Communications Officer at the Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI)

The Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI) is a World Bank supported programme at the University of Benin aimed at building capacity for reproductive health policies and programming within West and Central Africa’s tertiary education system. The specific mission of the Centre is to implement high quality training and applied research for reproductive health professionals needed to build a new cohort of human resource for reducing the region’s high burden of fertility, unsafe abortion, maternal mortality and HI V/AIDS.

This program is being implemented by the University of Benin in collaboration with partner institutions the University of Ibadan, the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the University of Niger, Harvard School of Public Health, Queen’s University, Belfast, the University of Alabama, and the University of Maryland.

The Centre requires the services of suitably qualified candidates for the position below to manage its strategic communication activities and to strongly brand and disseminate the Centre’s niche and visibility throughout the African region, and globally:

Job Title: Communications Officer

Location: Edo

Duties

• The Communications Officer shall work under the supervision of the Centre and Co-centre leaders, to provide media cover to all the centres programmes and activities.
• He/she shall be responsible for the Centre’s communication with different target audiences including academics, students, journalists, programme partners, supervising agencies, and funding organizations both within the region and internationally.
• The ultimate objective is to build a positive reputation for the Centre, enabling it to attain its vision of being the most pre- eminent reproductive health training centre in the African region.

Key Responsibilities
The specific responsibilities of the post include the following:

• Write a range of media materials, ensuring it remains consistent, clear and delivered in a timely manner
• Report all activities of CERHI using various media channels
• Develop a strategic communication plan for CERHI for achieving positive awareness and brand alignment, and lead the training of academic staff and students to strategically communicate their research findings in reproductive health
• Co-ordinate the management and update of information on the CERHI website, and support the development and use of various social media platforms
• Respond to media inquiries about the centre.

Qualifications
Bachelors (Masters preferred) in Mass Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing and related fields with demonstrated evidence that the candidate is conversant with the needs of postgraduate Education. Other key requirements include the following:

• Experience in a similar role producing media releases and conducting regular liaison with media organizations;
• Ability to work under tight time pressure and to produce high quality content;
• Familiarity with social media and web content;
• Strong computer literacy; and
• An interest in public health and reproductive health issues.

Remuneration
This is negotiable and shall be on a renewable contract basis. Salary and emoluments are similar to those on contract at the directorate level in the Nigerian University system.

Application Closing Date
21st July, 2017

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submit 10 (Ten) copies of their application and Curriculum Vitae accompanied with photocopies of their certificates and relevant credentials. Detailed Curriculum Vitae should include the following:

• Full names, Date of Birth
• Permanent Home Address and other contact details
• Nationality
• Marital Status
• Educational Institutions attended with dates
• Academic/Professional Qualifications (include dates and granting bodies)
• List of previous experiences in information management
• Statement of experience including full details of current and former employers with current salary
• Other activities outside current employment and names and addresses of three (3) referees.

All applications should be forwarded in properly sealed envelopes marked, "CERHI Communication Officer" at the top left corner and addressed to the:
Registrar,
University of Benin,
Benin City,
Edo State.

Note: Applicants should request their referees to forward confidential reports on their behalf to reach the Registrar on or before the date of the interview.