Communications Officer

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict affected populations. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri and Monguno of Borno state and Damaturu of Yobe State. Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security & livelihoods

JOB OVERVIEW/SUMMARY

The Communications Officer will support internal and external communications and visibility initiatives for the IRC in Nigeria. Under the guidance of the Senior Advocacy and Communications Manager, the Communications Officer will be responsible for designing and delivering a range of communications products, including country office fact sheets, briefing materials, program success stories, case studies, photos, videos, interviews with clients, blog posts for the IRC’s website, social medial posts and staff profiles. The post holder will be expected to support the development and maintenance of a communications strategy for the country office, train staff on communications approaches, and be accountable for meeting IRC Nigeria’s contractual visibility requirements. The position is supervised by the Senior Advocacy and Communications Manager who will work closely with Grants and Partnerships staff, Field Coordinators, Senior Area Managers, and program staff.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Implement the IRC Nigeria internal, external and donor communications strategies.
• Liaise with the global communications/advocacy teams to raise awareness of humanitarian needs in Nigeria.
• Lead in designing and developing information and visibility materials, such as fact sheets, briefing papers, brochures, posters, and social media content.
• Advise IRC colleagues on compliance with IRC and donor branding and visibility guidelines as needed.
• Coordinate the sign-off on branded items and products as needed.
• Support to facilitate media/communications/advocacy visits to field bases.
• Proactively seek out interesting stories from programs, initiating or accompanying field visits to collect high-quality photos, quotes, and audio and video material suitable for use in media and communication products.
• Help IRC Country Program staff to proactively prepare for communications’ needs contributing to overall better information flow and coordination of all programming.
• Support the Communications Manager to build IRC and partner capacity on external communications.
• Maintain a database of essential connections and establish a solid working relationship with relevant media practitioners in Nigeria and field locations.
• Maintain communication resource materials and products library inbox.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

• Line Manager:  Senior Advocacy and communications Manager
• Indirect/Technical: Field Coordinator Mubi
• Working Collaboration: Grants, M&E, Programs teams/ Field Coordinators, Global Communications/Advocacy, AMU, and others as appropriate.
• Position directly Supervises:   N/A
• Key Internal Contacts: M&E, Grants, Field coordinators, Gblobal Communications/Advocacy and Program Teams
• Key External Contacts:  Partners, media contacts, donors, and others as appropriate.