Marketing & Communication Specialist - HEPI Project (USAID)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 11 October, 2024

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Competitive

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Higher Education Partnership Initiative (HEPI) is a five-year $6 million project funded by USAID Indonesia, in partnership with Arizona State University (ASU). Funded through 2027, HEPI aims to build sustainable partnerships between universities and industries in the US and Indonesia. This initiative brings together a dynamic consortium of U.S. and Indonesian universities, government agencies, and industry partners to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs in Indonesia.  The project aligns industry-linked curricula to provide work-ready STEM graduates and elevate the quality of STEM education in Indonesia to meet international accreditation standards. Additionally, HEPI fosters innovative partnerships between higher education institutions (HEIs) in the U.S. and Indonesia, creating pathways for Indonesian students to pursue degree and short-term programs in the United States.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Marketing and Communication Specialist plays a critical role in increasing the visibility of the USAID Higher Education Partnership Initiative (HEPI) across Indonesia and Southeast Asia. The Specialist will lead efforts to promote programmatic activities, as well as other regional initiatives as assigned. Key responsibilities include developing and executing marketing strategies, managing internal and external communication, and ensuring all promotional activities adhere to USAID branding and promotional guidelines.

A core function of this role involves raising public awareness, enhancing brand visibility, and building relationships with key stakeholders. The Specialist will communicate program successes to both internal and external audiences. Additionally, s/he will manage and update the HEPI resource catalog and support project partners in developing and marketing the HEPI Launchpad.

The Specialist will collaborate closely with project partners, external marketing teams, and other stakeholders to ensure the effective distribution of HEPI-related content and resources. This program is expected to remain active through 2027 and is based in Jakarta Indonesia.  The position is contingent on sponsor approval and funding.

SCHEDULE & PLACE OF WORK: 

• Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00AM - 4:00PM

• Place of Work: This position is based in Jakarta, Indonesia, with the expectation of working in the office for the majority of the week. The office of Arizona State University is in Jakarta, Indonesia.  The Marketing & Communication Specialist is expected to travel within Indonesia and abroad on occasion for meetings as instructed by the Country Director.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential duties include, but are not limited to:

1.    Marketing Strategy Development and Management

• Develop and implement marketing plans aligned with HEPI)’s strategic objectives, ensuring timely delivery of communications according to the communication plans.

• Identify target audiences and craft resonant messaging for stakeholders, partners, and the broader community.

• Produce engaging written and visual content, including newsletters, press releases, social media posts, infographics, videos, success stories, reports, landing page, brochures.

• Oversee the production and dissemination of marketing materials such as brochures, presentations, and media kits.

• Ensure all content aligns with branding guidelines and reflects the organization’s mission and values.

• Analyse market trends and competitor activities to refine strategies and improve program visibility.

• Collaborate with the HEPI project team to produce polished and impactful content for newsletters, progress reports, email campaigns, and social media.

2.    Resource Catalog and Launchpad Development, Management and Marketing Support

• Update and manage the HEPI Resource Catalog, ensuring content remains current, relevant, and easily accessible, with regular reviews for usability and reach.

• Collaborate with ASU Senior Coordinator, Partner Relation Manager, project partners and internal teams to gather new resources, materials, and updates for the catalog.

• Provide guidance and support to project partners in developing and promoting the HEPI Launchpad, a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing among universities and industry partners.

• Develop marketing materials and implement targeted campaigns to increase engagement with the HEPI Launchpad.

• Ensure the successful launch and ongoing visibility of the HEPI Launchpad through consistent marketing efforts.

• Develop promotional items and resources to enhance HEPI Launchpad engagement.

3.    Digital Marketing and Social Media

• Manage the organization’s social media platforms, including content calendars and posting schedules.

• Track and analyze social media metrics to evaluate campaign success and adjust strategies as needed.

• Create and manage project event landing pages to effectively market HEPI activities and provide updated, engaging and SEO-friendly content.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive digital marketing strategy, including social media management, email marketing, content optimization, and SEO to enhance HEPI’s visibility across digital platforms.

• Manage social media platforms, including content calendars, posting schedules, and campaign development, while integrating advanced analytics to track performance and refine strategies.

• Utilize email automation tools to develop targeted email campaigns and nurture ongoing engagement with HEPI’s audiences.

• Track and analyze key digital metrics (social media, website traffic, email engagement) to evaluate campaign success and provide insights for continuous improvement.

• Create and manage project and event landing pages, ensuring content is current, engaging, and optimized for SEO to increase reach and visibility.

4.    Partner Engagement and Communication

• Serve as a point of contact for communication support, helping HEPI partners enhance the visibility of their initiatives and successes in alignment with HEPI’s objectives.

• Coordinate with partners to gather information and stories and information for HEPI’s promotional materials.

• Build and maintain relationships with media contacts, journalists, and influencers to generate positive coverage for the program.

• Draft and distribute press releases, media advisories, and feature articles.

• Proactively engage with HEPI partners to support their communication needs, helping them promote and enhance the visibility of their initiatives and successes in alignment with HEPI’s objectives.

• Actively collaborate with partners to identify and gather compelling stories and information that highlight their achievements and can be used in HEPI’s promotional materials.

• Build and nurture long-term relationships with key media contacts, journalists, and influencers to generate positive and ongoing coverage for the program, ensuring consistent visibility and engagement.

• Strategically draft and distribute press releases, media advisories, and feature articles that strengthen HEPI’s brand presence and support partners’ goals.

5.    Event Promotion and Support

• Support the planning and promotion of project-related events, including conferences, workshops, webinars, and outreach activities.

• Create marketing materials for events and manage event-specific communications invitations, announcements, follow-ups).

• Collaborate with the event management team to ensure a cohesive branding and promotional strategy.

6.    Internal and External Communication

• Maintain clear and timely communication with all HEPI stakeholders, including internal teams, partners, and external audiences.

• Coordinate regular updates to ensure that all stakeholders are informed about project developments, upcoming events, and important milestones.

7.    Monitoring and Reporting

• Track and report on key marketing and communication metrics to measure the effectiveness of strategies and activities.

• Provide regular updates to leadership on the impact of marketing efforts and propose adjustments to strategies as needed.

• Assist in preparing communication materials for donor reporting and presentations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field.

• Fluency in English and Indonesia, both written and verbal.

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in marketing, communications, or a similar role, preferably within international development or higher education projects.

• Strong content creation skills with experience writing and editing for various platforms (social media, email, newsletter, press release, reports, success storiys, etc).

• Familiarity with digital marketing tools and social media management (e.g., Hootsuite, Canva, MailChimp, Google Analytics).

• Strong project management skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams and build relationships with partners.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working and liaising with government agencies, both Indonesian and US.

• Experience working with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

• Experience in writing press releases, social media content, blog posts, newsletter creation and other content generation.

• Ability to market research.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.

• Experience in web design and content production.

• Experience with graphic design or video editing tools is a plus.

• Experience managing resource catalogs, digital platforms, and working with external partners to promote shared initiatives.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

• Regular activities require ability to quickly change priorities which may include and/or are subject to resolution of conflicts.

• Ability to clearly communicate verbally, read, write, see and hear to perform essential functions.

• Regular use of standard office equipment including, but not limited to: computer workstation/laptop (keyboard, monitor, mouse), printer, fax, calculator, copier, telephone and associated computer/technology peripherals.

• Regular review of completed tasks for achievement of established objectives.

ASU STATEMENT

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. ASU has ranked No. 1 in innovation for 6th year by US News and World Report. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions intellectual and cultural diversity, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.