Communications Specialist at PACT Nigeria

Project Overview

Pact is recruiting a Communications Specialist for an upcoming USAID-funded conflict management and mitigation project that will strengthen inter-faith, inter-ethnic, and other local conflict mitigation networks to support and promote peaceful coexistence, good governance and religious freedoms in targeted communities in six focus states of Northern Nigeria, including building the capacity of state and local governments to assist communities in mitigating violent conflict and preventing violent extremism in the six focus states.

Position Summary

The Communications Specialist is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring communications and advocacy strategies, managing and coordinating all external project communications. S/He will be responsible for creating partnerships and linkages with the media for increased visibility of Pact’s activities. The communications specialist will be responsible for promoting and expanding the reach and impact of Pact’s activities in the selected states of the project.

Roles and Responsibilities:
Strategic Communications Role:

• Support production of conflict mitigation and peace building related communication materials for communities including success stories, bulletins, one-pagers and other promotional material.
• Monitor implementation of the communication guide for all external and internal communication materials.
• Develop external communications material (written and printed), from the design stage all the way to the distribution stage.
• Provide creative, editorial and operational support for communications initiatives and report on progress.
• Capture and document the project success stories and good practices. 
• Facilitates knowledge management (KM) and communication-related capacity development events and sharing of best practices.
• Develops communications campaigns to highlight thematic topic areas as necessary, and helps develop and implement engagement strategies

Media Communications & Public Relations Role:

• Facilitates linkages and partnerships with media organizations to promote ongoing conversation about conflict mitigation issues relevant to Pact’s work.
• Monitor media, local and donor opinion concerning relevant conflict mitigation/prevention of violent extremism areas, to gauge the effect of the information dissemination strategy and to provide feedback to inform adjustments to future information programming. 
• Support to write and distribute media releases and support production of regular, legally compliant email newsletters and notices to target audiences.
• Develop online communication materials including video content to increase our social media visibility.
• Develop and maintain an updated directory of all stakeholders, key contacts, government partners from different sectors.

Visibility Management Role:

• Identify new opportunities and innovative practices on the use of multiple media and social and digital platforms.  
• Implement plan to promote presence of Pact project and USAID at both national and local level to highlight the contribution made in the field of crisis mitigation/ prevention of violence extremism.
• Conduct regular supportive supervision and monitoring visits to project sites to ensure donor and organizational visibility (branding).

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Knowledge Management, Public Policy Communications or related field. A Master’s degree will be a plus.
• Minimum of 6 years’ experience in communications, reporting, knowledge management, social media or related field, and working in with USAID/International Donor Programs.
• Demonstrated strength and experience writing project reports (progress updates, monthly, quarterly, annual), technical reports, and policy briefs.
• Proven ability to lead the planning, coordination and execution of communications products.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and build consensus across diverse sets of stakeholders.
• Experience in client relationship management, reporting, program work planning is preferred.
• Prior experience working with USG-funded programs is required.
• Fluent in English (written and oral communication) and Hausa.
• Strong verbal, listening, writing and oral communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with Pact’s internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience at organizing and facilitating systems strengthening, capacity development and mentoring processes.
• Competency in MS Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and graphics design software.

Pact is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age.