Emergency Information and Communications Coordinator at Save the Children Nigeria

Save the Children is the world's leading independent organisation for children. We work in 120 countries. We save children's lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfil their potential.

We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

We have over two million supporters worldwide and raised 1.9 billion dollars last year to reach more children than ever before, through programmes in health, nutrition, education, protection and child rights, also in times of humanitarian crises.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Emergency Information and Communications Coordinator

Job ID: #881606
Location: Abuja

Job Description

• The Information and Communications Coordinator will deliver vital information and communication products in emergency responses that enable excellent advocacy, media and fundraising activities for Members and across Save the Children international.
• The Information & Communications Coordinator will prepare communications outputs such as situation reports and key messages for advocacy and for media, lead on information management tasks, help to build profile and gather powerful communications materials as well as rising to the challenge of other tasks such as supporting the completion of donor proposals.
• In most circumstances, the post-holder will also be expected to mentor and/or capacity build existing country and field programme staff.
• In this role, the post holder should be able to move projects forward with limited in-country support.

Main Responsibilities
Programme Support

• Lead information and communication flows between emergency responses and a variety of internal and external stakeholders (including situation reports)
• Produce accurate, clear and consistent information and communication outputs relating to emergency situation and Save the Children’s emergency response – including key messages, Q&A’s and factsheets.
• Collaborate with advocacy and policy colleagues to ensure core messaging is consistent with advocacy and policy strategies within a response and opportunities are explored to promote these strategies
• Spokesperson on behalf of the emergency response - across broadcast outlets
• Facilitate media activities such as requests for quotes or interviews (ensuring spokespeople are adequately briefed) or journalists visits to programmes. Identify opportunities within our response activities or the external environment for media activities.
• Build the capacity of country programmes through delivering training of in-country communications or programme on information management and communication skills), mentoring communications staff throughout a response and recruiting/inducting new resources in-country as required.
• To ensure that the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter and Red Cross Code of Conduct.
• Identify learning and training opportunities for Save the Children staff and partners and work as a mentor and role model for less experienced staff
• Act as a focal point for the SCI Humanitarian Advocacy Working Group in support of the response team leader. This means working with the AWG for drafting messages and gathering and sharing key information.
• Work with key advocacy partners (the UN, other INGO and the Nigerian Government) to ensure Save the Children's emergency response is adopting a collaborative approach and identifying opportunities to advocate on behalf of children
• Collaborate with advocacy colleagues to ensure core messaging is consistent with advocacy strategies within a response and opportunities are explored to promote these strategies.
• Undertake photography commissions to a high standard, to accompany compelling case studies
• Facilitate photograph and film commissions. Liaise closely with photography/film team and the emergency communications team in London to ensure coordination of photography/film commissions are managed appropriately on the ground and that assets are shared quickly and also stored within a programme.

General:

• Deliver results in line with the terms of reference agreed in advance to do this in a way which maintains the reputation of the Humanitarian Department.
• Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Help be responsible for the security of all staff. Ensure that the security, health and well being of staff are ensured and staff management and other processes and policies and systems reflect SC 's principles of equity and fairness. To perform such other responsibilities as agreed with your line management.

Qualifications and Experience
Required:

• Significant experience of working overseas in humanitarian programmes
• Education to BSc/BA/BEng level in a relevant subject or equivalent field experience
• Previous experience of managing a team
• Experience of leading communication activities (including information management) in a challenging environment
• Evidence of excellent verbal and written communication skills for a wide range of different audiences including donors, journalists and the ‘general public.
• Experience of effective spokespersoning across a range of media
• Excellent relationship building skills in order to work for limited periods within programmes under pressure of running emergency responses
• An initiative-taking, proactive, inspiring attitude with the ability to manage and prioritise an unpredictable workload and solve problems quickly with limited support
• Ability to deliver high-quality photographs and case studies from affected communities
• Experience of delivering training, presentations and other capacity building activities to varied audiences, ideally within a country programme.
• Excellent IT skills, especially in Microsoft Word
• Excellent understanding of "head office" communication and information needs across fundraising, media and campaigning activities.
• Strong influencing skills
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. In particular, a good understanding of the SC mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support

Desirable:

• Experience of creating media products such as press releases
• Experience of writing effective proposals in emergency responses
• Fluency in Hausa or knowledge of working and living in Northern Nigeria

Application Closing Date
15th March, 2015

How to Apply
Interested candidates should send your C.V. and covering letter explaining why you are suitable to: [email protected]  State position clearly in the subject field as applications without appropriate subject will be disqualified.

Note:

• Also, applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.