Communications Senior Associate - Public Relations and Outreach

Within delegated authority, the Communication Associate  will be responsible for the following duties:

• Provide strong transnational support to the work of the Communications Advisor (CA) with the IHEC the electoral team on planning, developing and implementing a media and communications strategy for the IHEC using social media;

• Assist the Communications Advisor with the current civic and voter education landscape in KRI, identifying existing gaps and opportunities for improvement;

• Support the facilitation of workshops and capacity-building sessions for IHEC staff and other relevant stakeholders including civil society organizations;

• Support the Communications Advisor with media and civil society organizations to enhance the outreach and effectiveness of civic and voter education initiatives;

• Support the Communications Advisor and IHEC counterparts on social media used for public relations activities both national and provincial level, in particular to the External Media Section, Office of the Spokesperson and Media Units;

• Support the implementation of guidance and technical advice provided to the IHEC on all media and communications activities using social media, including the development of relevant internal procedures, media relations, information provision (press releases, press conferences, call centre, use of print, audio/visual and new media etc.), development of the website and media monitoring;

• Assist the CA and SEA advise the IHEC on the development and implementation of effective social media campaigns for specific electoral events;

• Support in the promotion of the incorporation of electoral best practices and suggest innovative and effective ways to conduct social media for electoral processes;

• Support the Communications Advisor in the coordination of IHEC media staff with other IHEC units, including finance, legal, administration, operations, translation and graphic design etc.;

• Assist the Communications Advisor in following up with transactional partnership development cases with relevant opinion leaders (traditional, cultural, media etc.) for the awareness campaign;

• Accompany the Communications Advisor during meetings with influencers, religious leaders and other community principal personalities who can act as channels for messages and feedback on the constitution-building process; 

• Support the incorporation of cross-cutting themes such as youth, gender and human rights   into the electoral process through  social media and communications.

• Assist in providing regular reports on progress and activities.

Education

• A minimum of a high school diploma is required.

• A first-level university ( Bachelor’s  Degree)  preferably in Communications, Journalism, Social Science, or a related field is desired.

Work Experience

• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in media, communications, or advocacy; 

• Previous experience with a multilateral or international organization is desired.

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, good knowledge, and experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Languages

• Fluency in English and Kurdish in speaking and writing is desired.