Communications Advisor at Mercy Corps Nigeria

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we collaborate to put bold solutions into action - helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within, now and for the future. In Nigeria, Mercy Corps operates in over 13 states focusing on key thematic areas of humanitarian response, conflict mitigation and adolescent girls’ empowerment.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Communications Advisor

Location: Abuja

Program / Department Summary

• The Educating Nigerian Girls in New Enterprises (ENGINE) Programme is an initiative to improve learning outcomes and the economic status of marginalized adolescent girls aged 16-19 in the Northern Nigerian states of Kano and Kaduna, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the metropolis of Lagos, Nigeria. ENGINE through funding from the UK Department for International Development’s Girls Education Challenge, the Coca-Cola Company and other stakeholders supported over 18,000 marginalized girls to reduce education and financial barriers in its first implementation phase.
• In its second phase, ENGINE 2 will facilitate transition of these girls into functional literacy, numeracy and scale up their business opportunities and linkages.
• ENGINE 2 will further increase girls’ and young women’s access to (1) financial education and life skills; (2) peer to peer networks and mentoring; and (3) direct assets (materials and savings). Beneficiaries will be integrated into value chains as well as conduct other market-driven employment opportunities.
• ENGINE 2 will also work with girls in formal and informal education to increase their learning opportunities and outcomes to prepare them for future economic activities and work in the policy environment to provide an enabling environment for girls to flourish in their chosen pathways.

General Position Summary

• The Communications Advisor will provide leadership in all aspects of information management.
• S/he will develop a communication strategy for the ENGINE 2 program including developing BCC/IEC materials, newsletters, footages, advocacy guides, and other messaging required for various phases of the project.
• The Communication Advisor will coordinate closely with the Senior Manager, Knowledge Management, Deputy Project Director, MEL Advisor and other MEL team members to plan and implement activities that ensure adherence to Mercy Corps’ and DFID standards, including the use dissemination of project materials to different stakeholders.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcome.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.
• Actively participate in meetings and processes to promote effective program management (through strong Communication practices) across the entire country portfolio.
• Strengthen staff capacity in theory and practical communication through comprehensive training and coaching.
• Participate in the preparation of high-quality quarterly and annual reports.
• Coordinate internal and external reviews of information collected
• Participate in communications-related working groups and maintain close working relationships with other communications counterparts in other relevant international NGOs, local NGOs, and associations in Nigeria.
• Proven experience in supporting teams  link the project theory of change to develop a communication objective and plan and coordinate its implementation
• Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.

• Postgraduate degree in communication, international development, gender or any related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of Communication work experience in international development required; ideal candidate will have both theoretical and practical background in communications.
• Knowledge of program development, implementation and reporting
• Experience supervising Communication teams and building team capacity to deliver high-quality results.
• Vast experience in producing films, documentaries, drama skits and other appropriate communication materials.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent computer skills, including experience with: any communication software
• Familiarity and experience large-scale secondary education or school to work and especially targeting marginalized girls or young women programs preferred.
• Experience interfacing with media, corporations and key stakeholders highly desired.
• The successful candidate will combine exceptional leadership, management and technical skills with a focus on innovative interventions to engage adolescent girls in informal education and skills building linked with private sector entrepreneurship and employment opportunities in a culturally and religiously conservative environment.
• S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative and complex programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.

• All applications must include the position title in the subject line, be not more than four pages.
• Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview and we are an equal opportunity organization so women are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.