Senior Communication Manager at Heartland Alliance May, 2024

Job Summary

The Senior Communications Manager will be responsible for managing the HALG Communications Unit, responsible for the design and implementation of HALG communication strategic documents and guidelines, content development for the website, developing success stories, and working closely with the Programs and Strategic Information team to develop reports. Management of online tools, and other communications-related matters. The Senior Communications Manager oversees all internal and external communications for HALG, ensuring messages are consistent with the strategic objectives of the organization and engaging. This position is responsible for preparing detailed media reports, press releases, and marketing materials for HALG as well as monitoring and evaluating the impact of such materials.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

To supervise the Communication Unit to achieve the following:

Program Outputs

• Work with the Chief of Party and Senior Leadership team to promote the organizational image and specific project objectives, activities, achievements, learning, and best practices utilizing the organization’s online channels and new technology, as well as traditional publications; ensure timely dissemination of information to all stakeholders (internal and external as directed) liaise appropriately with the supervisor on all publications and developments.
• Effectively manage the HALG’s website and social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) to ensure continuous upload and dissemination of accurate and useful information to all stakeholders.
• Identify, recommend, and utilize appropriate new technology in the management of information to gain wider coverage.
• Institute an effective and efficient knowledge management and communications function.
• Work closely with the Senior Leadership by ensuring a continuous review and implementation of the HALG communication strategy.

Content Development

• In collaboration with the relevant project teams, travel to field locations to interview beneficiaries, take photographs, and capture compelling success stories.
• Develop or update materials for various distribution and delivery methods.
• Develop briefing guides, feature stories, background statements, fact sheets, PowerPoint presentations, web releases, and talking points that effectively transmit accurate and timely information about HALG and its projects in Nigeria.
• Provide support to the knowledge management activities of the organization.
• Support staff to better utilize HALG’s communication platforms, to promote awareness and program activities to HALG’s wider audiences.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the communication strategy and budget.
• Manage the quality of work and output of consultants engaged by the Communications Unit.
• Work in close coordination with the Chief of Party to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the external branding requirements.
• Provide support to members of the team when delivering external presentations.
• Represent the organization at events and, where possible, identify and recommend potential strategic functions for which attendance would be beneficial to the organization.
• Support the review of project reports to donors and other relevant external communications materials and ensure that all the external reports are edited and cleared of all grammatical and professional publication errors.

Media

• The Senior Communications Manager will be required to establish and maintain a wide range of contacts within the various media houses and ensure a sustainable and professional relationship between HALG and the media.
• Collect, archive, and circulate useful information about health/HIV publications from the media that is considered relevant to the organization, and identify ways in which this information can be useful to the overall organizational strategy.
• Develop and maintain a supportive strategy to utilize different media platforms to reach program participants.

Social Media

• Develop and implement a social media strategy, and generate ideas for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram posts.
• Ensure photographs meet the professional standards for branding, photo credits, and archiving.
• Responsible for the quarterly publication of newsletters and annual reports for HALG.
• Review and edit internal and external documents before dissemination.
• Maintain records of media coverage and collate analytics and metrics.
• Carry out a periodic evaluation of the communication patterns on all platforms.
• Keep and archive all publications of abstracts, manuals, journals, newsletters, and newspaper publications for HALG.

Other Tasks

• Focus on developing a high-quality marketing and communication strategy to increase HALG’s profile in health and other possible areas.
• Coordinate and organize major events for HALG including major donor visits, anniversaries, and events.
• Develop program communication strategies to best position HALG to gain a competitive advantage with funders in Nigeria, this includes being in close contact with communication representatives of institutional funders to regularly provide stories, and communication reports as required.
• Keep Senior Leadership informed of initiatives and programmatic directions in the International and National NGO community in Nigeria.
• Represent HALG on communication matters in all donor events and training and issue press releases, speeches, and policy briefs.
• Conduct communication training for HALG staff and local partners on a need basis.
• Design and produce templates for the collection of relevant success stories for HALG and ensure that the stories get to the donors for further publication.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education/Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Development Studies, or other related Art degrees is required; a Master’s degree will be an added advantage.
• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience managing a Communications team.
• Communication experience with a Non-Profit Organization is preferred.
• Should possess a good command of both oral and written English.
• Should have a track record of content production, strong writing skills, as well as an ability to proofread and edit professional documents and writings.
• Photography and video-editing skills will be an added advantage.

Other Competencies

• Time Management – Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time, and complete projects in a fast-paced, changing environment with minimal supervision.
• Quality Management – Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness. 
• Written Communication – Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively. 
• Adaptability – adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Cultural Sensitivity – Respect the cultural environment in which a person is working and does not act in a manner that is outwardly offensive to the local community.
• Non-discriminatory- Does not discriminate against persons based on sexual orientation or gender identity, age, preferred jobs, or behavioral habits. 
• Excellent oral and written English communication skills. Demonstrated competency in public speaking.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange, Windows operating systems, and PowerPoint. Other software routinely used by Heartland Alliance Ltd/Gte.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• The employee is required to travel regularly to often insecure and limited resource environments.