Communications / Advocacy Officer


Management Alternatives Limited - Our client, White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood Nigeria (WRAN) is a sub recipient of a three years Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grant from White Ribbon Alliance, Global Secretariat (WRA,GS) to advocate for improved maternal and newborn health in Nigeria. The project will operate in Abuja and some selected states in northern Nigeria. 

As part of its plans to strengthen the project management team WRAN requires competent and qualified personnel for the below position for immediate employment:

Job Title: Communications / Advocacy Officer

Code: MAL/WRAN/02162
Location: Abuja
Loe: 100%
Reports to: WRAN National Coordinator, WRA Global Secretariat

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.

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
Skills and competencies required to perform the core functions of the position:

  • Minimum of 3 years' experience leading and delivering effective communications for advocacy initiatives, preferably in field of public health/maternal health in Nigeria
  • Experience developing and implementing communications plans; ability to analyze target audiences and develop appropriate tactics and products
  • Experience working directly with the media
  • Demonstrated experience developing and producing professional, high-quality, targeted, and high-impact communications, such as reports, briefs, films, brochures, and websites
  • Experience in developing design and writing content of advocacy communications, including strong computer skills for newsletters and other electronic communications
  • Competency in the use of social media and driven to use innovative approaches to reach target audiences
  • Strong sense of purpose; personally and powerfully motivated to make an impact on women’s and families’ lives
  • Understanding of: causes of maternal mortality and morbidity, and the interventions needed; the specific safe motherhood issues in Nigeria; and other organizations’ past and current work on maternal health in Nigeria.
  • Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communications, Journalism, International Development, Business Administration, or other related field required; post-graduate degree in a related field, preferred
  • Results-oriented, success-driven, and has the ability to anticipate problems before they arise and take appropriate measures to resolve any issues
  • 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
  • Demonstrated superior project management and organizational skills
  • Willingness to take on administrative or other additional tasks, as needed to accomplish work
  • 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 in the areas of messaging, documenting impact, and translating evidence-based impact into stories individuals relate to on a personal level
  • Occasional travel within Nigeria (outside of Abuja); possible international


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