Atlas Advisors, LLC is seeking experienced Mid-Level and Senior-Level Cultural Advisors to support ministerial advisory operations in Baghdad and Erbil, Iraq. Cultural Advisors will advise senior officials within the Iraqi Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, applying their regional, cultural, linguistic, and operational expertise to strengthen defense institutions, improve organizational coordination, support strategic planning, and advance civil-military integration.
Mid-Level Cultural Advisors will provide direct advisory, planning, assessment, reporting, and senior-level engagement support. Senior-Level Cultural Advisors will perform these same core functions while also maintaining personnel accountability, tracking travel and movements, coordinating TDY status, and preparing required daily and monthly personnel reports.
**This position is contingent upon contract award**
Key Responsibilities
Advise senior ministry officials on institutional development, organizational effectiveness, strategic planning, and management.
Support the development and implementation of policies, procedures, strategic plans, operational plans, and organizational priorities.
Assist with coordination among ministry directorates, departments, military elements, civilian organizations, and government agencies.
Develop ministerial engagement strategies and support engagements with senior Iraqi, U.S., and coalition officials.
Assess ministry personnel, systems, programs, and institutional-development efforts.
Prepare daily observations, written reports, recommendations, status assessments, and executive-level briefings.
Help establish effective workflows, battle rhythms, decision-making processes, and information-sharing procedures.
Build and maintain trusted professional relationships with senior ministry officials.
Support civil-military integration, democratic governance, and defense institution-building initiatives.
When assigned senior-lead responsibilities, maintain personnel accountability, submit daily Personnel Status Reports, track personnel movements and TDY travel, and prepare monthly movement summaries.
Required Qualifications
U.S. citizenship.
Active Secret Security Clearance.
Bachelor’s degree.
English proficiency at ILR Level 3 or equivalent in speaking, reading, and writing.
Arabic or Kurdish proficiency at ILR Level 3 or equivalent in speaking, reading, and writing.
Thorough understanding of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense’s organizational structure and operations.
Previous strategic-level experience supporting U.S. forces in Iraq at some point since 2011 as a civilian contractor or uniformed service member.
Significant knowledge and experience in civil-military relations, democratic governance, and defense institution building.
Strong written communication, verbal communication, reporting, and briefing skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
For the Senior-Level Advisor position, experience with personnel accountability, PERSTAT reporting, movement tracking, and TDY coordination.
Desired Qualifications
Previous experience serving as a ministry advisor, senior military advisor, institutional-development advisor, or similar subject matter expert.
Experience advising senior government, military, or defense officials in Iraq.
Experience supporting U.S. Department of Defense, Department of State, coalition, or international defense-assistance programs.
Knowledge of Iraqi government decision-making processes, institutional relationships, and political-military dynamics.
Experience developing policies, strategic plans, organizational assessments, or institutional-reform recommendations.
Experience preparing executive-level reports and briefings for senior military or government officials.
Experience coordinating engagements involving U.S., coalition, and host-nation representatives.
Previous deployment experience in Iraq or the broader USCENTCOM area of responsibility.
Active U.S. Government security clearance.
Master’s degree in international relations, political science, public administration, security studies, defense studies, or a related field.
Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
Comprehensive benefits package
Work Location
Baghdad or Erbil, Iraq, with periodic travel potentially required throughout the USCENTCOM area of responsibility.
Skills Required
- U.S. citizenship
- Active Secret security clearance
- Bachelor's degree
- English proficiency ILR Level 3 (speaking, reading, writing)
- Arabic or Kurdish proficiency ILR Level 3 (speaking, reading, writing)
- Thorough understanding of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense organizational structure and operations
- Previous strategic-level experience supporting U.S. forces in Iraq since 2011 (as civilian contractor or uniformed service member)
- Significant knowledge and experience in civil-military relations, democratic governance, and defense institution building
- Strong written and verbal communication, reporting, and briefing skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications
- For Senior-Level: experience with personnel accountability, PERSTAT reporting, movement tracking, and TDY coordination
- Previous experience serving as a ministry advisor, senior military advisor, or institutional-development advisor
- Experience advising senior government, military, or defense officials in Iraq
- Experience supporting U.S. Department of Defense, Department of State, coalition, or international defense-assistance programs
- Knowledge of Iraqi government decision-making processes and political-military dynamics
- Experience developing policies, strategic plans, organizational assessments, or institutional-reform recommendations
- Experience preparing executive-level reports and briefings for senior military or government officials
- Previous deployment experience in Iraq or the broader USCENTCOM area of responsibility
- Master's degree in international relations, political science, public administration, security studies, defense studies, or related field
What We Do
Atlas Advisors is an independent investment banking firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance advisory, and capital raise, providing objective advice and creative solutions to clients.
