Mott MacDonald - DEEPEN is a UK government-funded programme designed to improve the quality of education in private schools in Nigeria.

The programme will support low-cost schools in particular and is initially focused on the private school market in Lagos.

Working across the Results and Learning and technical teams, the Communications Officer will support all communication aspects of programme interventions and implement a strategy to effectively disseminate important information and key findings from the programme to both Nigerian and international audiences.

POSITION : Communications Officer

Job Descriptions
Accountabilities and Responsibilities:

• All aspects of the programme’s communications activities and strategy, working across the Results and Learning and technical teams as required.
• Work with the senior management team to develop and implement an effective communications strategy for the programme,
• Proactively engage with all members of the technical team on a regular basis to understand their current/planned activities in detail and identify their communication needs
• Identify and highlight any political and/or commercial sensitivities arising from programme interventions and/or communications
• Consider and promote the sustainability of communications
• Support the delivery of inputs to key events such as conferences and presentations, including preparing presentations and exhibition materials;
• Advise and support the technical team on any online media communications issues regarding the programme interventions;Communications, Publications and Branding
• The development and delivery of all communications activities regarding the programme including advocacy, campaigns, newsletters, leaflets, policy briefs, fact sheets, case studies, booklets etc., and the development and maintenance of the DEEPEN’s website;
• Ensure that all written materials are drafted in a concise manner, plain English and appropriately worded for the relevant audience, and the material presented in attractive, creative and compelling format
• The effective communication and promotion of ambition, activities and achievements to diverse external audiences locally, nationally and internationally using various appropriate public relations strategies and media tools;
• Ensure that all relevant documentation and published outputs are produced to agreed formats (whether guided by DFID requirements or Cambridge Education Nigeria Limited (CENL) or programme ‘house style’) and where applicable, disseminated to the target audience in a relevant and timely manner;
• Manage the production of DEEPEN’s publicity material, documentation, video and audio and ensure quality assurance standards are adhered to;
• Manage the programme brand by developing and driving strategies to ensure the effective delivery of the set objectives of the programme by ensuring that the brand is properly represented to all stakeholders;
• Proactively identify opportunities for strengthening the brand and providing the necessary support for acting in all such developments;
• Maintain, update and oversee the programme resource centre (website) and social media channels and accounts;
• Guide and supervise external communications, including reviewing, checking and quality assuring external communications before issue/dissemination;
• Liaise with the Monitoring Officer to monitor and measure the impact of programme communications and their value for money
• Liaise with DFID, and its Results Adviser and Communications Advisor in particular, to ensure consistent and agreed communications;
• Provide support to DFID and in conjunction with other state level programmes in the production of the DFID at Work publication;
• Liaise with editors and designers on the final layout of any leaflets and/or booklets;
• Liaise with printers, prepare print specifications and ensure that only quality products are accepted and issued;
• Knowledge Management
• Oversee the programme’s knowledge management activities in accordance with CENL’s current best practices;
• Produce regular reports, containing rolling work plans and costed budgets
• Participate in regular update meetings
• Assist the Education Data, Research and Evaluation in Nigeria (EDOREN) programme and/or DFID (as appropriate) on DEEPEN’s statutory and/or annual reviews;
• Ensure that communications address the disaggregated areas of gender and poverty (household income level) wherever possible to communicate the programme’s impact on girls and low-income families specifically;
• Develop effective and professional relationships with key stakeholders

Competencies, Skills, Qualifications and Experience
Required:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent;
• Previous experience in supporting the effective implementation of a communications strategy in Nigeria is essential.
• Specific focus on the education sector would be highly advantageous;
• Fluent in English (spoken, reading and writing). Excellent oral and written communications skills, creativity and strong attention to detail and accuracy are required for this post;
• Good understanding of the most popular local languages in Lagos;
• Proactive approach to the programming of communications activities with proven project management (including budgeting) skills;
• Proven track record in public relations, communications and marketing – including the delivery of communications, use of media and print in information dissemination as well as experience in advocacy campaigning;
• Previous experience in working within a result-oriented communications team;
• Previous experience in formulating effective strategies based on thoroughly conducted market research and recommendations;
• Ability to understand programme issues in line with other relevant issues within the Ministry, economy and other stakeholder bodies and ability to work proactively based on the information available;
• Ability to apply analytical capability to review project information and extract the key lessons, distinguishing ‘what we did’ from ‘how we did it’;
• Excellent interpersonal, intercultural and negotiation skills;
• Excellent IT skills and expert knowledge of all Microsoft packages as well as presentation skills (proficiency in Adobe, Coral Draw and Desktop Publishing would also be valuable);
• Ability to work with a wide range of people, including public officials, the media, and consultants to deliver programme objectives;
• Proven ability to multi-task and prioritise effectively;
• Willingness to be flexible and prepared to contribute to the programme on other duties as required;

Desirable:

• Degree in Strategic Mass Communications (particularly in the context of behavioural change and/or social development) or the media;
• Relevant professional qualification in journalism, public relations or communications (i.e. CIPR, ACCA, CIM, etc.);
• Experience working on education and/or international development projects or programmes, specifically those concerned with private education and/or low-cost private schools;
• Experience of working within an M4P framework;
• Experience of working in project capacity with the Ministry of Education;
• Proven track record of using innovative communications where conventional approaches have not offered adequate solutions;
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams in projects or programmes with components of social development and/or poverty reduction; and
• Experience working with donor agencies (specifically DFID).