Communications Specialist at Chemonics International

Chemonics International - We're one of the world’s leading partners in international development, because where Chemonics works, development works. From our founding in 1975, we have worked in more than 150 countries to help our clients, partners and beneficiaries take on the world’s toughest challenges. Today, we re-imagine global supply chains to deliver essential medicines to the right place at the right time. Our global network of more than 4,000 specialists share an unwavering resolve to work better, driven by a conviction that the world must be better.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Communications Specialist

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Job Description

• We seek a Communications Specialist for the USAID Lagos Urban Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Activity (LUWASH) in Nigeria.
• The project aims to increase availability and sustainable management of safe and climate-resilient water and sanitation services in Lagos, Nigeria. LUWASH will increase the availability, quality and use of safe water and sanitation services and improve the governance and sustainable management of associated sector institutions in Lagos.
• The activity’s objective is to expand and improve urban WASH service delivery and infrastructure through strengthened governance, increased accountability, and improved financial and technical capabilities of public water utilities and private sector providers.
• The project has four components as follows: governance and institutional arrangements strengthened to deliver improved WASH services, public and private service provider performance improved, access to safe and sustainable water services increased, access to safe and sustainable sanitation increased and the quality of source water improved.
• This position will be based in Lagos, Nigeria. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.
• An integrated communications strategy for the LUWASH project will be built around clear goals, a realistic assessment of opportunities and challenges, and input from key stakeholders.
• The long-term Communications Specialist for the LUWASH project will provide leadership in developing and managing the project’s public awareness and communications programs and overseeing the production of the products and materials needed. The Communications Specialist will develop a strategy that advances USAID’s objectives for the LUWASH project by:
  • Aligning communications around messages developed in consultation with stakeholders
  • Providing for fact-based, people-focused impact reporting to stakeholders, beneficiaries, and the public, and
  • Knowledge-sharing to advance best practices and lessons learned. The Communications Specialist will work with LUWASH project staff to define the project’s overarching communications needs, including determination of audiences, messages, tools, and products. In addition, he/she will help define the LUWASH project’s overall strategy and approach to impact reporting, success story generation, and knowledge-sharing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy for the LUWASH project that will set content and quality standards for all project materials and outreach including identifying, preparing and disseminating core messages, results, and successes to target audiences
• Work with project management and other project team members to develop communications activities which support the implementation of their components
• Integrate communications activities into annual work plans
• Design, manage, and oversee implementation of communications campaigns to support specific project components and/or partner agencies programs
• Organize media events including press conferences, TV/Radio programs, public discussions, opinion surveys, workshops for media representatives, and other presentations in conjunction with partner agencies
• Prepare and oversee pre-testing of communications messages, materials, and programs to ensure the project reaches its strategic communications goals
• Monitor the impact of public awareness/communications activities
• Help identify and manage primary contracts with the media and local communication production houses
• Support development and review of project publications

General Project Communications:

• Maintain and update the LUWASH website on regular basis if needed
• Manage LUWASH account(s) on internet social networks and in other forums.
• Coordinate communications with LUWASH partners (holiday greetings, etc.)
• In consultation with USAID and project staff, create project materials and templates as needed (project fact sheet, PowerPoint presentations, brochures)
• Review and ensure compliance of all project materials to USAID branding/marketing guidelines
• Train all project staff in basic communications tools and skills, including effective presentations, building success story messages into everyday interactions, measuring and reporting on impact, capturing lessons learned and best practices
• Support the Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor to monitor the impact of project communications activities
• Take photos during LUWASH events and archive them on the LUWASH shared drive
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the LUWASH senior leadership consistent with qualifications, this Scope of Work, and LUWASH project requirements

Media Relations:

• Write and distribute media advisories, press releases and other materials as requested by the media regarding LUWASH activities and events
• Attend and help organize LUWASH major events to ensure:
  • Proper USAID and LUWASH visibility (banners, logos on materials)
  • Photos are of high quality
  • Communication with journalists
• Serve as primary project contact with journalists. Build and maintain a communications link with LUWASH experts and journalists; regularly answer media inquiries
• Review and/or collect press-clippings to determine LUWASH’s general visibility in the media and after major events
• Manage electronic and hard copy archives of all project communications materials

Preferred Skills/ Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred
• At least 5 years of related public relations, public outreach, or communications for development experience
• Experience in Nigerian development sector preferred
• Experience in helping put together key messages for key stakeholder groups
• Ability to take the lead on organizing events
• Strong writing skills
• Strong knowledge of Nigerian media
• Demonstrated experience: producing written products such as articles, reports, fact sheets, proposals, speeches, success stories, press releases, web site content, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube content; planning and managing events and site visits, working with TV/Radio.
• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite are required; knowledge of Adobe InDesign and Photoshop a plus
• Photography and videography skills
• Understanding of USAID rules and regulations related to communications programs
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, interpersonal skills, and integrity.

Application Closing Date
8th April, 2023.