The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) selected Counterpart International to implement the Iraq Civil Society Activity (ICSA) in Iraq. The project has been awarded for a period of 5 years from October 2023 through September 2028. The purpose of the ICSA is to Increase citizen engagement and agency, especially among women and youth, to actively contribute to change on shared citizen-identified priorities, increase CSOs sustainability and resilience to represent citizens’ interests and advance community-led development, and strengthen a public sphere that fosters CSOs active and inclusive participation in public discourse and citizen-driven change, including among marginalized groups.

Counterpart International is currently seeking a Communication Associate to support the implementation of this Project’s grant-related activities. Under the guidance and supervision of the MEL Director, the Communication Associate will play a crucial role in the ICSA project by providing support in the communication process. This role requires a detail-oriented individual with a strong understanding of communication products such as graphic designs, social media content creation, monitoring local partners performance and a commitment to ensuring that grant activities align with project objectives with a focus on compliance with USAID guidance. This is a locally based position open to Iraqi citizens. This is a full-time position based in Erbil, Iraq. This position will work closely with the Inclusion manager and will report to the MEL Director.

Responsibilities

• Draft content for various channels, including press releases, blog posts, newsletters, social media, and website updates.
• Design and update website pages, ensuring a user-friendly experience and alignment with brand standards.
• Assist with creating multimedia content, including graphics, videos, and infographics, to enhance digital storytelling.
• Maintain and update the organization’s website content to keep it current and relevant.
• Oversee the design and functionality of the website and providing technical support.
• Assist in crafting internal communications, including memos, newsletters, and announcements, to keep staff informed and engaged.
• Collaborate with team members to streamline communication strategies across departments.
• Support with designing campaigns for the local partners, analyzing performance for continuous improvement.
• Assist in planning and executing events, including creating promotional materials, managing logistics, and providing on-site support.
• Monitor and report on the effectiveness of communication strategies, using analytics to guide future efforts.
• Track key performance indicators across channels to provide insights and recommendations for improvement.
• Stay current with best practices in digital communications, website design, and social media trends.
• Act as a Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) focal point.
• Perform additional communications tasks as needed to support organizational goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, Computer engineering or a related field.
• Minimum 1-3 years of experience in a communications or public relations role.
• Creativity, adaptability and attention to details are greatly required.
• Website designs and creative content creation
• Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
• Proficiency in social media platforms and content management systems.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Experience with media relations and event planning is a plus.
• Proficiency in English (most importantly) and Arabic, Kurdish is a plus
• Familiarity with analytics tools to measure the effectiveness of communication strategies.