JOB DETAILS

LOCATION: Erbil, Iraq

CONTRACT TYPE:

Fixed Term - 12 months, contract renewable

JOB FAMILY:

Programmes

ONE OXFAM GRADE:  D1

DEPARTMENT:

Policy, Advocacy and Communications

TEAM: PAC

SALARY:  

As per Oxfam Salary Scale

HOURS:

Full-time role, 40 hours per week

FLEXIBLE WORKING

We believe flexible working is key to building the Oxfam of the future, so we’re open to talking through the type of flexible arrangements which might work for you. The working base and country of employment would be restricted to locations where Oxfam GB is a registered and legal entity.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization.

TEAM PURPOSE:

The policy advocacy and communications team work across the country programme emphasizing on development of strategies and materials to use in advocacy for policy, knowledge, attitude and practices to help achieve Oxfam’s country programme objectives.

JOB PURPOSE:

The Policy Advocacy and Communication (PAC) Coordinator for Oxfam Iraq holds a pivotal role in shaping the country's development and humanitarian landscape by strategically integrating policy, advocacy, and communication. This position is fundamentally centered on influencing powerholders from local and national government bodies to international institutions to adopt policies and practices that advance economic, gender, and climate justice, equality, and poverty reduction. The PAC drives this change by leading policy research and analysis to generate evidence-based positions on critical issues in Iraq and is mainly responsible for designing and implementing targeted advocacy initiatives and compelling communication strategies that amplify the voices of communities Oxfam serves. A key function involves building the capacity of national NGO partners, ensuring their perspectives and expertise are central to joint influencing efforts. The role also entails developing and disseminating high-quality communication materials including reports, briefs, and digital content to support advocacy goals, public engagement, and fundraising. Ultimately, the PAC Coordinator ensures that advocacy and communication activities are effectively implemented across all field locations, creating a coherent and powerful narrative for change.

JOB REPORTS TO

Head of Programmes

JOBS REPORTING TO THIS JOB

None

GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE

Iraq

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

Key Stakeholders include Oxfam Partners, local CSOs, National Ministries, local departments, INGOs, UN Agencies, Oxfam Global and Reginal Advocacy and Communication Teams.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (Technical, Leadership, People and Resource management)

Policy Advocacy and Influencing:

·       Collaborate closely with the Programme team, partners, and other stakeholders in developing policy and advocacy strategies, campaign strategies, context analysis, power mapping, stakeholders' analysis, and advocacy action plans as needed.

·       To Identify, produce, commission, and manage high-quality policy and research content to support Oxfam Influencing and advocacy agenda in the country, fundraising, and programmes aligned with Oxfam Country Strategy 2025- 28.

·       Analyse the development of social political and economic conditions in Iraq to provide effective and efficient support for strategic advocacy work and advises to programme team

·       Develop a strategy and detailed workplan for the policy and advocacy components of the different ongoing projects.

·       Develop regular policy/position papers/briefs and communication material relevant to Oxfam's work in Iraq for various audience.

·       Provide advocacy influencing related technical supports to programmes and projects upon request such as organising advocacy events, workshops and trainings.

·       Represent Oxfam in Iraq in external meetings as delegated by the Head of Programmes and Regional PAC Adviser.

·       Organise private and public advocacy influencing events and discussion in close collaboration with the Head of Programmes

·       Support the Oxfam team, partners, and other stakeholders in developing policy and advocacy strategies, campaign strategies, context analysis, power mapping, stakeholders' analysis, and advocacy action plans as needed

·       Capture learning under the different projects and stand-alone activities to ensure impact reporting and development of learning modules and knowledge to be shared internally and externally.

·       Lead in designing and implementing different events with identified stakeholders as needed. This includes learning events, frequent meetings with key stakeholders, advocacy round table discussions, dialogue events, etc at local and national level.

Communications:

·       Lead in developing communication plan for overall Oxfam Iraq and project-based plans as per donor requirements.

·       Strictly enforce donor communication compliance and support the programme team to comply with it.

·       Review donor reports, proposals and Concept Notes with communication Lense and recommend improvements where required.

·       Lead planning and implementation of internal communications as part of socialising Oxfam’s values and feminist principles within the organisation.

·       Produce key communications products such as brochures, maps, presentations, information, education and communications (IEC) materials, factsheets and programme support materials

·       Continuously document key success stories of the project and develop communication materials relevant to the project.

Reporting & Project support:

·       The position holder will require to provide and report on a detailed advocacy training plan to the Head of Programmes and PAC team for review.

·       Support translation and interpretation of communication material from English to Arabic and Kurdish, and vice versa when needed.

• Continuously document key success stories of the project and develop communication materials relevant to the project.
• Lead archiving documents including photos, stories, and research papers.
• Also lead Oxfam visibility through different initiatives such as social media posts, stakeholders’ engagement, IEC material.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Most importantly, every individual in Oxfam needs to be able to:

·       Live our values of INCLUSION, ACCOUNTABILITY, EMPOWERMENT, COURAGE, SOLIDARITY and EQUALITY (read more about these here)

·       Ensure you commit to our ORGANIZATIONAL ATTRIBUTES (including adhering to the Code of Conduct):

1. Be committed to our feminist principles, and to applying them in your day-to-day behaviour and your work. Be ready to keep learning, with accountability to those who experience oppression as a result of their identities, such as their gender, race/ethnicity, disability, class, or identity."

2. Be committed to undertaking Oxfam’s safeguarding training and adhering to relevant policies, to ensure all people who come into Oxfam are as safe as possible.

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & COMPETENCIES

ESSENTIAL

·       A university degree in Communication, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Project Management, or a related field. A master’s degree is an added advantage.

·       At least 5 years of experience in public relations, communications, and advocacy

experience working with NGOs /INGOs, out of which 3 years specifically in developing and producing policy-oriented content in Iraq.

·       Demonstrated understanding and knowledge on Iraq social, and political and economic context.

·       Good understanding of communication, development, humanitarian, gender and rights-based approaches.

·       Good interpersonal and verbal communication skills, and confidence in working with people from a diverse range of countries and cultures.

·       Fluency in Arabic, and English. Kurdish is an advantage.

·       Self-motivated and able to independently solve problems.

·       Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with various teams in country and internationally.

·       Track record in similar positions and leading the design and implementation of activities relevant to the job description, including developing advocacy, writing policy briefs and reports, developing campaign strategies, influencing work and designing IEC material.

·       Initiative and drive to achieve results.

Competencies

Description

Decisiveness

We are comfortable to make transparent decisions and to adapt decision making modes to the context and needs.

Influencing

We have the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders in a way that leads to increased impact for the organisation We spot opportunities to influence effectively and where there are no opportunities we have the ability to create them in a respectful and impactful manner.

Humility

We put ‘we’ before ‘me’ and place an emphasis on the power of the collective, nurture the team and play to the strengths of each individual. We are not concerned with hierarchical power, and we engage with, trust and value the knowledge and expertise of others across all levels of the organization.

Relationship Building

We understand the importance of building relationship, within and outside the organization. We have the ability to engage with traditional and non-traditional stakeholders in ways that lead to increased impact for the organisation.

Listening

We are good listeners who can see where deeper levels of thoughts and tacit assumptions differ. Our messages to others are clear, and consider different preferences.

Mutual Accountability

We can explain our decisions and how we have taken them based on our organizational values.  We are ready to be held to account for what we do and how we behave, as we are also holding others to account in a consistent manner.

Agility, Complexity, and Ambiguity

We scan the environment, anticipate changes, are comfortable with lack of clarity and deal with a large number of elements interacting in diverse and unpredictable ways.

Vision Setting

We have the ability to identify and lead visionary initiatives that are beneficial for our organization and we set high-level direction through a visioning process that engages the organization and diverse external stakeholders.

Self-Awareness

We are able to develop a high degree of self-awareness around our own strengths and weaknesses and our impact on others. Our self-awareness enables us to moderate and self-regulate our behaviors to control and channel our impulses for good purposes.

SAFER RECRUITMENT

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.