Public relations advisor, Iraq

Chemonics seeks a long-term public relations advisor for the ongoing USAID-funded Governance Strengthening project in Iraq. Local government officials in Iraq can benefit from hands-on coaching to ensure more effective, representative, and responsive governance through improved communications and through connecting their public relations staff with the relevant local data that is worth communicating. The public relations advisor will improve the project's communications methods and approaches to clients and counterparts, as well as develop the capacity of project staff and provincial governments in contextual and result-oriented reporting to clients and citizens. We are seeking individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities include:

• Conduct stakeholder analyses and brainstorming sessions for staff to identify and agree upon the project's key stakeholders, target audiences, messages, preferred spokespersons, and priority outreach activities
• Develop project communications and public relation strategy, ensuring proposed activities and outreach are within budget parameters, tasks and timeframes are clearly designated among project staff, and activities closely align with milestones and anticipated results in the work plan
• Create a schedule for developing project briefs, monthly communications newsletter, success stories, press releases, and project introduction packages, and identify outlets to share lessons learned at national, regional, and international forums
• Meet with provincial coordinators and project specialists and develop their capacity in results-based contextual reporting
• Work with the project staff to identify data needs analysis, reporting, and communications for potential success stories
• Work with the provincial government staff and develop their capacity in providing talking points for policy issues, supporting press relations, and mentoring on coordinating outreach to the public and private sectors
• Develop press reports and speeches, organize conferences, create communications content regarding local development issues, and serve as a liaison between the project supporting the provincial councils and the Iraqi public
• Train and assist project staff to ensure that programmatic materials meet USAID branding and marking guidelines set forth in ADS 320 and the USAID Graphic Standards manual

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as communications, public or media relations, or development policy and planning​ required; advanced degree preferred​ 
• Committed to a minimum of one year in Baghdad, Iraq
• Minimum of five years of experience providing public relations services for high-level government or private sector entities
• Understanding of local government planning and policy issues similar to those in Iraq
• Minimum of seven years of training in public relations, public outreach, or local government communications
• Minimum five years experience in developing technical assistance tools and templates for donor-funded projects in developing countries
• Experience working in the Middle East region, particularly in Iraq, preferred
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Excellent writing and presentation skills
• Fluent Arabic and English language skills​ required

Application instructions: 

Please send an updated resume and cover letter in electronic submissions toIraqGSPPublicRelations@chemonics.com by July 5, 2013. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.​

 

In addition, please download and complete Chemonics’ equal employment opportunity self-identification form and submit it separately to EEOselfidentify@chemonics.com with only "Iraq GSP Public Relations Advisor" in the subject line. If you prefer not to disclose your sex, race, or ethnicity, you may check “I do not wish to complete the information requested.” Thank you for completing the form and supporting our equal employment opportunity reporting requirements.

 

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.​