Country Advocacy, Communications and Engagement Manager needed at Malaria Consortium

Scope of work

The Country Advocacy Communications and Engagement Manager will implement evidence-based advocacy strategies and tools to raise awareness of MC’s impact and influence stakeholders for behavioral and policy changes at various levels. This includes monitoring external trends, identifying opportunities and barriers, and proposing solutions. The role also entails documenting progress, conducting capacity-building activities, and designing communication strategies. This includes managing public relations, publications, and online content, capturing project learnings, and positioning the organization with donors and partners. The role holder will lead media efforts, develop external relations strategies, and ensure project visibility through events and media engagement.

Key working relationships

The Country Advocacy, Communications and Engagement Manager will work with the CPM, SCTC and Project Directors to support and advise projects, where applicable States and Projects Communications Officers, Social and Behaviour Change Specialists,  and the technical teams to ensure activities are aligned with Malaria Consortium’s advocacy, public health communication (PHC) and global external relations priorities and messaging. This involves working closely with the External Relations team and the Social and Behaviour Change Specialist in the London office as well as with other senior technical team members within the MC Nigeria office.

Key accountabilities

Technical (35%)

• Act as a resource point in the Country team for technical issues related to advocacy, SBC, media engagement and communications
• Develop and execute comprehensive communication plans aligned with Malaria consortium communication strategies
• Work with the project directors, managers and technical teams to capitalize on synergies related to advocacy and communication activities, including effective coordination between projects and the promotion of cross-project learning
• Monitor and evaluate the performance of communication efforts using analytics to measure effectiveness
• Work with project managers and Research & Knowledge Management Specialist to support the routine capture of learning from projects, documenting and sharing draft lessons learned with key staff, including the Senior Learning Specialist in the UK
• Provide technical support to the Ministry of Health, other authorities and partners, where appropriate through active participation in relevant national technical working groups
• Manage the country office social media platforms and ensure alignment with global MC communication strategy
• Develop training materials as well as information tools and materials (print and multi-media communication materials)
• Support country level audience research in order to better understand behavioral determinants, audiences and fill priority gaps in evidence
• Conduct regular supportive supervision visits with project managers and ensure communication activities are carried out in a timely and efficient manner and ensure communication activities are adjusted according to findings as required
• Take responsibility for ensuring alignment of organization’s identity, brand, and strategic messaging with donor requirements

Documentation & External Relations (35%)

• Working closely with the MC- UK External Relations team for the design and quality assurance on all aspects of documentation, learning and external relations
• Document advocacy and communication progress and report regularly
• Build and maintain relationships with media outlets to secure regular, positive coverage, while managing the flow of news/information about malaria consortium’s work to the media, ensuring reputational risks are identified and managed
• Monitor media coverage and public discussions relevant to our focus areas and respond as needed
• Develop and implement a country programme external relations plan to position Malaria Consortium Nigeria with key national stakeholders, increasing the visibility of the project and outcomes in-country
• Work with project managers to ensure project-specific documentation plans are developed and coordinated, and that plans include clear communication outputs for visibility and knowledge sharing
• Work with project managers and Communication and Publication Officers in the UK to support learning/knowledge capture and dissemination processes and ensure effective and timely sharing of achievements, evidence, successes  
• Lead on the production of material that highlights projects’ activities and successes for print (i.e. brochures), media (i.e. press releases and ensure regular flow of content for high quality publications and outputs.
• Actively seek opportunities to generate news and media attention about Malaria consortium
• Work with the UK External Relations team to position the projects effectively through online presence, including social media channels and MC website
• Coordinate the writing, production and dissemination of project learning/technical outputs (learning briefs, research briefs, technical briefs)
• Provides specialized assistance in the production and delivery of information communications products and services on social media platforms
• Create and manage communications databases (photos database, media and external contacts list, external outputs dissemination log)
• Oversee all external communications activities, materials, reports and presentations to ensure they conform to Malaria Consortium house style and quality standards in terms of presentation, consistency, grammar and formatting
• Working with the Country Director, act as the key media liaison and public relations person for Malaria Consortium Nigeria as appropriate and with support from the UK based Communications Manager (ER team)

Strategic contributions (25%)

• Participate in the internal learning meetings and platforms to integrate best practices in country level programming and to strengthen Malaria Consortium’s technical approach to media and external relations
• Develop, maintain and update an appropriate communications strategy and work plan, which implements the corporate communications strategy, to build and expand the Malaria Consortium brand and reputation
• Write core communication products that effectively convey the desired messages to targeted audience(s) field stories, media messages, news and press releases
• Work with the relevant technical committees, review key programme documents (multi-year and annual work plans, budgets and data), identify achievements, and gaps, and use this information to inform strategies and key messages.
• Participate in relevant national meetings and international conferences
• Contribute to the development of programme reports and other documents such as abstracts and articles for publication.

Safeguarding, Gender and Equity Responsibilities (5%)

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work ‡
• Encourages openness and communication in every project team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms.
• Establish and implement standard operating procedures, mechanisms, and relationships for collection and organization of information, knowledge, and experience from the project and its partners, and for its documentation and distribution through relevant channels
• Mobilize collaboration and resource sourcing for gender and vulnerability initiatives

Person specification

Qualifications and experience:

Essential

• Degree in communications, social sciences, public health, journalism or relevant discipline
• Extensive experience (minimum 7 years) in communications, advocacy, media events management, marketing, or related field, ideally in public health
• Experience managing advocacy campaigns and using various communication channels.
• Strong project management skills and ability to prioritize tasks.
• Excellent English writing skills, with ability to convey complex technical information in clear, compelling language without technical jargon.
• Experience with public health communications and relevant technical areas required.
• Understanding of donor trends, audiences, and requirements 
• Experience in the implementation of donor -funded projects required.
• Demonstrated experience developing communications strategies, annual plans, and materials related to relevant project technical areas.
• Superior interpersonal skills and a demonstrated capacity to establish clear and concise communication with team members, senior management, and partner organizations across cultures to deliver results.
• Experience in a range of communications activities (writing strategies, briefing papers, press releases, concept notes, digital communications content, use of social media dissemination events etc.)
• Understanding of policy processes and political dynamics at various levels
• Knowledge of developing and implementing SBCC strategies

Work-based skills and competencies:

Essential

• Exceptional oral and written communication skills in English
• Savvy social media user
• Fluency in English, both oral and written, required
• Ability to synthesize key concepts and convey messages to diverse audiences
• Strong analytic, strategic thinking and planning skills
• Proven skills in writing, copy editing, proof reading and research, with excellent attention to detail
• Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher or other design software)
• Ability to take initiative and manage assignments from conceptualization to completion
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects with conflicting time frames

Desirable

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively with all levels of associates, including management and government
• Skills in the use of different media outlets (photography, film, TV, radio, newspapers etc.) communications purposes