Public Awareness and Communications Advisor at USAID Nigeria

USAID/Nigeria - Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement is a five year, $19.2 million project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), implemented through a contract with Chemonics International. Its objective is to strengthen civil society's ability to influence the development and implementation of key democratic reforms at the national, state, and local levels. The project will support increased engagement and efficacy of civil society to be able to influence public institutions whose function it is to serve citizens' interests. We explicitly aim to engage marginalized populations, such as women, youth, and the disabled in the process and emphasize the importance of leadership and innovation.

The project has four components strengthening capacity of civil society; supporting greater engagement and partnership; strengthening public awareness and engagement, and supporting civil society organizations (CSOs) and business memberships organizations (BMOs) in the Niger Delta to advocate for inclusive economic growth (with support from PIN D). The project seeks to recruit the key position below to support its work. All staff as expected at all times to adhere to and act according to the Chemonics Professional Code of Ethics ("Living Our Values") and will make the principles of the Code a part of the Project's culture and standard operating procedures.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Public Awareness and Communications Advisor

Ref: D1401
Location: Abuja

Responsibilities

• Based out of the Abuja office, the Public Awareness Advisor is responsible for leading activities to increase public awareness and civic engagement. S/he will work with CSO and BMO partners to enhance outreach.
• The Public Awareness Advisor will also be responsible for project communications products and platforms and dissemination of success stories in compliance with USAID regulations and the project's branding and marking plan.
• S/he will assist CSO and BMO partners to craft communications and public awareness strategies as well as lead the projects communications and public awareness work developing and managing the range of communication products and platforms for the project (newsletter, website, social media, etc.) as well as managing strategic relationships with key stakeholders in the media, the entertainment industry, new communications companies, and other actors.

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will have a degree in a relevant discipline, with a minimum of five (5) years' experience of leading public awareness, advocacy, and communications initiatives at a strategic level, in the context of social development projects, preferably with experience of working with donors such as USAID.
• S/he will already have strong networks in the industry and a high capacity for networking. In addition, s/he will also have practical experience on developing and maintaining communications products and processes (websites, newsletters, and social media) as well as be prepared to work in a small, dynamic team.
• The candidate must also possess excellent communications skills in English (written and oral) as well as sound conceptual and computing skills, originality, and initiative.
• Candidate should be consummate team player and respectful of the diversity of Nigeria.

Application Closing Date
Friday 12th January, 2015.

How To Apply:
Interested and qualified candidates should send their applications (electronically only) to: [email protected] indicating the appropriate reference number in the heading, no later than the above stated closing date.

Note:

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
• Applications should include a cover letter and a two-page capacity statement, addressing the key skills identified and a current curriculum vitae.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• The project encourages applications from women, people with disabilities and young professionals.