Health Communications and Public Affairs Intern
SUSTAINING TECHNICAL AND ANALYTIC RESOURCES
INTERN TITLE: Health Communications and Public Affairs Intern
HOST ORGANIZATION: Neglected Tropical Diseases Division, Office of Infectious Disease, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development
LOCATION: Washington, DC
POSITION LEVEL: Masters Level
INT-P2-068
SALARY: $1,832 biweekly (exempt, salaried position)
ANTICIPATED TIMEFRAME: 6 Months
STAR PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Sustaining Technical and Analytic Resources (STAR) is a project of the Public Health Institute (PHI) supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Global Health (GH) Bureau. Its purpose is twofold: (1) Through individual fellowships, STAR will help strengthen the capacity of diverse American and low-and-middle-income country (LMIC) health professionals at all levels to make innovative contributions to global health (GH); and (2) STAR will create ground-breaking opportunities for both US and LMIC GH academic institutions and other groups, including professional associations, to create systems for open-access knowledge sharing, resulting in effective partnerships. STAR’s individual and institutional participants are contributing to the development of self-sustaining systems and tools that will produce global citizens with the full spectrum of relevant health competencies. STAR is managed by the Public Health Institute and implemented in partnership with Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH).
INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION
Background:
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID’s work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity, demonstrates American generosity, and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience. USAID’s global health programs are dedicated to saving lives and improving the health of the poorest and most vulnerable. This position is with USAID’s Bureau for Global Health, Office of Infectious Disease, Neglected Tropical Diseases Division. This Division works in 27 countries to fight seven of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that have proven, cost effective health interventions. This individual will join a dedicated group of 13 individuals working to end these devastating diseases of poverty.
Introduction:
The Health Communications and Public Affairs Intern (Intern) will support the Neglected Tropical Diseases Team in Washington, D.C. They will have the opportunity to learn about USAID's work from leading technical experts and develop a strong understanding of communications through creation and promotion of content reflecting the Agency’s results and impact.
Reporting structure:
The Intern will be based in the Neglected Tropical Diseases Division and will work closely with the Neglected Tropical Diseases Team and receive technical guidance from the Deputy Division Chief, who will serve as their onsite manager and Communications Advisor, who will provide day to day technical guidance.
OUTCOMES
By the end of the internship, the Intern will have gained experience and exposure to:
- Learn and practice communications and public affairs best practices.
- Develop a digital media or print materials campaign, from conception to execution, to promote USAID's global health investments.
- Author and promote social media, blogs, digital stories, messages, campaigns, and other communications materials, and help promote them on highly visible global health and Agency-wide channels.
Essential Duties:
- Work with staff to develop time-limited strategic communications campaigns and execute outreach strategies to increase engagement and promotion of USAID global health content.
- Use raw and existing content to help illustrate complex health concepts for a lay audience.
- Draft and share social media content for USAID channels. Monitor analytics to track impact and inform future efforts. Draft messages, fact sheets, brochures, and other written content for external dissemination.
- Draft, design, and/or modify visuals, such as presentations, infographics, videos, and other graphics to visually convey technical content and key messages.
- Assist with event and conference-related planning, operations, and logistics as needed.
- Learn about USAID's infectious disease and neglected tropical disease program work.
Anticipated learning outcomes:
- Identify and describe the core attributes of the STAR global health competencies; defined as development practice, cross cultural awareness, communication, capacity strengthening, ethics of public health, health equity, gender equality and global burden of disease.
- Gain exposure to Health Communications through global health programming.
- Apply effective communication skills across a broad network of peers and advisors within global health to support learning and professional development.
- Develop a global health focused career plan with a mentor.
INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Required:
- Currently enrolled masters or other post-bachelor’s degree candidate in the areas of public health, public policy, communications, marketing, international development, journalism, or another related field or completion of such a program within 24 months.
- Demonstrated experience developing content for print, digital, and social media platforms and measuring content effectiveness through analytics platforms.
- Demonstrated experience conveying complex technical information in plain language.
- Highly motivated, responsible, and hardworking individual.
- Creative and organized team player.
- Demonstrated experience using Adobe Creative Suite with an emphasis on Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
- Strong writing and analytic skills.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
- This position may require travel. Ability to participate in a field experience, which may involve domestic and/or international travel and overnight stays for up to 2 weeks.
- US citizenship or US permanent residency required.
Additional skills (preferred):
- Strong interest in strategic communications, public affairs or policy.
- Motivation to use communications for social good.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including learning programs.
TO APPLY
All applicants are required to apply for this position through STAR’s online recruitment system at recruitment.ghstar.org, which allows you to create a profile and upload a CV/resume and cover letter. All online applications must be submitted by September 21, 2020 by 5:00 pm Eastern time.
Public Health Institute is proud to be an EEO/AA employer.