Project Communication Officer at Mercy Corps

Reference Number: ABV/PRO/2019/0012
Location: Abuja, Nigeria (With an estimated 40% travel to other program locations)
Position Status: Full-time, Field-based, and Regular.

Program / Department Summary

• This is a five-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Community Initiative to Promote Peace (CIPP).
• The CIPP program aims to strengthen conflict prevention, mediation and early warning by facilitating community-led analysis and action to prevent, manage, and mitigate conflict and violent extremism.
• The program will work in twenty-four (24) high-risk local government areas in Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi and Plateau states.

General Position Summary

• The Project Communications Officer will be responsible for raising awareness about CIPP-related activities among the government and the Nigerian public at large. S/he will be responsible for engaging counterpart organizations and also work with the affiliated Ministries and LGAs to implement CIPP project activities and record their outcomes.
• An important role of the Project Communications Officer is to produce press releases, and maintain a vibrant and engaged social media platforms. The Project Communications Officer will report to the Chief of Party.
• The position is based in Abuja and it requires up to (40 %) travel to Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi and Plateau states.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Oversee the project Communications strategy and activities related to project outreach;
• As directed by the COP, provide quality control on all reports, publicity materials, and other documents generated from the program with particular emphasis on those for submission to USAID;
• Collect content for weekly, monthly and quarterly status reports;
• Draft weekly status reports for submission to USAID and other stakeholders;
• Attend meetings with project partners on an ad hoc basis regarding communications, outreach, PR, and media-related issues, program deliverables and reports, and USAID branding and marking guidelines;
• Assist with planning, logistics and attend project events as requested by the COP, provide technical editing and formatting assistance with program deliverables and reports;
• Manage consultant labor with regards to desktop publishing, graphic design, and technical writing/editing;
• Work closely with COP on tracking reports and deliverables as related to the monitoring and evaluation and program management plan;
• Assist technical staff with public outreach/awareness campaigns;
• Work with project partner organizations to assist them in developing and implementing communications strategies;
• Together with the policy and advocacy officer, work with project partner organizations to assist them in engaging in public advocacy/public relations campaigns to raise public awareness;
• Daily monitoring of state and federal level newspaper articles and other periodicals, including broadcast media for material substantively affecting the work of CIPP;
• Organize and coordinate with local vendors to host CIPP gatherings and public events;
• Show a willingness to perform other duties as assigned by the Chief of Party.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• Reports Directly To: Chief of Party
• Works Directly With: DCOP, Program officers, finance and operations and security and safety teams.

Knowledge and Experience

• At least 3 years of relevant, professional experience in roles with increasing levels of responsibility required, Five+ years preferred;
• Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, Communications, Publishing or similar area required; Master’s Degree preferred;
• Strong communication skills in English, both written and oral.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe applications;
• Working knowledge of USAID policies, rules and regulations preferred;
• Previous project work experience in the Middle Belt preferred;
• Team player, with excellent organizational, training design and delivery, time management.

Success Factors:

• The ideal candidate will have a strong curiosity for understanding and working effectively within the complex cultural, political, security and social environment of Nigeria.  He/She will be an excellent communicator, writer, multi-tasker, and able to work in ambiguous situations. He/She will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures. 
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/STA to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
• Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision.  Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

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Reference Number: ABV/PRO/2019/0012
Location: Abuja, Nigeria (With an estimated 40% travel to other program locations)
Position Status: Full-time, Field-based, and Regular.

Program / Department Summary

• This is a five-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Community Initiative to Promote Peace (CIPP).
• The CIPP program aims to strengthen conflict prevention, mediation and early warning by facilitating community-led analysis and action to prevent, manage, and mitigate conflict and violent extremism.
• The program will work in twenty-four (24) high-risk local government areas in Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi and Plateau states.

General Position Summary

• The Project Communications Officer will be responsible for raising awareness about CIPP-related activities among the government and the Nigerian public at large. S/he will be responsible for engaging counterpart organizations and also work with the affiliated Ministries and LGAs to implement CIPP project activities and record their outcomes.
• An important role of the Project Communications Officer is to produce press releases, and maintain a vibrant and engaged social media platforms. The Project Communications Officer will report to the Chief of Party.
• The position is based in Abuja and it requires up to (40 %) travel to Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi and Plateau states.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Oversee the project Communications strategy and activities related to project outreach;
• As directed by the COP, provide quality control on all reports, publicity materials, and other documents generated from the program with particular emphasis on those for submission to USAID;
• Collect content for weekly, monthly and quarterly status reports;
• Draft weekly status reports for submission to USAID and other stakeholders;
• Attend meetings with project partners on an ad hoc basis regarding communications, outreach, PR, and media-related issues, program deliverables and reports, and USAID branding and marking guidelines;
• Assist with planning, logistics and attend project events as requested by the COP, provide technical editing and formatting assistance with program deliverables and reports;
• Manage consultant labor with regards to desktop publishing, graphic design, and technical writing/editing;
• Work closely with COP on tracking reports and deliverables as related to the monitoring and evaluation and program management plan;
• Assist technical staff with public outreach/awareness campaigns;
• Work with project partner organizations to assist them in developing and implementing communications strategies;
• Together with the policy and advocacy officer, work with project partner organizations to assist them in engaging in public advocacy/public relations campaigns to raise public awareness;
• Daily monitoring of state and federal level newspaper articles and other periodicals, including broadcast media for material substantively affecting the work of CIPP;
• Organize and coordinate with local vendors to host CIPP gatherings and public events;
• Show a willingness to perform other duties as assigned by the Chief of Party.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• Reports Directly To: Chief of Party
• Works Directly With: DCOP, Program officers, finance and operations and security and safety teams.

Knowledge and Experience

• At least 3 years of relevant, professional experience in roles with increasing levels of responsibility required, Five+ years preferred;
• Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, Communications, Publishing or similar area required; Master’s Degree preferred;
• Strong communication skills in English, both written and oral.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe applications;
• Working knowledge of USAID policies, rules and regulations preferred;
• Previous project work experience in the Middle Belt preferred;
• Team player, with excellent organizational, training design and delivery, time management.

Success Factors:

• The ideal candidate will have a strong curiosity for understanding and working effectively within the complex cultural, political, security and social environment of Nigeria.  He/She will be an excellent communicator, writer, multi-tasker, and able to work in ambiguous situations. He/She will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures. 
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/STA to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
• Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision.  Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.