Communication Officer at CJID

This is a permanent position with a 6-month probationary period. We provide a collaborative and people-friendly work environment in the heart of Abuja, Nigeria. Partial or complete remote work is possible, and reasonable employee benefits are provided.

Job Summary

• As the Communications Officer, you will join the Media and Communications team and execute strategic communications of programme activities, mainly research and knowledge products.
• You will strongly understand digital trends and have an interest in journalism and media research in Africa. 
• You will be skilled at gathering and processing information quickly and making it understandable to various audiences. 
• You will be able to think strategically about communicating multiple research product outcomes while maintaining CJID’s core objectives and mission in the messaging.
• You will manage audience growth across digital platforms to a diverse external audience.

Key Responsibilities

• Directly responsible for amplifying reach, visibility and readership of our research and knowledge products (especially those produced by our Digital Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Disinformation Analysis Centre, DAIDAC) across digital platforms.
• Collaborate with fellow communication experts and researchers to define key messages from ongoing and concluded research..
• Collaborate with the Communications Manager to develop strategies for audience growth and engagement, referencing the CJID Communications Strategy.
• Identify opportunities for digital expansion and lead efforts to build a robust online audience community.
• Provide strategic communications support to the project and programme teams to ensure alignment with CJID’s goals and mission.
• Daily promote project visibility through digital communications channels by developing relevant, accessible, engaging content.
• Manage multiple social media platforms efficiently and vibrantly.
• Maintain records of digital media coverage and collate analytics and metrics.
• Support other Communications team members, for example, before and during events.
• Undertake other duties to meet the needs of the department and the organisation.

Competency and Skills Requirements

Technical Skills

• Proven experience in a communications role in a large organisation with multiple projects and stakeholder groups.
• Proven experience in research communications and/or communicating complex topics to non-expert audiences.
• Knowledge of the African media landscape.
• Ability to use a variety of communications and marketing channels to disseminate information, including WordPress and Mailchimp, as well as SEO tools.
• Ability to develop high-quality, accurate, consistent communications materials, newsletters, press releases, etc.
• A track record of managing and creating content for social media and websites using a content management system, and familiarity with other tools and strategies needed to grow social/digital platforms.
• Excellent command of English, written and spoken. French is a plus, as are other West African languages like Hausa and Twi.

Soft Skills

• Excellent communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage confidential information. 
• Ability to work independently in a busy team environment, take initiative when necessary and prioritise effectively to meet deadlines.
• Excellent organisation, planning and time management skills.
• High sense of integrity, responsibility, accountability and dependability.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and proactively identify issues and recommend solutions.

About CJID

The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development is an African media innovation and development think tank. Since 2014, the Centre has been a leader in investigative journalism, media innovation, open data, verification and fact-checking, promotion of journalists’ welfare and safety, elections, and freedom of information and expression. CJID has pioneered flagship programmes like DUBAWA, UDEME, DAIDAC, CAMPUS REPORTER, PRESS ATTACK TRACKER, and the Natural Resources and Extractives Programme (NAREP), expanding its reach beyond Nigeria into 13 other African countries, including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, Cameroon, Chad, Guinea Bissau, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).