Odesa
ERA BACKGROUND
The USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) is designed as an adaptive and flexible mechanism that supports Ukraine’s immediate development needs and overall economic resilience. Ukraine’s efforts to win the future – emerging from Russia’s full-scale war ready to accelerate its development as a sovereign, independent, democratic, and prosperous state – require a dynamic, inclusive economic recovery.
STABILIZATION AND BUSINESS REVIVAL
ERA participates in developing a resilient, inclusive, and growth-oriented economy in severely damaged areas. ERA empowers Ukrainians to establish and develop micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in promising economic sectors, innovate, and enter new markets in Ukraine, the European Union (EU), and other regions. ERA emphasizes the inclusion of internally displaced persons (IDPs), women, young adults, veterans, the elderly, LGBTQI+ and other vulnerable groups to ensure that these people also participate in building the region’s economic success.
Starting in 2025, ERA is reviving its interventions around Stabilization and Business Revival and re-establishing a core focus on 4 eastern oblasts (Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson) and 3 adjacent oblasts (Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv); and, to a lesser extent, in 4 war-affected areas (Sumy, Poltava, Chernihiv, Odesa). This Stabilization and Business Revival intervention area aims to improve the economic resilience of eastern Ukraine by achieving the following goals:
- OBJECTIVE 1: Provide assistance to stabilize the economy of Ukraine; and
- OBJECTIVE 2: Support the sustainable development of micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ukraine.
Consequently, the economy of eastern and frontline communities in Ukraine will be able to withstand and respond to the challenge presented by Russia’s invasion and destruction of critical infrastructure; and individuals, businesses and government partners will be able to rebuild their lives and operation in these regions, thereby improving the economic resilience of the region.
In addition to Stabilization and Business Revival in the east and frontline oblasts, ERA continues to support complementary intervention areas:
- AGRI-UKRAINE GRAIN EXPORT LOGISTICS; USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) is one of USAID’s core partners implementing the $350 million Agriculture Resilience Initiative – Ukraine (AGRI) that was established in 2022 to bolster Ukrainian agricultural exports and alleviate the global food security crisis exacerbated by the war. Under AGRI-Ukraine, ERA partners with public and private companies to complement and leverage urgently needed grain transportation and transshipment investments.
- BORDER CROSSING POINTS (BCP) IMPROVEMENTS; ERA directly supports the Government of Ukraine, including the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), the State Customs Service and Ukrainian Railways, to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s BCPs. Modern and more efficient border infrastructure and customs procedures will reduce export costs and increase export capacity, enabling Ukraine to scale trade and advance its path to EU integration.
- ENERGY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE SUPPORT; As one of USAID’s most flexible activities that responds to emerging and/or emergency needs, ERA is expanding its interventions that assist Ukraine businesses, communities or individuals in the fall and winter (September 2024-December 2025). The goal is to minimize the impact on the Ukrainian people and economy given recent power deficits. This is an adaptive component and ERA may also need to respond to other emergency needs in the face of ongoing Russian aggression and attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.
JOB OVERVIEW
The Communications Officer will support the implementation of ERA’s communications strategy and activities across all of ERA’s components, including Stabilization and Business Revival, emergency energy response (EER), AGRI, and BCP interventions. The Communications Officer will serve as the main point of contact for ERA communications in its Odesa office. The Communications Officer is responsible for participating in ERA’s events, including scoping event sites, establishing contacts with ERA’s beneficiaries and stakeholders, arranging and conducting interviews, maintaining a database of ERA’s beneficiaries, highlighting ERA’s activities, taking photographs of ERA events and activities, and producing articles, success stories, and news to be published in social and traditional media outlets. The Communications Officer reports to the Deputy Communications Manager and is based in Odesa.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Work closely with the Strategic Communications Director, Deputy Communications Manager, and other team members to align communication efforts with broader project goals;
- Collect information and transform into articles and success stories for ERA’s social media and web channels and help monitor traditional and social media daily for information pertinent to ERA project activities;
- Collaborate effectively with technical teams to ensure data and achievements are captured and represented accurately and professionally in ERA’s communications products;
- Attend ERA events and site visits and take high quality, professional photos, and save them in designated shared files;
- Travel to support the preparation and implementation of events as required;
- Provide guidance on external communications, public relations and media relations strategies, and communications best practices;
- Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) team to identify and report on ERA’s achievements;
- Collect information about future events, including those organized by national and international stakeholders, to support the Events team;
- Ensure the proper branding of ERA external/public documents at events or on other deliverables;
- Format ERA’s publications and reporting documents in accordance with USAID branding and graphic identity requirements;
- Create graphic materials to be used in online resources, social media, traditional media, and web pages of partners and beneficiaries;
- Other activities as requested.
QUALIFICATIONS
- BA in communications, journalism, international relations, graphic design, or related field;
- 2 or more f experience working in a similar capacity on USAID or other international donor-funded projects (desirable but not essential);
- Excellent time-management, organizational skills, and attention to detail required;
- Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) in English and Ukrainian, and experience preparing high quality written
- Experience in graphic design and/or willingness to learn graphic design skills;
- Exceptional English writing skills, including grammar, syntax, and punctuation;
- Experience in developing social media content desired;
- Proficiency with MS Office (Word and PowerPoint), graphic arts, and/or desktop publishing software;
- Willingness to travel around southern Ukraine;
- Diplomatic and professional skills are required to liaise with ERA stakeholders and technical teams.
WE OFFER
Contract length: 12-month employment agreement with a possibility of extension.
Benefits Package:
- 28 calendar days of annual leave
- 10 days of internal well-being paid leave per annum
- Medical Insurance for ERA staff and their families
- Life Insurance for ERA staff
- Coverage of all expenses for the business trips
- USAID ERA project is classified as critical infrastructure, reservation from military service is possible
Start date: January 2025
Application process
All applicants must send a cover letter and updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English to ukraine@dai.com
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.
Closing date for applications: January 31, 2025.
For further information about DAI GLOBAL LLC, please consult our website era-ukraine.org.ua.