Information and Communication Coordinator at Save the Children Nigeria

Save the Children is a leading international organization helping children in need around the world. First established in the UK in 1919, separate national organizations have been set up in more than twenty-eight countries, sharing the aim of improving the lives of children through education, health care and economic opportunities, as well as emergency aid in cases of natural disasters, war and conflict.

In Nigeria, Save the Children has been working since 2001. The early focus was on getting children actively involved in shaping the decisions that affect their lives. Today, Save the Children is working in seven federal states - Zamfara, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Bauchi and Kaduna - focusing on providing basic healthcare and protecting children.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Information and Communication Coordinator

Location: Abuja
Job Type: Permanent

The Organisation
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Role Purpose

• The Information and Communications Coordinator could be deployed to first phase rapid-onset or slow onset emergencies.
• The role of the deployee is to deliver vital information and communication products in emergency responses that enable excellent 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, lead on information management tasks, help to build a media profile and gather powerful communications materials as well as rising to the challenge of other tasks such as writing donor proposals.
• In most circumstances, the post-holder will also be expected to mentor and/or capacity build existing country programme staff.
• In this role, the post holder should be able to move projects forward with limited in-country support.
• The role also includes participation in INGO Forum Humanitarian Advocacy Working Group (AWG) based in Maiduguri, Borno.
• The Information and Communication Coordinator manages SCI Nigeria’s Humanitarian Response Programme Social Media channels, support the implementation of country media, information and communication strategy and plan.

Main Responsibilities
Programme Support:

• Lead information and communication flows between emergency responses and a variety of internal and external stakeholders (including situation reports)
• Manages SCI Nigeria’s Humanitarian Response Programme Social Media channels, support the implementation of country media, information and communication strategy and plan.
• 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.
• Closely work with and collaborate with advocacy and campaigns team to ensure core messaging is consistent with advocacy and policy 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.
• 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 (including media training), 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.
• In the absence of a humanitarian advocacy manager, to 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.
• Develop and implement a new media strategy aligned to Save the Children’s national, regional and global advocacy, campaign and humanitarian priorities.
• Work closely with the heads of thematic areas to develop key messages and promote programmatic goals in the media.
• Draft newsworthy media releases aligned to advocacy, campaigns and humanitarian priorities, and reactive statements as necessary.
• Develop core materials including Q&A, key messages, case studies, blogs, and talking points.
• Build and maintain relationships with key national and international journalists and media outlets.
• Coach and brief colleagues ahead of media interviews and build the communications capacity of staff in the Country Office for effective media engagement.
• Work to ensure maximum visibility of the Every Last Child Campaign- SCI Nigeria Girls Education Campaign in the media in line with campaign objectives.
• Support CO internal communications, including producing newsletters and other materials, as appropriate.
• Facilitate national and international media visits showcasing issues relevant to advocacy, campaigns and humanitarian priorities, including to the North East when appropriate.
• Assist in the preparation of crisis communications plans, including risk mitigation strategies around sensitive issues affecting children, and recognise red lines for messaging.
• Plan, commission and carry out the collection of multimedia content for Save the Children media teams around the world as well as national and international media outlets.
• Ensure proper sign off of all media materials by the Country Director, and the Global / Regional Media Unit where appropriate.
• Collaborate with advocacy and campaigns team to ensure core messaging is consistent with advocacy strategies within a response and opportunities are explored to promote these strategies.

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.

Core Behaviours
Understanding humanitarian contexts and application of humanitarian principles:

• Integrates beneficiary accountability principles into the approach.
• Ensures that programme goals and activities uphold the principles of the key national and international humanitarian frameworks, codes and commitments

Achieving results effectively:

• Collects, analyses and disseminates information to and from communities and other stakeholders
• Addresses difficult situations and makes tough decisions confidently and calmly
• Considers the wider impact of decisions to be made in the short and long term
• Coordinates with stakeholders to avoid duplication & maximise resources
• Documents lessons learned and applies them to future projects

Maintaining and developing collaborative relationships:

• Establishes and maintains clear communications and dialogue with disaster and conflict affected people and other stakeholders

Operating safely & Security:

• Takes measures to do no harm and to minimise risks for partners and communities
• Reduces vulnerability by complying with safety and security protocols set by the organisation

Managing yourself in a pressured and changing environment:

• Remains effective and retains perspective in the face of difficult or demanding situations
• Plans, prioritises and performs tasks well under pressure

Leadership: Action; Thinking; Self; Inspiring; Developing Others:

• Demonstrates managerial courage by confronting difficult situations and seeking resolution, and stating willingness to champion ideas
• Tailors communication style to certain audiences
• Effectively influences others by understanding their interests and showing how they will be met by own preferred resolution

Qualifications and Experience
Required:

• Significant experience of working overseas in humanitarian programmes
• Education to Master of Arts (M.A) Degree level in a relevant subject or equivalent field experience, such as print journalism, communication, information management or humanitarian advocacy.
• 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
• Language skills in English, Hausa
• Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts

Application Closing Date
11th May, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.