Operations Manager at ImpactHouse Centre for Development Communication

ImpactHouse Centre for Development Communication is a tech-driven nonprofit that emphasises information and persuasion, behaviour change, social mobilisation, media advocacy and community participation for solving social problems around gender equity and justice, education and human rights, media and civil society development, and civic participation and good governance.

We privilege local contexts, culture and rely on a mix of communication tools, channels and participatory approaches for uniform comprehension and acceptance of development messages. In 2011, we launched one of our pioneering approaches to journalism and M4D, under the brand Development Diaries, thus emerging as the foremost development sector news/information service agency in Africa. Currently, we are transitioning from an exclusive development sector news service to fully operating a self-styled advocacy journalism that transparently promotes factual analysis and rigorous and compelling reporting on responses to social problems.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Operations Manager

Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-time
Level: Mid-level

Job Description

• The Operations Manager provides technical leadership on all aspects of ImpactHouse’s work. In addition, the Operations Manager brings ImpactHouse’s work to life through dynamic and compelling human stories and strong writing that move varied audiences to understand our messaging then act appropriately.
• The holder of the role will bring fresh eyes to day-to-day operations and special projects by acting as the focal person for all operational matters, providing leadership on day-to-day operations, including but not limited to finance, human resources, procurement, communications, and monitoring and evaluation.
• They will also provide project management, operational and administrative support for the effective delivery of projects.
• The Operations Manager will help to shape ImpactHouse’s distinct brand voice yet will always be grounded in ImpactHouse’s strategy. Nimble, strategic and creative, the Operations Manager will work the storytelling spectrum, from gathering stories in the field to packaging them for a variety of strategic purposes.
• The Operations Manager will be a strategic, creative and versatile screenwriter who can create ideas and bring stories to life in scripts for character-driven, emotionally engaging content (such as skits) tailored to different target audiences and advocacy goals.
• The ideal candidate is an agile writer who can do both long- and short-form pieces for target audiences with varying levels of understanding of ImpactHouse’s work in gender equity and justice, education and human rights, media and civil society development, and civic participation and good governance. The holder of this role takes feedback constructively and views writing as a collaborative process.
• The Operations Manager is an experienced interviewer, researcher, editor, and writer who can take rough and often technical content and translate it into polished, professional stories.
• The Operations Manager is diplomatic, has good judgment and good teamwork skills, being a strong collaborator and problem solver who can also work independently, make decisions quickly on their feet and work effectively in the pre-production, production and post-production phases of multimedia storytelling.
• The Operations Manager works with the Managing Editor and supports digital engagement goals across fundraising and communications, and could be called upon to travel with minimal notice.

Responsibilities

• Translates a strategy brief into powerful copy and stories that drive a desired action.
• Designs, manages and documents integrated process delivery, optimising the use of resources in operations and on projects.
• Designs and implements fundraising activities that go beyond outputs and indicators to genuine outcomes and true impact.
• Organises periodic progress reviews and ensures timely preparation of progress reports.
• Recommends corrective measures to overcome operational constraints.
• Reviews and monitors organisational and project budgets and prepares revisions as required, in line with ImpactHouse and donor guidelines.
• Builds and maintains strong partnerships with relevant stakeholders.
• Maintains close contacts with donor and partner organisations, ensuring regular communication.
• Participates in relevant meetings with donors, partners and other stakeholders, negotiating programmes and project activities, and prepares reports of meetings.
• Provides leadership on new project and programme design, drafting concept notes and proposals.
• Prepares work plans for new project and programmes.
• Supports the preparation of contracts for consultants, implementing partners and vendors.
• Organises and facilitates training for project beneficiaries, other staff and volunteers.
• Oversees the development and implementation of communication plans and tools.
• Manages the content development process (stories and copy) for integrated fundraising and advocacy campaigns.
• Identifies opportunities to gather content from the field in support of the editorial content strategy.
• Delivers packaged content and stories for advocacy tactics.
• Writes scripts and develops believable plots and characters.
• Writes both short and long-form pieces for ImpactHouse websites, emails, newsletters and social media for the purposes of elevating our profile, raising funds, and advancing our mission.

Requirements

• Minimum of Master’s Degree or equivalent in Development Studies, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Public Policy, Marketing, Theatre Arts, English, Journalism, Communications or a related field is required.
• 2+ years of professional writing experience, preferably for a nonprofit.
• Certification in Project Management will be a plus.
• A track record of successful fundraising is required.
• Diversified portfolio of writing samples required.
• A track record of using purposeful storytelling to drive social change and organisational impact.
• Experience translating technical material into accessible compelling human stories for a general audience.
• Understanding of storytelling and social-good copywriting trends across varied media types.
• Knowledge of the programming cycle and programming tools (Logical Framework and Theory of Change etc.).
• Technical competence in the application of techniques and tools that collect a wide range of inputs, and to conduct information gathering, research and analysis using digital technology.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills with sterling ability to communicate effectively in multicultural environments and to multiple audiences.

Remuneration
The package is competitive and depends on capacities and experience.

Salary Range
N1,500,000 - N3,000,000 per annum.

Application Closing Date
19th August, 2022.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Resume and Cover Letter to: john@impacthouse.org.ng using the Job Title as the subject of the email.

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.