Declarations Officer (Public Education)

Office of the Director of Public Officers' Declarations (ODPOD)

BACKGROUND
The Office of the Director of Public Officers’ Declarations (ODPOD) is an independent governance public institution within the Malawi Government established in 2014 under Section 6(1) of the Public Officers’ (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business Interests) Act. The Act provides legal and institutional framework for prescribed public officers to declare their assets, liabilities and business interests upon assuming office and subsequent updates each year. In this regard, under the said Act, the ODPOD is mandated to administer and manage the public officers’ declaration regime in order to promote public confidence in the public service. Furthermore, the declaration system acts as one of the tools for preventing, deterring and detecting illicit self-enrichment, abuse of office and conflict of interest by public officers in order to curtail corruption.

To achieve these goals, the ODPOD counts on members of staff that value team effort, appropriately qualified, talented, astute, brave, professional, innovative, motivated and transformational, among other general attributes.

INVITATION FOR JOB APPLICATIONS
An opportunity to recruit additional members of staff has arisen in the Office of the Director of Public Officers’ Declarations (ODPOD). Applications are, therefore, being invited from suitably qualified Malawians to fill the vacant positions tenable at the ODPOD’s secretariat in Lilongwe, as follows:

VAC. NO. ODPOD/04/25
Job title : Declarations Officer (Public Education) (Grade I/ODP6)
Reporting to : Principal Declarations Officer (Public Education)
Location : Office of the Director of Public Officers’ Declarations, Lilongwe

MAIN DUTIES

  1. Act as, and perform the functions of, a Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the ODPOD.
  2. Initiate and maintain public education activities to raise awareness about the Public Officers (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business Interests) Act.
  3. Coordinate educational and outreach programs and training events, including technical, procedural and legal aspects of the declaration regime for both public officers and the general public.
  4. Coordinate collaboration with partners in delivering education and training to relevant stakeholders.
  5. Establish, promote and maintain regular communication linkages with all relevant stakeholders.
  6. Continually monitor, analyze and manage all public and media relations issues relating to the Directorate.
  7. Develop annual public education plans for the ODPOD.
  8. Conduct necessary research to identify needs, priorities, goals, objectives, and strategies for public education programs.
  9. Coordinate all public engagement and reporting functions of the ODPOD.
  10. Facilitate the implementation of the ODPOD’s communication strategy, including its standardisation and quality assurance.

CORE COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

  1. An understanding of the legal framework, policies, values, procedures and processes governing the Malawi public officers’ declarations regime.
  2. Awareness of the global and regional trends in public officers’ accountability and transparency requirements.
  3. A working knowledge of the Malawian governance landscape and applicable public engagement models.
  4. Possess a good command of the English language, with excellent written and oral communication skills.
  5. Ability to analyze issues and develop media content aimed at creating, enhancing and portraying a positive image of the ODPOD.
  6. Experience in the delivery of public education products and/or tools and/or events.
  7. Experience working within a team environment.
  8. Ability to facilitate learning opportunities related to complex concepts for a diversity of audiences or partners using a diversity of approaches.
  9. Knowledge of computer programs and technology necessary for implementing modern methods of public engagement.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

  1. A Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Arts, Mass Communication, or Public Relations, obtained from a recognized and accredited institution.
  2. Those with a Master’s degree in the relevant field will have an added advantage.
  3. At least possess a demonstrable 4 years’ prior work experience in a similar field and working knowledge of public education models and public relations in democratic governance and advocacy.

NOTES

  1. Due to the nature of the functions of the ODPOD, only candidates who demonstrate undoubted qualities of maturity, integrity, and high ethical standing necessary for handling sensitive and confidential information and have a clean criminal record are eligible for recruitment within the ODPOD.
  2. All shortlisted candidates shall undergo a rigorous vetting process of their integrity track records by relevant security agencies to determine their suitability for the job. In that regard, all applicants for any of the advertised positions shall, by the act of submitting their applications, be deemed to have voluntarily submitted to the vetting process. The results of the vetting process shall, for all purposes, remain confidential.
  3. The ODPOD is an equal opportunity employer. The ODPOD is committed to promoting merit, fairness, equity, honesty, integrity, impartiality, professionalism, and the rule of law. To ensure these values, the interviewing panel shall comprise experts drawn from across the various public sector institutions. As such, any form of canvassing is not allowed, and any candidate involved in canvassing of any kind shall be disqualified
  4. The Vacancy can also be accessed from the ODPOD’s website at www.declarations.gov.mw.

MODE OF APPLICATION
Interested persons who meet the above specifications should submit a written application letter together with copies of relevant certificates, a detailed current Curriculum Vitae, naming three traceable referees, in a sealed envelope clearly marked on top with the post being applied for, to:-

The Director of Public Officers’ Declarations,
Office of the Director of Public Officers’ Declarations,
Episcopal Conference of Malawi Catholic
Secretariat Office Complex, Area 11, Off Chimutu Road,
Private Bag B340,
City Centre,
LILONGWE 3

To reach him not later than Monday, 25th August, 2025