Stakeholder Communications Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

The Stakeholder Communications Manager leads how major organisational change initiatives are explained, understood and supported by the people they affect. Reporting to the Head of Change Management and Communications, the postholder designs and delivers the organisation’s stakeholder engagement and communications strategy. They are the main point of contact for senior leaders, partner institutions, civil society, the media and the public.

This is a high-visibility leadership role for a seasoned communications professional who can turn complex change agendas into clear, credible messages, handle sensitive issues with sound judgement, and build a high-performing team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy and Planning

• Develop and lead the stakeholder engagement and communications strategy, aligned with the department’s change management plans and the organisation’s strategic priorities.

• Design a communications plan for each change initiative, setting out target audiences, key messages, channels, timelines and responsibilities.

• Work closely with the change management team to align communications with change readiness assessments, training programmes and implementation milestones.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead stakeholder mapping and analysis, and maintain a stakeholder register that records each stakeholder’s interests, influence, concerns and engagement status.

• Build and manage trusted relationships with senior leaders, partner institutions, civil society organisations, the media and the public.

• Set up structured feedback mechanisms, such as surveys, consultations and focus groups, and use the findings to refine messaging and engagement.

Content and Issues Management

• Oversee the production of high-quality communications material, including briefings, speeches, talking points, reports, newsletters and public announcements.

• Lead issues management and sensitive communications, anticipating risks and escalating them promptly to the Head of Change Management and Communications.

Team Leadership and Performance

• Lead, coach and evaluate the Communications and Change Coordinators, allocating work and maintaining high standards of quality and timeliness.

• Define measures of communication effectiveness, monitor results and prepare regular performance reports for senior management.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Public Administration, Political Science or a related field. A master’s degree is strongly preferred.

• Five to seven years of progressive experience in communications or stakeholder engagement, including at least three years in a managerial or team-lead role.

• Proven track record of leading stakeholder engagement and change communications for large-scale transformation programmes in complex organisations.

• Experience advising senior leaders and executives and preparing material for them.

• A recognised change management certification, such as Prosci or the Association of Change Management Professionals certification, is an advantage.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Technical

• Communication strategy and planning

• Stakeholder analysis and engagement

• Media and public relations

• Crisis and issues management

• Data-driven monitoring and evaluation

• Excellent writing and editing

Leadership and Behavioural

• Strategic thinking and sound judgement

• Political and organisational awareness

• Diplomacy, influence and negotiation

• Team leadership and people development

• Integrity, discretion and professionalism

Languages

• Excellent written and spoken English, Arabic and Kurdish.