Communications Manager - Based in Erbil, Iraq

Job Description

Sesame Workshop is looking for a Communications Manager to manage communications and reporting activities for our humanitarian initiative to bring early childhood education to families affected by conflict in Iraq. This position is based in Erbil, Iraq and will report to the Program Director for Ahlan Simsim Iraq, working in close collaboration with the Communications and Marketing Manager for Ahlan Simsim based in New York.

The Communications Manager will coordinate communications across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, designing and implementing processes to support the initiative through digital and traditional media promotion and required donor reporting. The Communications Manager will also collaborate with Sesame Workshop colleagues in Program Management, Communications and Marketing, Brand Creative, and Production to support communications and donor reporting needs for Ahlan Simsim Iraq, including the collection of creative and storytelling assets, identifying storytelling opportunities, designing presentations, drafting talking points, promoting Ahlan Simsim Iraq's media offerings to local audiences, and providing administrative support related to communications and reporting.

Please note: This is a temporary grant-funded position due to end in June 2024, with a possibility of extension. Applicants must be local to Iraq.

Responsibilities:

Communications
• Serve as the manager and main point of contact for all communications and marketing-related plans and deliverables for the project.
• Manage the initiative's communications strategy, tracking and leveraging local events and project milestones to promote the initiative to key local audiences.
• In coordination with core team members and Sesame Workshop colleagues, support and manage the execution of outreach activities that support tune-in and stakeholder engagement for the initiative.
• Coordinate closely with Communications and Marketing colleagues at Sesame Workshop and partner organizations to advance the communications and marketing objectives of the initiative, identify compelling communications and storytelling opportunities and supporting local and regional PR opportunities.
• Assist the Ahlan Simsim Communications and Marketing team in drafting of talking points, messaging, newsletters, blog posts, social media posts, and other public-facing materials about the initiative for a variety of internal and external audiences, including the general public, media, partners, funders, boards, and other key international stakeholders.
• Support Ahlan Simsim team members and Sesame Workshop colleagues in presenting the initiative at high-level events, speaking engagements, and stakeholder meetings, including drafting talking points and creating accompanying well-designed presentations.

Storytelling and Project Documentation
• Using program milestones, data, and learnings, identify compelling opportunities for success stories, program snapshots, donor reporting, press releases, and other project-related collateral.
• Track and meet communications and marketing-related contractual requirements.
• Manage the collection and production of project documentation assets such as testimonials, success stories, and field photography.
• Create and maintain a resource center for the initiative that Sesame Workshop colleagues can use to serve their individual needs, including photography and video assets, messaging, talking points, and stories about the initiative.
• Manage the development and distribution of project-related creative assets and collateral, including promotional and donor reporting materials, mission and field photography, and fact sheets.
• Ensure consistent branding and messaging about the initiative across all communications channels and with all partners.

Administration
• Provide general administrative support related to the initiative

Qualifications:
• 3-5 years of communications or marketing experience with expertise in the humanitarian or international development space
• Strong writer with experience in social impact storytelling
• Expert in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint with strong overall computer skills
• Relationship builder with well-developed people skills
• Strong multi-tasker with excellent organizational skills who can pay close attention to detail
• Knowledge of Iraq's operational environment
• Experience with USAID programs is strongly preferred
• Experience with international organizations or brands is strongly preferred
• Knowledge of the local media landscape and experiences working with local media outlets is strongly preferred
• Experience reporting on program impact and implementation is preferred
• Fluency in written and oral English and Arabic is required. Fluency in Sorani Kurdish is preferred
• Ability and willingness to travel within Iraq for project-related meetings and events
Other:
• Must have the legal right to work in Iraq
• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, international development, education, or related field

Program Information:

From the makers of Iftah Ya Simsim, Ahlan Simsim is the largest early childhood intervention in the history of humanitarian response, combining multimedia educational content for children across the Middle East and North Africa with early childhood development services for children and families affected by conflict and crisis in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. A partnership between Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee, Ahlan Simsim brings critical early childhood programs to the region along with the Ahlan Simsim TV series and other educational media. The program provides essential services through IRC programs and through national government and NGO partners, all towards sustained scale and lasting impact for current and future generations of children affected by crisis.

About Sesame Workshop:

Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit media and educational organization behind Sesame Street, the pioneering television show that has been reaching and teaching children since 1969. Today, Sesame Workshop is an innovative force for change, with a mission to help kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. We're active in more than 150 countries, serving vulnerable children through a wide range of media, formal education, and philanthropically funded social impact programs, each grounded in rigorous research and tailored to the needs and cultures of the communities we serve. For more information please visit www.sesameworkshop.org.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rv9k0m-3-17-128-129-42 in your application.