Public Relation & Communication Professional

SRN Project:

Ninawa Governorate in northwestern Iraq continues to be severely affected by the effects of the occupation by the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) and the subsequent liberation struggles. The public social and productive infrastructure is still partially or completely destroyed, especially in the west and south of the province. Reconstruction has so far only taken place to a limited extent and only in certain areas, while other areas are neglected (e.g. Sinjar and Tel Afar). There is no strategic planning for physical and economic reconstruction at either local or national level. 

The project Strengthening resilience in dealing with crises and conflicts in Ninawa Province (SRN) is located in Ninewa Governorate and focuses on the districts of Mosul, Sinjar and Tel Afar. It aims to strengthen the resilience of the population in dealing with crises and conflicts and implements measures in the fields of Employment Promotion, Rehabilitation of Public Infrastructure and Social Cohesion. In the field of Employment Promotion, the project implements diverse activities, including grant distribution for business people, Technical and Vocational Training for young people and cash-for-work activities.

Responsibilities
The PR professional is responsible for

• implementing standards and guidelines for GIZ communication work described in the “Recommendations for communication by GIZ Offices’ at Cluster Level.

• supporting the Construction and Peacebuilding Cluster Coordinator with strategic orientation of communication in the cluster, in presenting a consistent corporate image and communicating GIZ corporate policy and strategy to staff in the cluster. 

• Ensures quality assurance of publications in line with GIZ’s corporate design guideline

• (further) developing the concept for communicating cluster-related information both within and outside of GIZ, systematic planning and management of communication activities 

• cooperating and consulting with country office, other German implementing organisations in the region and the German embassy and consulate general.

• reporting within the management group on internal and external communication measures and participating in meetings of officers responsible for the contract and cooperation 

• cooperating with GIZ’s Corporate Communications Unit and the GIZ country office communication unit, managing the exchange of information on communication (among other things by contributing themes, trends, risks, research on information and by involving officers responsible for the contract and cooperation, e.g. for media enquiries from Germany, planning and implementing journalist tours, supplying texts for internal media) 

• cooperating and participating in the corporate communication network, e.g. participating in corporate communication workshops 

• advising projects in the cluster and possibly local communication experts on their communication work, and managing the exchange of information between projects, programmes and the GIZ office 

• assuring the quality of articles from projects or programmes (e.g. publications, press conferences, the internet etc.) 

• coordinating cooperation with external communication service providers (e.g. appraisers, agencies, photographers, trainers, copywriters) 

• creating and assuring the quality of pools of appraisers, service providers (text, printers, graphic designers, proof-readers, lithography etc.) 

• coordinating and possibly implementing communication work (including planning communication budget – quantity, formal and material quality, impact) 

• building of a public relations network and supporting the country office communications unit in maintaining PR networks

• advises cluster projects on social media and public communication

• prepares and moderates cluster workshops, townhalls and other events

• supports cluster projects in the planning, preparation and execution of official inauguration events

• supports the onboarding of cluster personnel with briefings for new arrivals on context issues

• supports senior level delegation visits

• prepares speaking notes for the cluster coordinator and the country director for public events

The PR professional performs the following tasks:

Tasks
National media work

The PR professional

• coordinates media activities in the cluster projects in cooperation with the country office communications unit

• establishes and maintains contact with national media, setting up and running a national media distributor 

• creates and updates a national media file 

• writes and sends out press releases 

• compiles information materials for the media (basic material and for specific occasions) and distributes these systematically in line with the target group’s needs 

• organises national media events and tours 

• monitors the media (documentation and analysis of media reports on GIZ

National PR work 

The PR professional

• (further) develops suitable communication instruments for PR (e.g. cluster brochures, fact sheets, advertising material, PowerPoint presentations on GIZ based on the corporate presentation, newsletters, information sheets for the cluster portfolio) 

• manages the necessary coordination processes and the production of publications and materials in accordance with GIZ standards (corporate design, standards for content) 

• organises events 

• supports foreign delegations and VIP visits related to the reconstruction and peace cluster.

• provides editorial support to the GIZ office’s website, coordinates and advises on the online presentations of projects and programmes 

Internal communications in the country 

The PR professional

• passes on information and supports dialogue between the office and employees in projects and programmes and CIM experts, and between the various groups of employees (seconded experts, national and international personnel)

• develops and supports appropriate communication instruments (e.g. emails, internal newsletters, internal events) 

• consults with the Corporate Communications Unit on articles for the GIZ staff newsletter ‘intern’ and GIZ News on the intranet, and provides editorial input on practical examples and other texts for GIZ media

• advises local staff on the regulations and contacts for PR in the interests of a uniform GIZ image

Other duties/additional tasks

The PR professional
performs other duties and tasks at the request of management 

Required qualifications, competences and experience
Qualifications
Master’s degree or Bachelor with comparable training or work experience

Professional experience

• at least 10 years’ professional experience in the field of communication (media and PR work, journalism, internal communication or lobbying or similar) 

Other knowledge, additional competences

• ability to understand diplomatic, local senior government and GIZ senior management needs and ability to understand context dynamics

• ability to express oneself well both verbally and in writing; polished, target-group oriented style 

• experience with media production 

• knowledge of DTP or graphics applications 

• experience in project and/or event management 

• experience in humanitarian, development organizations, media networks or diplomatic missions is a benefit

• editorial experience, experience in writing articles and press releases (evidenced e.g. by work samples)

• very good working knowledge of ITC technologies (related software, phone, fax, email, the internet) and computer applications (e.g. MS Office)

• Excellent English knowledge with Arabic and Kurdish languages. Knowledge in German language is a benefit.

• In countries with a portfolio that is important in terms of corporate policy, have a particularly high risk of crisis or conflict, which are under close political or media scrutiny, or which are particularly relevant for corporate strategy

• Understanding of political, governmental, humanitarian/development and security developments

• willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed – corresponding measures are agreed with management 

Requirements for application: 

• Subject line of the application should clearly indicate the vacancy applied for. 

• CVs and motivations letters that are in the form of IMG, pictures, screenshots and links will not be accepted. 

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

• Applications passed the expiration date of the advertisement will not be considered.