Senior Program Manager at Management Alternatives Limited

Code: MAL/WRAN/02161

Position Overview

• Strong effective and inspiring communications are critical to the success of this project.
• The Communications/Advocacy Officer will take the lead role in ensuring clear consistent messaging is delivered to a wide variety of internal and external audiences

Principal Functions

• Lead on strategic communications plan in support of the national advocacy objectives, including developing and delivering specific products
• Develop and implement media plan
• Maintain regular communication with WRA Nigeria individual and organizational members
• Support National Coordinator, champions and members in messaging and communication platforms
• Support project communication with government Ministries, members, and other stakeholders
• Document project activities and write reports, with support from the Project Manager
• Collect, collate and send stories from the national and subnational level to the Global Secretariat for dissemination to regional and global media and donors
• Maintain NA communications files, including member rosters and meeting minutes
• Develop wide range of advocacy/media materials for campaign use. This includes policy briefs, infographics, films and newsletters
• Follow up on commitments made during advocacy visits and work with National Coordinator to ensure timely delivery of commitments in line with project goals, objectives and timelines.

Financial & Grants Management:

• Work with National Coordinator to monitor (sub)grant spending and ensure compliance with (sub)grant and donor requirements, and proposing revisions to the budget or workplan, as necessary

Internal Relationships:

• WRA Nigeria Project Manager - work closely on report writing, project tool and resource development, and other project-specific communications
• WRA Global Secretariat Staff - work closely with global secretariat staff on project communications. The Global Secretariat staff positions may vary, depending on WRAN grants and its support needs.
• WRA Nigeria Board of Directors - the governing body of WRA Nigeria. The Communications Officer attends all Board of Directors meetings, takes minutes, and circulates minutes to members of the Board of Directors.

External Relationships:

• WRA Nigeria Members - the core of WRA Nigeria. The Communications Officer keeps abreast of member activities and includes relevant activities and successes in WRAN communications products, engaging the members in the development of WRAN communications, as needed.
• Media - Create and maintain relationships with individual journalists and media houses
• WRA Nigeria Champions - high profile persons who speak on the importance of safe motherhood and the work that WRA Nigeria does to ensure safe motherhood for all women in Nigeria. The Communications Officer supports the National Coordinator with champion recruitment; orients, engages, and supports champions in Nigeria with messaging and communications platforms.
• WRAN Partners and Supporters- individuals and organizations that assist WRA in achieving its goals. This may include, but is not limited to, policymakers, members of the media, and financial supporters. The Communications Officer ensures partners and supporters are informed and engaged in planning and strategy development, works with them to develop sector briefs and other tools to build credibility and visibility of WRAN.
• Donors - organizations which currently, or possibly in the future, provide grants or subgrants to WRAN. The Communications Manager ensures donors are updated on WRAN activities.
• Other WRA national alliance staff and representatives - work together on project team(s); share successes and challenges; participate in workshops and meetings, as needed.

Requirements
Qualifications necessary to perform the core functions of the position:

• Proven track record of successfully planning and managing grant-funded projects, which are on budget, on time, and without any notices of noncompliance from donors
• Demonstrated superior project management and organizational skills, including experience developing and implementing shared project workplans
• Experience in developing and implementing at least 1 of the following: monitoring & evaluation plans, communications plans, advocacy campaign strategies
• Experience in planning executing and leading advocacy and campaigns with special skills on program monitoring evaluation, and reporting
• Understanding of: causes of maternal mortality and morbidity, and interventions needed; specific maternal health and safe motherhood issues in Nigeria; and other organizations’ past and current work on maternal health in Nigeria.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in project management in Nigeria, in maternal health or public health preferred
• Strong sense of purpose; personally and powerfully motivated to make an impact on women’s and families’ lives
• Bachelor's Degree in International Studies, International Development, Business Administration, or other related field required; medical doctor, nursing, or post-graduate degree in any related field is preferred
• Results-oriented, success-driven, detail-oriented, and has the ability to anticipate problems before they arise and take appropriate measures to resolve any issues
• High degree of skill in facilitating, communicates effectively and openly, and can foster consensus, problem solving and personal connections resulting in impact and change
• Respects and embraces diverse voices, placing a high value on participation at all levels, from grassroots to high government officials
• Ethical and engages in transparent, inclusive and fair practices
• Willingness to take on administrative or other additional tasks, as needed to accomplish work
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Native-level fluency in English; excellent written and oral communications skills in English.

Challenges:

• Position requires a large amount of accountability to the WRA GS, as WRAN’s grantor, to deliver high-quality, and measurably high-impact, funded programs.
• Frequent travel within Nigeria (outside of Abuja); occasional international travel.