Communications Associate (Programs Support) at Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR)

Role Summary

SCIDaR is seeking to engage a suitable and qualified candidate with exceptional writing skills as a

• Communications Associate to support the documentation of project implementation and impact stories across assigned projects. The Communications Associate will spearhead all communication efforts for the assigned projects which includes creating and implementing a communication plan to effectively promote the project’s innovations and activities.
• They will be responsible for developing targeted content such as quarterly newsletters, case studies, and position papers for external audiences.
• Additionally, they will contribute to planning and programming related to the project’s external communications strategy. The Communications Associate will primarily be based in Abuja, Nigeria but must be willing to embark on project-related travel to other states in Nigeria as required.

Technical Responsibilities

The Communications Associate will work with the managers of the assigned projects to:

• Develop content for knowledge products (e.g. newsletters, case studies, position papers, etc.) and other relevant documents with input from technical field teams and project leadership;
• Copy-edit, proof-read, and review all relevant external project communications to suit the intended audience;
• Ensure routine engagement of the project teams to disseminate relevant project updates and learnings;
• Facilitate planning and executions of physical and virtual events such as learning exchange meetings, webinars/seminars, workshops, etc. to share project learnings with stakeholders;
• Conduct interviews with project stakeholders at the state and national levels to generate human interest content for external communications;
• Cultivate professional relationships and liaise with relevant stakeholders from the media, government agencies, implementing partners, and community organizations for the documentation and dissemination of project lessons;
• Ensure compliance of all project communication with the donor’s communications toolkit, SCIDaR brand guidelines and other reference documents;
• Routinely evaluate the impact of project communications, share findings with the team, and adjust communications and communication strategy accordingly;
• Perform other tasks as requested by the communications director.

Required competencies

Core requirements

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking and presentation skills;
• Competency in Microsoft Office, Publisher, Adobe Acrobat, and other communications
• software programs;
• Results-oriented, experienced in developing and tracking self and team with clear KPIs;
• Demonstrated strong strategic thinking and thought leadership abilities with astute problem-solving competencies;
• Open to working with and learning from peers, subordinates, and supervisors collaboratively; and across multiple teams;
• Can show examples of previous communication work implemented for any public health program.

Education and Experience

• Academic training: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public relations,Journalism, public health, or any other related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Work experience: Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in communications in public health or development including knowledge and competence in product writing, copy editing, digital communications, and analytics.
• Professional credentialing: Additional professional qualification/certification is advantageous.