U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam

The U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam represents the United States government in Tanzania and works to strengthen diplomatic relations, promote mutual understanding, and advance U.S. interests.

The Embassy is seeking eligible and qualified candidates for the position of Public Engagement Specialist (Press) within its Public Diplomacy Office.

The position is open to all interested applicants and is a supervisory role involving press relations, media engagement, public communications, and policy advocacy.

Job Summary

The Public Engagement Specialist (Press) oversees press and media operations for the U.S. Mission in Tanzania, promoting understanding of and support for U.S. policies.

The successful candidate will serve as the chief advisor to the Mission on policy advocacy through media engagement.

The role involves identifying long-term trends and emerging policy-related issues, advising Mission leadership on strategies to promote accurate and balanced Tanzanian media coverage of U.S. foreign policy and American interests, correcting misinformation, and countering disinformation.

The specialist will also monitor, analyse, and report on Tanzanian media coverage of issues important to the United States.

Other responsibilities include building relationships with media owners, editors, producers, and journalists, as well as developing and coordinating media tours, journalist training, and exchange programmes.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Overseeing press and media operations for the U.S. Mission in Tanzania.
• Promoting understanding of and support for U.S. foreign policy through strategic media engagement.
• Advising Mission leadership on policy advocacy and media relations strategies.
• Identifying emerging political, economic, social, and policy-related trends affecting media coverage.
• Monitoring, analysing, and reporting on Tanzanian press and media coverage of issues important to the United States.
• Developing strategies to promote accurate and balanced media coverage of U.S. foreign policy and American interests.
• Correcting misinformation and countering disinformation.
• Building and maintaining productive relationships with media owners, editors, producers, and journalists.
• Developing and coordinating media tours, journalist training, and exchange programmes.

Additional Information: The complete list of major duties and responsibilities is provided in the official position description:

Download Major Duties – Public Engagement Specialist (Press)

Qualifications and Requirements

Applicants must meet one of the following three education and experience combinations.

Option 1: University Degree

Education:

• University Degree in Journalism, Communications, International Relations, Political Science, Economics, or a local equivalent.

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of experience in a media outlet, international organisation, government, or the private sector.
• Experience in communications, journalism, public relations, or public affairs.
• At least one (1) year of supervisory experience.

Option 2: Two Years of University Studies

Education:

• Two (2) years of college or university studies in Journalism, Communications, International Relations, Political Science, Economics, or a local equivalent.

Experience:

• At least seven (7) years of experience in a media outlet, international organisation, government, or the private sector.
• Experience in communications, journalism, public relations, or public affairs.
• At least two (2) years of supervisory experience.

Option 3: Secondary School Education

Education:

• Completion of secondary school education.

Experience:

• At least eight (8) years of experience in a media outlet, international organisation, government, or the private sector.
• Experience in communications, journalism, public relations, or public affairs.
• At least three (3) years of supervisory experience.

Important: Applicants must clearly address their supervisory experience under the Major Duties and Responsibilities section of the online application.

Language Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate:

• English: Level 4 – Fluent in speaking, reading, and writing.
• Kiswahili: Level 4 – Fluent in speaking, reading, and writing.

Language proficiency may be tested.

Job Knowledge

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Detailed knowledge of Tanzanian political, economic, social, and cultural policies and trends.
• Comprehensive understanding of Tanzanian press and media institutions.
• Knowledge of professional journalism standards and practices.
• Understanding of audience preferences for information consumption across print, television, radio, and online platforms.
• Knowledge of regional and international communication trends affecting Tanzania’s information landscape.
• Understanding of influence patterns in information flow.
• Knowledge of marketing techniques, market analysis, and audience analytics in Tanzania.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Analytical Skills

• Ability to interpret Tanzanian policy, economic and social history, and emerging trends.
• Ability to identify, analyse, predict, and continuously assess the attitudes of media outlets and information consumers across different policy areas.
• Ability to identify significant changes in Tanzania’s information and influence landscape.
• Ability to adjust press and media operations to promote balanced coverage among priority audiences.

2. Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• Excellent customer relations, interpersonal, and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Ability to identify influential voices in traditional and digital media and engage them effectively.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to speak publicly and prepare reports, press releases, and other communication materials.
• Ability to participate in online forums and contribute to publications in English and Kiswahili.
• Ability to tailor communication to formal and informal situations.
• Ability to brief senior U.S. officers and high-level visitors on various issues.
• Ability to interpret between English and Kiswahili for written materials, press events, and programmes.

3. Management Skills

• Strong event planning and management skills.
• Ability to organise and manage press conferences, speeches, interviews, and workshops.
• Ability to negotiate agreements with partner institutions and manage their implementation.

4. Technical Skills

• Excellent keyboarding and data entry skills.
• Familiarity with electronic discovery tools, particularly the internet and standard information retrieval procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and database software.
• Knowledge and ability to use digital platforms, tools, and products.
• Numerical skills for developing budget projections, media analytics, and managing project budgets.
• Knowledge of television and radio production.
• Ability to use social media and mobile platforms, photo-editing software, and photo and video-sharing websites.

Employment Requirements

Selected candidates must be able to obtain and maintain:

• Required security certification.
• Required medical certification.

All selected candidates will undergo a background investigation and pre-employment medical examination.

The selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period after receiving the necessary agency authorisations and clearances.

Benefits and Other Information

The U.S. Mission in Tanzania offers a compensation package that may include:

• Health benefits.
• Separation benefits.
• Other applicable employment benefits.

The position is permanent and full-time, with a 40-hour working week.

Travel Requirements: Occasional travel.

Relocation Expenses: Not reimbursed.

Telework: Not eligible.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The U.S. Mission provides equal employment opportunities and fair and equitable treatment to all people without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Hiring Preference

Hiring preference is extended to eligible and qualified applicants in the following order:

• Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM) / U.S. Citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran.
• AEFM / USEFM.
• Foreign Service (FS) employees on Leave Without Pay (LWOP) and Civil Service (CS) employees with re-employment rights.

Applicants claiming eligible family member or veteran preference must provide the required supporting documentation.

Additional eligibility restrictions apply to certain current employees and eligible family member applicants.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants must submit their applications through the official U.S. Department of State Electronic Recruitment Application (ERA) portal.

CLICK/TAP HERE TO APPLY

Applicants should ensure that their applications clearly address all relevant qualifications, education, experience, language skills, and job-related competencies.

Applications can be edited before the vacancy closing date. Incomplete applications may be disqualified.

Required Application Documents

All applicants must upload the following applicable documents:

• Proof of Citizenship.
• Work Permit, if applicable.
• University Degree, if applicable.
• University Transcript, if applicable.
• Relevant Certificates, if applicable.
• Updated Resume/CV.

Additional Documents for Eligible Family Member (EFM) Applicants:

• Copy of sponsor’s travel orders or assignment notification.
• Passport copy.
• DD-214 – Member Copy 4, Veterans Affairs letter, or other supporting documentation, if applicable.
• SF-50, if applicable.

Only applicants who are shortlisted and invited for a language or skills test, or selected for an interview, will be contacted via email.

Contact Information

For further information or reasonable accommodation requests, contact the U.S. Embassy Human Resources Section:

Telephone: 022-229-4148

Email: DAR-Recruitment@state.gov