Communications Specialist Job at a Leading Financial Sector

Our Client is a leading financial sector development organization working to promote financial inclusion in Nigeria. It is well renowned within Nigeria’s financial sector for providing thought leadership in financial inclusion and championing the unbanked. Through funding and catalyzing innovation, providing cutting-edge research, advocating for enabling inclusive policies and building capacity.

Our Client aims to achieve its goals through four pillars namely: Research, Innovation, Advocacy and Capacity

Job Title: Communications Specialist

Job Objectives
Provide technical and operational support in developing, implementing and monitoring communications and public advocacy strategies and associated activities to raise awareness on Financial Inclusion, and to mobilize/engage stakeholders (FSI regulators & providers) to move Financial Inclusion to the next level for maximum impact in Nigeria.
Develop a communication strategy for the Company including better ways to disseminate research information, materials, newsletters, footages, advocacy guides, and other messaging required.

Primary Relationships

Reports to: Policy & Research Manager

Job Responsibilities
Assesses global/local social and economic trends alongside Company’s research data to plan and develop its strategic communications and advocacy initiatives in order to ensure a scale-up in achieving Financial Inclusion in Nigeria.
Works with the Policy & Research Manager to distil and disseminate Company’s primary research to relevant stakeholders. This will include proposing effective communications channels for engaging each category of the Company’s stakeholders, the appropriate dissemination channels for all research commissioned and presenting research findings in a compelling and informative manner, e.g. by developing presentations, writing reports, producing brochures, developing info graphics/short videos, contributing to research publications, etc.
Maintains Company’s database of industry contacts, associations, partners and global experts on Financial Inclusion, ensuring that the database is current and accurate. Constantly updates the Stakeholder Map based on changed in the Financial Industry.
Participates in the preparation of high-quality quarterly and annual reports as required by Donors.
Acts as the Company internal editor and quality controller for its publications, reports, presentations and other documents, reviewing layout and proofreading to ensure alignment with its quality standards, and managing vendors to ensure timely delivery when required.
Provides effective communications support for all Company events, through managing communications collateral, providing editorial input to presentation materials, providing logistical support as needed, and ensuring appropriate dissemination of information through PR, the Company website, and other channels.
Strengthens staff capacity in theory and practical communication through comprehensive training and coaching.
Assists in organizing the Company events by developing/selecting materials and other communication tools to showcase its program success stories/initiatives and contribution to improving Financial Inclusion in Nigeria.
Plans, designs and disseminates regular Company newsletters and/or other relevant publications to each stakeholder category based on its stakeholder mapping.
Conducts Evaluation reviews to assess efficacy/outcome of communications (including digital) and advocacy efforts on Company’s strategic plan. Takes timely action to ensure the achievement of results as planned and allocated. Alerts Policy & Research Lead for timely intervention/action. Integrate lessons learned in development planning and improvements.
As required, contribute to Company’s knowledge management by facilitating knowledge sharing sessions, creating training materials and ensuring these materials are consistently saved to the Group Folder for ease of reference and retrieval of information.
Provides high level support in developing and maintaining Company’s website as needed. Determine appropriate messaging channels for its research and other relevant information to be uploaded to the website, and regularly audit its website to ensure that information is up to date, accurate and relevant.
Develops Company’s social media strategy, implements upon approval by the Policy & Research Manager.
Works with the DFS lead, Inclusive Product Specialist and other colleagues to identify, distil and disseminate key messages targeted at various stakeholders.
Stays abreast of research related to traditional and new media, and new digital technologies including multi-platform/mobile web, social media and multimedia. Guides the close monitoring of social media for new trends and platforms.
Participates in communications-related working groups and maintain close working relationships with media, communications vendors (such as PR agencies and design firms), other communications counterparts in other relevant international NGOs and FSDs.
Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the General Manager.

Educational Qualification
Master’s degree in Communications, journalism, public relations or other related social science field, Economics or other related discipline.