Senior Strategic Communications Advisor (USAID/Iraq) - IQ Talent Marketplace

Location: On-site at USAID/Iraq in Baghdad or Remote with TDYs as required

Position Duration: September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2025

Type: Full-time

Clearance Required: Secret level security clearance

Position Description

The Senior Strategic Communications Advisor will advance strategic communications, build technical communication capacity, and provide development, outreach, and communications (DOC) support for the USAID/Iraq mission in Baghdad. This is a full-time position intended to last one year, with flexibility based on the candidate’s availability. The role can be remote with travel to Baghdad.

Responsibilities And Duties

• Strategic Communications Support:
• Support the Mission in articulating effective strategic toplines.
• Advise on and advance the Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) process, particularly around stakeholder engagement and messaging.
• Develop, disseminate, and implement a Communications and Outreach Strategy for internal and external audiences, including public awareness and information access and sharing within the Mission.
• DOC Processes and Coordination:
• Develop, improve, and implement DOC-related processes, systems, and products to streamline coordination between the Program Office, technical offices, and implementing partner staff.
• Support the Program Office to coordinate communications between USAID and the USG interagency.
• Draft, edit, and finalize materials.
• Attend meetings, prepare minutes, and report to leadership.
• Capacity Building and Training:
• Build the technical capacity of Mission and implementing partner staff in content creation for social and traditional media, USG, and public audiences.
• Provide formal DOC training and technical capacity building to the DOC team, Program Office Team, and broader USAID Mission staff on communications best practices tailored to Iraq’s non-permissive environment.
• Mentor and train staff to manage priorities, delegate tasks, and ensure the delivery of timely and high-quality products.
• Event Planning and Media Relations:
• Assist with event planning and execution, including developing remarks, talking points, and devising appropriate media and outreach plans.
• Advise the Mission Director and other USAID staff on press and media relations, messaging, and other communications-related initiatives.
• Prepare and brief Mission leadership for media engagement.

Specific Deliverables

• Development and rollout of topline messages for USAID/Iraq.
• Direction and inputs into CDCS and other strategic and programmatic processes.
• Drafting and improvement of the USAID/Iraq outreach and communications strategy.
• Delivery of training to Mission staff on drafting and delivering quality documents and presentations.
• Other deliverables as determined by Mission needs.

Required Experience And Education

• Experience:
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience supporting USAID or the USG directly or through implementing partners.
• Experience in outreach and communications in conflict-affected or politically sensitive contexts.
• Experience in strategic communications, journalism, media, or public relations.
• Excellent writing and organizational skills.
• Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is required.
• Master’s degree is preferred.

Special Requirements

• English fluency required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret level security clearance. The candidate can start remotely with a Public Trust clearance while the Secret clearance is processed.

Travel Requirements

• If remote with on-site support as required: Three TDYs of 14 days each per year, primarily to Baghdad but may include Frankfurt, Germany; Washington, DC; or Erbil, Iraq.
• If based on-site: Three TDYs of 7 days each to Frankfurt, Germany; Washington, DC; or Erbil, Iraq.

Legal Disclaimers

Applicants selected may be subject to a background investigation and must meet suitability requirements for eligibility.

Telework/Remote Work policies are contingent upon client needs and staffing requirements and are subject to change.

Applicants with disabilities may contact the Human Capital Team via telephone, e-mail, and other means to request and arrange accommodation. If you need assistance to accommodate a disability, you may request accommodation at any time. Please contact the Human Capital Team at [email protected] or (301) 719-2381.

Please note: Updates on applications or the general Recruiting process should reach out to [email protected] .