PC or Mac and a variety of software to perform or automate office work, such as Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as research tools such as LexisNexis, or similar products; and have experience using social media tools such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and/or YouTube. In addition, the following skills are highly desirable: knowledge of HTML and ability to use content management systems to update websites (familiarity with Drupal a plus); experience using Google Analytics or other web and social media performance metrics; experience with Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Adobe InDesign; experience and/or education that demonstrates a basic interest in African studies/affairs; and knowledge of organizations, networks, and listservs that are part of the U.S.-Africa policy community in Washington, D.C.
Education
To be minimally qualified applicants must possess excellent organizational skills; compose professional correspondence, reports, and a variety of other publications using proper English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style; copyedit and proofread materials for publication.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the application process is complete, a review of resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
Demonstrated experience drafting web content, strong writing skills, and ability to keep a website updated
Experience with blogging, including editing, formatting, blog posts.
Experience with social media, including analytics, ability to draft professional and engaging social media posts.
Experience with Twitter, particularly live-tweeting events, and basic event photography.
Experience in media relations, ability to coordinate interviews with external members of the press, and provide logistical support to Program staff and Director.
Experience with planning events and providing logistics support, and performing program research.
Strong organizational skills, ability to set and adhere to a timeline, and experience coordinating projects across points of contact across departments and with outside contributors.
Experience and/or education that demonstrates a basic interest in African studies/affairs.
Applications are evaluated and rated under Category Rating and Selection procedures. Category rating combines the applicant's total experience and/or education/training into a single category. Your application will initially be rated against the criteria outlined in this announcement. Qualifying applications will then be placed into one of the following categories:1. Gold 2. Silver 3. Bronze Gold indicates best qualified. Applications in the Best Qualified category will be evaluated to ensure that the job requirements, including Specialized Experience, Basic Education, Selective Factors, and eligibility requirements are met and supported/verified by the resume and other documents submitted. This will include a review of your resume and supporting documentation as compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, your category placement may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).
Note: Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
The following documents are required for ALL APPLICANTS:
• A Resume showing relevant experience. Your resume must show the work schedule and hours worked per week as well as dates of employment.
• Complete Assessment Questionnaire
• If you are using your education to qualify (even partially), you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts.
Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete and submit the Application Package by 11:59 PM on 06/16/2017 or before the applicant cut-off limit of 100 applicants have been reached to receive consideration. The Application package includes:
1. Your Resume 2. A complete Assessment Questionnaire
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire.
Click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the initial online questionnaire.
Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
If you log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
When you receive a notification from your USAJOBS account it may indicate that your application is complete after you submit the initial online questionnaire and documentation, however, your application will NOT be complete until you have successfully completed the next step described below.
We strongly encourage you to apply online. If you cannot apply online, you may FAX your resume, assessment questionnaire, and supporting documents to (517) 258-4052. You must print a copy of OPM Form 1203-FX, document your responses to the assessment questionnaire View Occupational Questionnaire and use the official FAX coversheet.
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20004
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. Based upon your score, you may be referred to the hiring official. If your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly by that office for a possible interview. You will receive notice via email or by mail, if no email address was provided by you during the application process, once this process is completed (generally 4-6 weeks).
The Wilson Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or other non-merit factors. DOT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The following documents are required for ALL APPLICANTS:
• A Resume showing relevant experience. Your resume must show the work schedule and hours worked per week as well as dates of employment.
• Complete Assessment Questionnaire
• If you are using your education to qualify (even partially), you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts.
Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete and submit the Application Package by 11:59 PM on 06/16/2017 or before the applicant cut-off limit of 100 applicants have been reached to receive consideration. The Application package includes:
1. Your Resume 2. A complete Assessment Questionnaire
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire.
Click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the initial online questionnaire.
Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
If you log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
When you receive a notification from your USAJOBS account it may indicate that your application is complete after you submit the initial online questionnaire and documentation, however, your application will NOT be complete until you have successfully completed the next step described below.
We strongly encourage you to apply online. If you cannot apply online, you may FAX your resume, assessment questionnaire, and supporting documents to (517) 258-4052. You must print a copy of OPM Form 1203-FX, document your responses to the assessment questionnaire View Occupational Questionnaire and use the official FAX coversheet.
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20004
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. Based upon your score, you may be referred to the hiring official. If your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly by that office for a possible interview. You will receive notice via email or by mail, if no email address was provided by you during the application process, once this process is completed (generally 4-6 weeks).
The Wilson Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or other non-merit factors. DOT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
