- Open to the public
All Interested Applicants / All Sources
!!! Post policy update: Inbound USEFM applicants DO NOT have to wait until they are within 90 days of arriving at post to apply. !!!
If the candidate meets all of the onboarding criteria they could start working as of immediately.
We encourage you to read and understand the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply.
The work schedule for this position is Full Time (38 hours per week)
Start date: Candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time (15 weeks) of receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
If the candidate meets all of the onboarding criteria they could start working as of immediately.
Duties
Monitors European Union (EU) press and media coverage of issues of importance to the United States. Identifies and advises Mission leadership on strategies for promoting accurate, balanced EU press and media coverage of U.S. foreign policy and American interests; correcting misinformation; and countering disinformation. Builds productive relationships with press and media professionals in person and online that comprise the broad array of governmental and international media organizations located in Brussels to advance U.S. foreign policy goals. The U.S. Mission to the European Union (USEU) engages with representatives of the EU’s 27 member states, the EU’s formal institutions, and the Brussels community of non-governmental organizations and think tanks working on EU issues.
Designs and implements press and media activities for the Mission to promote balanced and informed coverage of U.S. policy, respond to breaking stories, correct misinformation, and counter disinformation.
Continuously monitors EU press and media to identify stories of importance to U.S. policy and American interests, either through in-house personnel or contract services; analyzes EU media trends and outcomes of press/media placement for the Mission and Washington agencies. Analyzes and compiles regular summaries of press and media coverage and its impact; prepares regular verbal and written reports to Mission leadership and, as required, to the wider Department of State (DOS) on Mission media engagement.
Recommends and organizes Mission initiatives to engage effectively with the press and media, whether in response to EU coverage or to initiate dialogue on specific issues. Assesses the news cycle for the best timing of media interactions, specific points to be made (or not made), the appropriate protocol level, and other means for conveying information on or off the record.
Prepares Mission personnel for direct interaction with press/media. Compiles background information on media outlet(s), prepares briefing materials, and compiles relevant DOS or other guidance on the issues to be covered and questions or difficult issues that may come up. Coaches Mission personnel on appropriate language for discussing policy issues. Ensures that Mission press/media interactions conform to agreed ground rules.
Produces policy-specific information (e.g., press releases, media kits, fact sheets, background papers) in English and/or French. Determines journalists’/outlets’ interests, points of view, and priority issues, and distributes information on U.S. policy and other topics. Collaborates with the Strategic Content Coordination team to develop content for the Mission’s digital properties and for online dissemination. Ensures that materials accurately convey all nuances of complex U.S. policies and are of professional caliber. Assists journalists and outlets with fact checks or requests for verification.
Plans and coordinates EU and U.S. media coverage and press logistics for high-level visits (Presidential, Cabinet-level, Congressional, etc.), working closely with the Public Engagement Assistant.
Develops and recommends strategies for Mission engagement with EU press and media. Analyzes media’s audience, geographic reach, political tendencies, and credibility. Recommends priority engagement with outlets that reach audience groups of greatest importance to Mission priorities. Recommends media engagement strategies for the Ambassador and other Mission leadership, based on analysis of individual skill, language ability, portfolio, experience and expertise. Cultivates professional relationships with key media outlets and journalists, editors, and commentators for optimal coverage of U.S. and Mission priorities. Actively plans at least a year in advance for initiatives to maintain editorial focus on long-term policy priorities and to develop initiatives that generate and maintain contact with rising professionals in the press and media sector. Contributes to the Mission Integrated Country Strategy (ICS), the annual Public Diplomacy Implementation Plan (PDIP), and the Public Diplomacy Country Context (PDCC). Assesses previous activities to fine-tune future initiatives; identifies press and media engagement projects and performance objectives, assessment methods, and outcomes.
Qualifications and Evaluations
EXPERIENCE: A minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in a media outlet, think tank, university, NGO, international organization, foreign embassy, government office, or corporation is required, with responsibility for public relations, public affairs, journalism, communications, marketing, managing public relations, outreach events, press conferences, and other media interactions as significant parts of the job.
JOB KNOWLEDGE: Detailed knowledge of U.S. foreign policy objectives and American interests in the EU, especially as they apply to press and media professionals, outlets, and online publications is required. Comprehensive understanding of EU press/media institutions and professional journalism standards and practices, as well as trends in audience preferences for information consumption (print, TV, radio, online), is required. Must have an understanding of communication trends in the region and internationally as they affect the EU information landscape and must be familiar with influence patterns in information flow. Knowledge of marketing techniques, market analysis, and audience analytics in the EU is required. Understanding of U.S. historical, political, economic, social, and cultural forces that shape U.S. foreign policy and of U.S. press and media standards, norms, and practices is required. Detailed knowledge of DOS PD engagement tools, and the policies and procedures required for each, is required.
A university degree in Journalism, Communications, International Relations, Political Science, Economics, or local equivalent is required.
LANGUAGE: Fluency in English and French. This may be tested.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Analytic skills: Ability to identify, analyze, predict, and continually assess attitudes of press and media outlets and information consumers across a wide range of thematic policy areas is required. Must have strong analytical skills to match specific U.S. foreign policy objectives with relevant EU attitudes, perceptions, and stereotypes, and the ability to conceptualize how best to use the full range of PD communication and program tools to move attitudes in positive ways. Must have the ability to advise PD/Mission leaders of opportunities to promote Mission objectives with key audience segments and identify creative approaches to address sensitive challenges. Must be able to perceive significant changes in the EU influence landscape, and to adjust press/media operations and products to maximize balanced coverage for priority audiences.
Communication/Interpersonal skills: Must have excellent customer relations, interpersonal, and cross-cultural communication skills. Must be able to identify influential voices in both traditional and digital information outlets, and engage them to positive effect. Must be able to communicate effectively in formal and informal situations on nuances of U.S. policy; must have excellent written and oral communication skills to speak publicly; write reports, press releases, and other products; engage in online fora; and contribute to publications in English and French. Must be able to tailor communications to fit formal and informal situations. Must be able to brief U.S. officers and visitors on a variety of issues and interpret informally between English and French for public programs.
Management skills: Strong event and management skills are required. Must be able to organize and run events such as press conferences, interviews, workshops, and journalism training seminars, often on short notice or in emergencies.
Technical skills: Good keyboarding and data entry skills are required; excellent familiarity with electronic discovery tools, in particular the internet, and standard information retrieval practices and procedures is required. Thorough, detailed knowledge of various computer software programs, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, and databases, as well as PD-specific software, databases, and reporting tools, is required. Knowledge of PD-specific funding authorities is required. Detailed knowledge of and ability to use digital platforms, tools, and products are required. Must have good numerical skills to develop budget projections and statistics for press and media analytics. Must have basic familiarity with TV and radio production skills to oversee logistics for press and television coverage. Ability to use social media and mobile platforms are all required.
Availability: Must be available to travel throughout the EU to support Mission press and media engagement activities. Must be available to work an irregular schedule in response to VIP visits, crisis communication needs, or other critical Mission priorities.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO): The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.
All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.
Benefits and Other Info
Locally Employed Staff, including Members of Household (MOHs), and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), working at the U.S. Mission in Brussels may receive a compensation package that may include health, separation, and other benefits.
For EFMs, benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources Office.
The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.
For the current COVID-19 Requirements please visit the following link.
HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS: Applicants in the following hiring preference categories are extended a hiring preference in the order listed below. Therefore, it is essential that these applicants accurately describe their status on the application. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not eligible for a hiring preference.
HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER:
AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
AEFM / USEFM
FS on LWOP and CS with reemployment rights **
IMPORTANT: Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”), equivalent documentation, or certification. A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.
** This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.
For more information (i.e., what is an EFM, USEFM, AEFM, MOH, etc.?) and for additional employment considerations, please visit the following link.
How to Apply
All candidates must be able to obtain and hold a Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) certification.
To apply for this position click the “Submit Application” button. For more information on how to apply visit the Mission internet site.
Required Documents:
To qualify based on education, you MUST submit the requested degree and / or transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide requested information, or the information is insufficient to verify eligibility, may result in disqualification for this position.
All Applicants:
Residency and/or Work Permit
University diploma (a copy recognized by Belgian/U.S. authorities*)
Language Scores (if available)
Eligible Family Member Applicants:
- Copy of Sponsor's Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)
- Passport copy
- DD-214 - Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
- SF-50 (if applicable)
Clarification:
If you have a diploma of one of the following countries, your diploma is automatically recognized:
Belgium
Netherlands
Luxembourg
International diplomas awarded by the European University Institute Firenze
USA
In case you have a foreign diploma of a country not on the list above, you need a professional recognition (type: specific). For the procedure see Diploma Recognition - Mon Diplome Mydiploma. You can opt for the French procedure (via cfwb) or the Dutch procedure (via naric). Should you have questions regarding the recognition procedure, please contact cfwb or Naric directly (www.equivalences.cfwb.be or www.naricvlaanderen.be).
Applicants who are invited to take a language or skills test, or who are selected for an interview will be contacted via email.
For further information - the complete position description listing all of the duties, responsibilities, required qualifications, etc. may be obtained by contacting the Human Resources Office.
Thank you for your application and your interest in working at the U.S. Mission in Brussels.
