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Ascension is seeking a Learning, Communications & Section 508 Specialist to support a Department of Labor (DOL), Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) Monitoring, Evaluation, and Data Services program. The selected professional will support the design, development, facilitation, and dissemination of learning activities and evaluation-related communication products that translate complex monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) findings into actionable insights for government stakeholders, technical assistance implementers, and program audiences.

This position is ideal for a highly organized, collaborative professional who combines adult learning expertise, technical writing ability, communications experience, accessibility knowledge, and stakeholder facilitation skills. The specialist will help ILAB maximize the value of evaluation activities by transforming technical findings into clear, accessible, and engaging products including workshops, learning materials, executive summaries, one-page briefs, presentations, infographics, knowledge products, and other dissemination materials.

The ideal candidate understands how to communicate complex analytical information to diverse audiences and can bridge the gap between evaluators, program managers, technical specialists, and executive stakeholders.

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Summary of Contractor Role

The Learning, Communications & Section 508 Specialist provides specialized support across ILAB’s MEL activities, including training design and delivery, collaborative learning sessions, evaluation communications, technical editing, knowledge management, and accessibility compliance.

The specialist supports ILAB’s requirement to design and deliver learning activities related to MEL topics such as indicator development, data analysis, survey methods, adaptive management, evaluation planning, and sensemaking facilitation. The role also supports evaluation utilization through the development of user-friendly communication products including one-page summaries, presentations, infographics, stories/vignettes, social media content, blogs, and synthesized evaluation findings. DRAFT_ILAB_RFI_PWS (1)

The successful candidate is expected to:

• Translate technical evaluation findings into clear and actionable communications.
• Design engaging adult-learning experiences for government and project stakeholders.
• Facilitate workshops, collaborative learning sessions, and sensemaking discussions.
• Ensure all deliverables comply with Section 508 accessibility requirements.
• Apply strong editorial judgment to improve clarity, consistency, and usability of reports and communication products.
• Support knowledge sharing by organizing and presenting lessons learned, trends, and promising practices across evaluations.

The candidate should be:

• Detail-oriented and quality-focused.
• Comfortable working independently in an on-demand environment.
• Skilled at managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Able to collaborate with evaluators, data analysts, project managers, and government stakeholders.
• Experienced in converting technical information into executive-level communications.

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Position Responsibilities / Anticipated Activities

The Learning, Communications & Section 508 Specialist will:

Training & Learning Support

• Design adult-learning materials supporting MEL-related training topics, including evaluation planning, indicator development, adaptive management, and data use.
• Develop facilitator guides, participant materials, presentation decks, exercises, discussion guides, and feedback instruments.
• Facilitate virtual, hybrid, and in-person learning sessions.
• Support collaborative learning activities and workshops designed to improve stakeholder understanding and use of evaluation findings.
• Develop participant surveys and analyze feedback to improve future learning activities.
• Apply adult learning methodologies to improve participant engagement and knowledge retention.

Evaluation Communications & Knowledge Products

• Develop executive summaries, one-page briefs, infographics, newsletters, blogs, and other communication products.
• Translate evaluation findings into concise and audience-appropriate messages.
• Support sensemaking sessions by developing discussion materials and facilitation aids.
• Assist with synthesis products identifying trends, lessons learned, and promising practices across evaluations.
• Develop stories and narratives highlighting program outcomes and learning opportunities.
• Support dissemination of findings through accessible digital formats.

Technical Editing & Quality Assurance

• Review technical reports, presentations, and knowledge products for grammar, clarity, consistency, and audience appropriateness.
• Edit evaluation deliverables to improve readability while maintaining technical accuracy.
• Ensure consistency with ILAB communication standards and reporting expectations.
• Perform quality reviews before submission to government stakeholders.

Section 508 Accessibility Support

• Develop Section 508-compliant electronic documents and communication products.
• Review documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and visual products for accessibility compliance.
• Apply accessibility standards including document structure, alternative text, headings, tables, color-independent communication, and navigation requirements.
• Support remediation of inaccessible documents.
• Coordinate with technical teams to ensure accessible dashboards, reports, and visual products.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Coordinate with evaluators, data analysts, project managers, and subject matter experts.
• Participate in stakeholder meetings and capture decisions, action items, and learning opportunities.
• Support knowledge management activities using collaboration platforms such as Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft 365.
• Assist with maintaining reusable communication assets and knowledge repositories.