USAID CATALYZE MS4G: Technical Writer (Readvertised)

About Palladium:

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities. 

Project Background

USAID CATALYZE Market Systems for Growth (MS4G) focuses on creating transformative outcomes in the food security and WASH sectors to benefit all Ethiopian people. To achieve these goals, the activity engages youth, mobilizes capital, increases access to finance, connects enterprises to markets, and supports stakeholders to self-advocate towards policy change which will promote opportunities for the private sector community. The project supports activities in Addis Ababa and secondary cities. 

To strengthen the private sector in the food security and WASH sectors, MS4G uses a market-based approach to enhance enterprises’ performance, product/service delivery, and inclusion. The activities are designed to build institutional capacity, enhance knowledge and skill transfers through workforce development initiatives, advance the business enabling environment, accelerate digital transformations and scale best practices to increase productivity and quality. 

Location:
The position is based in Palladium’s Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Office
We welcome applications from both international and local candidates.

Estimated Start Date:
This assignment is expected to commence February 2025.

Reporting and Supervision:

The Technical Writer will be responsible for producing polished newsletters, articles, and briefs in English for an international audience and will report to the CATALYZE: MS4G Communications Manager.  

Specific responsibilities of MS4G’s Technical Writer include, but are not limited to:

-Develop compelling, clear, and persuasive written content for a variety of communication materials (such as learning briefs, factsheets, case studies, external presentations, success stories), and ensure that all written content aligns with the project's goals, messaging, and branding standards.
-Prepare comprehensive and well-structured reports and updates (weekly, quarterly and annual progress reports and updates) for internal and external stakeholders, translating complex technical information into easily understandable language for a variety of audiences.
-Collaborate with project teams to ensure consistent and coherent messaging across all communication material and channels.
-Review and edit written content created by team members to ensure clarity, consistency, and adherence to grammatical and style guidelines.
-Maintain a record of communication activities and outcomes for reporting purposes.
-Conduct training sessions for project staff and partners on effective communication techniques and foster a culture of excellent writing skills within the project team.
-Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications
-A bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or a relevant field.
-At least 5 years of experience in project communications.
-Excellent English written, verbal and presentation skills.
-Proven experience in writing and content creation for development projects, preferably with experience on USAID-funded initiatives, with an understanding of USAID’s communication and branding requirements, standards and style
-Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
-Ability to synthesize complex documents into a language that is accessible and compelling to external audiences.
-Excellent attention to detail and track record of designing and implementing dynamic communications and knowledge management strategies.
-Detail-oriented and deadline-driven with strong organizational skills, and ability to work in a dynamic and agile environment with changing requirements and priorities.
-Ability to meet deadlines under extreme pressure, build consensus, engage a variety of stakeholders, and work with diverse groups of people.

The Technical Writer plays a critical role in shaping and promoting the project's narrative and impact. Exceptional writing skills are at the core of this position, ensuring that the project's message is effectively communicated to diverse stakeholders and contributes to its success.

Desired Qualifications
-Experience engaging diverse stakeholders, including private sector actors, and international donors.
-Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
-Creative problem-solving skills.
-Demonstrated ability to manage and oversee multiple complex tasks simultaneously.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion:
Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success, and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.
Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.
Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.