Communications and Outreach Officer at Creative Associates International

Project Summary

• The objective of the West Africa Trade and Investment Activity is to improve private sector competitiveness with a focus on increasing the agricultural productivity and profitability of smallholder farmers in Nigeria, and promoting West Africa's regional and international trade
• The Activity comprises of three main components:
  • Design of a Competitiveness Fund for private sector partnerships;
  • Administration of the Competitiveness Fund to develop private sector partnerships and provide grants; and
  • Technical assistance (TA) that directly supports, coordinates, and organizes qualifying recipients (i.e., partners and grantees) to achieve USAID's trade and food security objectives.
• The Trade Hub will contribute to both USAID/Nigeria's Feed the Future objectives related to increasing the agricultural competitiveness of smallholder farmers in Nigeria as well as USAID/West Africa's objective to increase broad-based growth and resilience.

Position Summary

• The Communications and Outreach Officer will be responsible for leading, directing, and managing the public affairs and information operations of a USAID-funded rural livelihoods project in West Africa.

Reporting & Supervision:

• The Communications and Outreach Officer will report directly to the Operations Manager.

Primary Responsibilities

• Create and implement comprehensive communications outreach programs for the dissemination of information on project activities;
• Create and implement a comprehensive public relations program to release positive publicity about the program through various media;
• Advises and counsels program on public relations techniques impacting program activities including potential problems and opportunities in the various communities served;
• Promotes communication to the USAID Mission about the project for dissemination on Mission web pages or to other USAID Missions and to HQ for publication in quarterly newsletters and web;
• Writes and supervises the writing and disseminating of news releases, daily reports, USAID quarterly reports, and project documents;
• Supervises and arranges taking, processing and disseminating photographs; prepares and disseminates radio and television material; produces posters, signs, displays, media campaigns, etc.;
• Implements the USAID Branding and Marking Plan as contracted;
• Support the Chief of Party (COP) in consolidating the project's reporting requirements;
• Supports the COP is coordinating project reporting requirements; and Ensures that reports are submitted to USAID on a timely fashion.
• Manage the program's website and newsletter
• Identify and write success stories that meet USAID's standards
• Identify and write stories that would appear in the newsletter and website
• Organize outreach events
• Collaborate with HQ Communications team
• Manage project website and social media channels.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• A minimum of four (4) years of work experience in Communications or other relevant fields;
• Experience supporting large project communications departments and activities;
• Experience in social media management and content production;
• Experience in developing strategic communications plans;
• Experience in training and/or mentoring staff;
• Experience in dealing with media companies/organizations; and
• Language: English required; French helpful
• Strong English writing and editing skills.
• Desired skills and qualifications
• Experience with web content management systems such as Word Press
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite or other graphic design programs
• Candidates must be Authorized to work full time in Nigeria.