Director of Communications

Job Title:            Director of Communications

Reporting to:     President

Contract Type: Full Time

Position:

The Director of Communications will set and guide the strategy for all communications, website, and public relations messages and collateral to position the University as a regional leader in higher education, and will ensure that AUIS is viewed as a source, disseminator, and conduit of information related to higher education in the Middle East.

Serving as the spokesperson for the University, the director will work the president, vice presidents, and other University senior managers to shape and guide the university’s public interactions and to build a strong image for the University both inside and outside Iraq.

The director will also take a lead role in planning and managing public events, such as the Sulaimani Forum and University Day, that engage hundreds to thousands of visitors from the Kurdistan region, rest of Iraq, and abroad.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, and evaluate the annual communications plan
• Create and manage marketing/public relations strategy and events to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, including the media and key influencers
• Identify challenges and emerging issues faced by the University. Work with leadership team and staff to recognize internal and external communications opportunities and solutions, and define and execute appropriate strategies to support them
• Serve as a spokesperson and lead point person on media interactions that help promote and/or impact the University
• Exercise judgment to prioritize media opportunities, and prepare talking points, speeches, presentations and other supporting material as needed
• Actively engage, cultivate and manage press relationships to ensure coverage surrounding AUIS programs, special events, public announcements, and other projects
• Oversee the day-to-day activities of the communications function including budgeting, planning and staff development
• Lead the generation of online content that engages audience segments and leads to measurable action. Decide who, where, and when to disseminate such content
• Put communications vehicles in place to create momentum and awareness as well as to test the effectiveness of communications activities
• Manage the development, distribution, and maintenance of all print and electronic collateral including, but not limited to, newsletters, brochures, and the AUIS website
• Mentor and lead a team responsible for all communication activities
• Coordinate webpage maintenance—ensure that new and consistent information (article links, stories, and events) is posted regularly
• Track and measure the level of engagement within the network over time

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, masters preferred
• Minimum of three to five years’ broad experience in communications, publications, marketing or journalism.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Highly collaborative style; experience developing and implementing communications strategies
• Superb English writing/editing and verbal communication skills, with Arabic or Kurdish language ability a plus
• A strong track record as an implementer who thrives on managing a variety of key initiatives concurrently
• Relationship builder with the flexibility and finesse to “manage by influence”
• High energy, maturity, and leadership with the ability to serve as a unifying force and to position communications discussions at both the strategic and tactical levels
• Sincere commitment to work collaboratively with all constituent groups, including faculty, staff, students, alumni and other supporters
• Self-starter, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment strongly preferred

Applicants should submit the following materials via email, with “Director of Communications” in the subject line, to recruitment@auis.edu.krd:

1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae

No telephone calls please. While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those under consideration will be contacted for a follow-up interview.  AUIS is an Affirmative Action / Equal Employment Opportunity employer that believes cultural diversity is essential to education.