Culmen International is committed to enhancing international safety and security, strengthening homeland defense, improving global health and humanitarian programs, and optimizing government operations.  With experience in over 140 countries, we help our customers to accomplish critical missions in challenging environments worldwide

Culmen International LLC is seeking to hire a Senior Advisor on Strategic Communication for a future opportunity supporting a Department of State contract onsite in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The Senior Advisor will be embedded at the Government of Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defense and focused on building a sustainable strategic communications capability across the Bulgarian military. Providing expert guidance and technical assistance needed to develop, implement, and sustain a strategic communications capability in the MOD. Advising the MOD in contributing to, as appropriate, national level strategic communications and countering foreign malign influence efforts within the Government of Bulgaria.

• Advise on the creation of new strategic communications structure within the MOD.
• Advise the MOD on developing a strategic communications strategy.
• May advise the Government of Bulgaria on how to work with the MoD and other structures as required to implement effective strategies on strategic communications and countering malign information manipulation.
• Advise the MOD on strategic communications plans, engagement options, and prioritization. This includes advising on countering priority malign narratives, identifying target audiences, identifying vulnerabilities, and establishing regular communication channels.
• Advise on best practices for countering dis/misinformation and how to identify future effective campaigns.
• Support the partner on identifying its future workforce needs for strategic communications, including developing strategic communications career pathways and professional development opportunities, which will help with recruitment and retention.
• May advise the MOD on supporting the national coordinator and national-level efforts and campaigns to counter foreign malign influence.
• Develop strong professional relationships with key stakeholders in Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defense, especially in the Information Centre and Public Relations and Protocol Directorate, and then act as a trusted advisor to them.
• In close cooperation with senior MOD officials, shall identify existing gaps in strategic communications and countering foreign information manipulation. Shall conduct consultations with officials from across the Bulgarian government where relevant.
• Share expertise and recommendations with the MOD and other relevant Government of Bulgaria stakeholders, as appropriate, on how to prepare for required reforms and to establish and manage strategic communications. This may include providing recommendations to key governmental stakeholders in strategic communications on any legislation, policy or procedures, doctrine, or training that may be needed to build a robust strategic communications capability so Bulgaria’s MOD and armed forces can successfully and proactively inform and message to the public, effectively respond to threats in the information environment, and project its priority defense policies and messages.
• Assist the MOD in promoting effective, responsible, and accountable employment of force by developing standard operating procedures for integrating domestic and international legal considerations into operational decision-making.
• Where other barriers to institutional change with regards to strategic planning exist, the Senior Advisor shall work to identify those barriers, make recommendations to the MOD to overcome them, and, where possible, work with the MOD to address them in support of the desired end state.

• U.S. citizen.
• Active Secret clearance
• Have reached, at a minimum, the rank of O-5 in the military or equivalent in a civilian capacity (i.e., FS-02/GS-14 or industry equivalent).
• Master’s degree in areas such as National Security Policy/Affairs, International Affairs, Security Studies, Public Administration, Political Science, Public Policy, Public Diplomacy, Communications, Foreign Area Studies, or a similar field AND at least six (6) years of U.S. military and/or U.S. civilian professional experience on countering foreign information manipulation through strategic communications.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in National Security Policy/Affairs, International Affairs, Security Studies, Public Administration, Political Science, Public Policy, Public Diplomacy, Communications, Foreign Area Studies, or a similar field AND at least ten (10) years of U.S. military and/or civilian professional experience working on countering foreign information manipulation through strategic communications.
• Experience conducting organizational, mission, and workforce needs assessments on communications capabilities for large organizations (100+ personnel).
• Experience developing high level, organization-wide communication strategies.
• Experience coordinating and implementing strategic and operational plans involving a variety of stakeholders.
• Experience in using a data-centric approach to develop, execute, and assess communications campaigns.
• Experience managing or implementing communication campaigns in multiple channels.
• Experience in the field of countering mis/disinformation and/or foreign malign influence.
• Experience advising senior officials in government, military, and/or other large institutions (100+ personnel).

• Proficiency in speaking/reading/writing in the Bulgarian language (Foreign Service Institute (FSI) score of 3 or higher, a Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) score of 3/3/3 or higher, or a Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) score of C1 or higher.)
• Experience in building or sustaining a culture of effective communications.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including demonstrated experience navigating complex problem sets with diverse and difficult stakeholders.
• Experience in interagency coordination, advising, and stakeholder outreach.
• Experience identifying, analyzing, and countering mis/disinformation.
• Experience developing high level, organization-wide communication strategies designed to protect security.
• Familiarity with foreign malign influence activities and strategic intent, tactics, techniques and procedures in Europe or elsewhere.
• Experience working with press and social media platforms.
• Experience establishing career pathways that build a capacity, capability, and force structure in communications.

• Local furnished housing to include utilities and high-speed internet
• Transportation accommodations
• Defense Base Act (DBA) insurance
• International SOS coverage

At Culmen International we are committed to creating, promoting, and sustaining a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our commitment to these values is unwavering across all our work around the world.  We include and celebrate employees of diverse races, genders, religions, sexual orientations, ethnicities, nationalities, socioeconomic statuses, languages, (dis)abilities, ages, and religious commitments. These differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our employees and clients. Culmen is an equal opportunity employer.