Communication Manager at Mercy Corps

Programs/ Unit Summary

• Mercy Corps Nigeria is currently implementing programs focused on economic opportunities, food security, peace and governance and water security and Humanitarian lifesaving program.
• The pathways for realization of its objectives and program delivery are anchored in programming excellence, partnerships, and influence.
• The communications and learning function supports the operationalization of the portfolio-level communications strategy, communications best practices and evidence generation for program impact, fostering of a learning culture and enhanced visibility and influence, as well as impactful story telling.
• Mercy Corps Nigeria is looking for an experienced, passionate and skilled individual who will lead the development and implementation of the strategic communication strategy and aimed at impact communications, influence as well as learning and knowledge management functions of the country portfolio.

Risk Level (Level 3, Level 2, Level 1)

• (Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability.
• Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.
• Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data.

General Position Summary

• Develop and implement a strategic communications strategy which aligns with Mercy Corps Nigeria Pathway to Possibility Strategy and Mercy Corps’ Africa Regional Communications Strategy, as well as global agency priorities.
• Oversee the preparation and implementation of detailed communications workplans at all levels of the country program, setting standards for communication and learning products, knowledge management, visibility and influence functions aligning with the donors and Mercy Corps Nigeria Evidence and Learning Agenda.
• Oversee the development of a suite of communications tools and products (such as country fact sheets, strategic portfolio-level asset gathering, managing the country homepage and other agency social media platform and program overview briefs) which can be used by all team members whenever the need arises.
• Lead the development of portfolio level learning and knowledge management systems and structures in collaboration with the Program Quality, Evidence and Learning Director to ensure that evidence and data driven storytelling, program adaptation and influencing is institutionalized at the country office level
• Ensure a solid presence on key communications platforms within Mercy Corps and externally to foster learning through evidence use, partnership and impact communications.
• Build strong relationships with media houses as well as external representations with peer agencies and government partners for dissemination of impactful interventions, learning and inspiring stories of impact among household and system.
• Support with risk mitigation on reputational risk issues, in collaboration with the Regional Communications and Media Manager and the country leadership team.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategic Communication Leadership and Support (40%):

• Partner with program teams to define strategic and thematic areas for story telling objectives, develop tailored systems to collect and produce high-impact stories and integrate products to the broader country communications strategy and vision.
• Lead the strategic documentation, collection and production of high-quality stories and lessons focusing on key results and lessons learned.
• Design and implement capacity strengthening and facilitation materials for story collection and development, supporting programs’ ability to consistently and effectively communicate their program vision with key audiences. Provide ongoing mentorship to teams to improve story collection and production. The communications manager also provides guidance to program teams on recommended strategies to build a foundation for strong storytelling and documentation.
• Enhance the communications approach of key flagship programs of Mercy Corps Nigeria to help them develop plans to elevate their stories, evidence and influence externally and internally.

Learning and Knowledge Management (30%):

• With support from the Program Quality, Evidence and Learning Director, the communications manager will activate and operationalize a portfolio-level learning center and systems for institutionalizing learning and evidence culture, and use them for program adaptation, enhance program quality and contribute to influencing.
• Support implementation of learning events, including developing operational plans, helping develop content, and facilitating participation in different events.
• Collaborate with technical program teams to connect story collection to monitoring and evaluation, learning and evidence pieces to produce highly substantiated learning and evidence products for knowledge curation.
• Support program teams in mapping existing data systems and compelling evidence pieces to answer high-level (strategic theme-based) learning questions and advancing the organization evidence and learning agenda.

Internal and External Communications (20%):

• Ensure adherence to Mercy Corps and donor branding and marketing standards, maintaining quality across materials, events, and other media.
• Oversee the development of publications, materials, and other products from design to writing, editing, branding and distribution
• Manage special events and relationships that include facilitating government, corporate, donor, and other high-level official visits to project sites and head office.
• Build the capacity of all relevant team members in communications, including Donor regulations and technical abilities such as photography, videography, developing messages and materials for program activities.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall program targets and donor obligations are met.

Advocacy and Influence (10%):

• Work with senior management and establish a system for collection and systemic organization of evidence for advocacy and influence based on agency themes and country development and humanitarian priorities and context.
• Lead the gathering and packaging of impactful stories and lessons to show the relevance and impacts of Mercy Corps program approaches of working on system level results through market system development, resilience building and partnership-based models programming.
• Support the country team in identifying, building and managing collaborative partnerships with peer agencies, government partners, donor agencies to realize organizational mission and vision.
• Work with media and communication outlets to facilitate strategic dissemination of impactful stories, lessons and new evidence.

Organization Learning:

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve – Mercy Corps expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability To Beneficiaries:

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically
  to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Additional Information:

• Supervisory Responsibility: Senior Comms Officers
• Accountability
• Reports Directly To: Program Quality, Evidence and Learning Director
• Work Closely with: Country Director, Program Director, PAQ Unit, Program team leads, Communications personnel for programs, Africa Regional Comms Team, Partner agencies, Federal ministries, Local government, Donor agencies, and support departments (Finance, People and Culture and Operations).

Required Experience, Skills & Competencies

• MA/S in Communications and Journalism, Foreign Language and Literature, Social Science, International development or similar fields preferred.
• 5 years of professional experience in a relevant field for international development programs; multi-donor, or NGO preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in communications and learning on development and humanitarian response programming.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse team, culture and context.
• Exceptional skills in technical communications such as synthesizing technical information into readers friendly, clear and impactful pieces of story or report.
• Experience in market systems development, and resilience programming is an advantage.
• High degree of computer literacy; graphic design tools, photography/videography, Excel and Word skills are essential.
• Ability to manage and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently on multi-task load.
• Excellent communication, presentation and organizational skills.
• Fluency in written and oral English and Amharic languages. Must be able to read and interpret documents and communicate with others as necessary to perform job duties effectively.
• Immediate availability to resume duties will be highly preferred.

Success Factors:

• Excellent communication, facilitation, partnerships and networking skills with a wide range of private, partner and NGO-sector actors.
• Business minded, entrepreneurial, adaptive, curious, great problem-solving skills, unafraid to ask questions, and results motivated.
• Tolerant and flexible individuals able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures.
• Computer proficiency especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and other graphic design tools such as Adobe suites.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions:

• The position is based in Maiduguri, however, it will require between 30% and 40% travel across the LGAs in Borno and Yobe.