Policy, Plans and Operations (PPO) Network Engagement Specialist

Job Summary:

The Network Engagement Specialist will support the Global Engagement Center’s (GEC) Network Engagement Cell, reporting to the Cell Lead by managing an assigned portfolio of strategies, operational plans, programs, and activities designed to identify, support, engage, and activate the organization’s global network of foreign government and civil society influencers.  As needed, will be responsible for reviewing, analyzing, and disseminating critically sensitive information related to addressing malign foreign propaganda and disinformation.

Job Responsibilities:

• Support the NET Cell’s oversight of the GEC’s foreign partner influencer network strategy, identifying, mapping, analyzing, establishing, training, strengthening, connecting, engaging, and maintaining activate networks of foreign government communicators and foreign civil society influencers who serve (or have the potential to serve) as the U.S. government’s ongoing foreign partners to address issues related to malign influence in their countries, including disinformation sponsored by both state- and non-state actors. 

• Assist in building new and/or maintain existing relationships with the GEC’s existing and/or potential foreign government and civil society partners, including the DoS Regional and Functional Bureau and/or other U.S. government officials who serve as relationship managers for select contacts.

• Develop, coordinate, and execute outreach strategies to the GEC’s existing and/or potential foreign government and foreign civil society partners to optimize and sustain the GEC’s engagement with high-priority foreign partner networks around common areas of interest.

• Develop and operationalize strategic plans to activate and mobilize the GEC’s networks of foreign government and foreign civil society partners to address disinformation and propaganda in their countries/regions, ensuring these efforts align with the U.S. government’s priorities for countering propaganda and disinformation (CPD).

• Collaborate with relevant GEC teams, DoS Bureaus, and interagency partners to conduct social and traditional media analyses; surveys; focus groups; and other research methodologies as needed to determine disinformation-related themes that generate the most interest across the GEC’s current and potential foreign government and foreign civil society networks.

• Maintain ongoing relationships and liaison with relevant GEC teams, DoS Bureaus, and as needed, U.S. interagency partners, to integrate and sync the GEC’s efforts to mobilize networks of foreign government and civil society partners to lead CPD efforts in their countries/regions with broader U.S. government objectives and activities.

• Assist in developing, advise, and execute trainings and other capacity-building activities; campaigns; and other strategic communications activities to maintain optimal and ongoing engagement with GEC’s current and potential network of foreign government and foreign civil society partners. 

• Curate and share disinformation-related content, news, research, and training material with the GEC’s foreign government and civil society partner networks to optimize members’ engagement with the GEC and with each other, and to effectively mobilize foreign partners to conduct CPD activities in their countries/regions.

• Work closely with the GEC’s “Monitoring & Evaluation” team to evaluate the impact of the GEC’s foreign government and foreign civil society partner networks’ CPD activities.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Developing and executing integrated communications strategies and campaigns that leverage networks of foreign government and civil society partners to advance U.S. foreign policy goals and objectives. 

• Comprehensive knowledge of world affairs and U.S. foreign policy priorities. Previous experience in the U.S. Department of State’s Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs community is a plus.  

• Effective practices for moving networks of foreign government communicators and civil society influencers up the “ladder of engagement,” including how and when to utilize leading digital tools/social media platforms to drive foreign network members’ efforts to counter propaganda and disinformation (CPD) in their countries/regions.

• Conducting target audience and/or network analysis and segmentation.  

• Methods to optimize ongoing network and/or target audience engagement across both social and traditional media platforms.  

• Creating and/or curating content with optimal reach and resonance among target audiences (e.g., generating inbound traffic, sustaining network and/or digital community engagement, SharePoint site management, etc.).

• Tracking and analyzing the key performance indicators (KPI) (e.g., increased engagement, impressions, issue-area awareness, etc.) of strategic communications campaigns, ensuring clear links to foreign policy goals. 

• Compiling post-campaign deliverables with results recaps and summaries. 

• Exceptional communication (written and verbal), interpersonal, and relationship-building skills. 

• Required Top-Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility.

**Desired Qualifications: **

• Subject-matter expertise related to countering malign disinformation and propaganda sponsored by foreign state and non-state actors.  

• Experience coordinating Departmental and interagency decisions on content, scope, and/or funding of foreign government and foreign civil society network engagement activities.