Field Communication Manager at the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA)

The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) is an independent humanitarian medical NGO that was created in 2009 by professionals of humanitarian medicine. ALIMA’s mission is to provide medical care in emergency situations or medical catastrophes.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Field Communication Manager

Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-time

Mission

• As its business grows, ALIMA wants to consolidate its strategic position in the humanitarian sector as the leading emergency medical humanitarian NGO, and significantly increase its profile in the countries it targets (currently France, USA, UK, Belgium and Switzerland).
• In particular, ALIMA wants to promote its unique partnership model, based on a network of local NGOs, which sets it apart in the humanitarian landscape. This partnership network enables ALIMA to deploy appropriate and effective actions in areas that are increasingly difficult for international NGOs to access.
• In this context, the Field Communications Manager manages ALIMA's communications in Nigeria.

He/she plays a central role by being:

• On the one hand the guarantor of ALIMA’s communication with donors (financial partners) who finance activities in the country;
• On the other hand, the active contributor to the visibility and reputation of ALIMA in his/her country, as well as at pan-African and international levels. He/she makes the effectiveness of the ALIMA model and the actions carried out in his/her country known to as many people as possible, in an attractive and popular manner.
• In doing so, he/she plays an essential role in ALIMA’s ability to differentiate itself and attract the financial support necessary for its action.

Objectives
In line with the strategic guidelines and priorities set by the Communications Department, the Field Communications Manager r will be responsible for:

• Defining, implement, coordinate and supervise institutional and operational communication activities within the mission/or during an emergency;
• On the basis of his or her activities in his or her area of responsibility, making a wider contribution to developing ALIMA's reputation and image among various target audiences at national and international level.

Its objectives will be both:

• Qualitative: to develop ALIMA's visibility by promoting the actions of ALIMA and its partners in the country of operation, to enhance its image and explain its positioning, and to generate interest among the general public and technical and financial partners;
• Quantitative: deliver the required number of communication tools needed to ensure ALIMA's visibility in the field and with the public, within the deadlines and budgets set.
• The Field Communications Manager will define and monitor performance indicators as part of reporting to financial partners and as part of the Communications Department's overall performance assessment.

Protection of Beneficiaries and Community Members:

• Level 3: As part of his/her duties, the incumbent will visit programs and come into contact with children and/or vulnerable adults.
• Therefore, a criminal record check or a certificate of good character will be required.
• In situations where a criminal record check or character reference is not possible, a declaration of honor will be requested.

Tasks & Responsibilities

• Define and implement the 360° communications strategy for the project.
• Designing the communications section of proposals made to financial partners (donors), in coordination with the team responsible for relations with donors and with the approval of the Head of Operations Communications. Ensuring that they are relevant, feasible and streamlined.
• Ensuring that the communication plans defined in the assignment are implemented:
• Organising reports on projects in order to produce photo and/or video content - consequently, visiting projects to ensure the proper production of this content.
• Ensuring legal compliance in the production of this content (e.g. consent of persons photographed/videotaped).
• Ensuring the administrative processes required for content production (e.g. estimates/invoices, service provider contracts, etc.).
• Monitor the budget for these activities.
• After approval by the Head of Mission and the Communications Director, distribute the content to the various target audiences - in collaboration with the head office communications team.
• Monitor the geopolitical context and current events affecting ALIMA's activities in the country.
• Working with the head office communications and digital team, as well as the mission team, develop and implement 360° communications plans for specific projects (e.g. research projects or environmental initiatives in the mission) or at key moments (opening of a new project, breaking news in the country, etc.).
• Contribute to the organization of advocacy actions, advocacy events and local capitalization workshops linked to ALIMA projects and key issues.
• Should have the ability to identify key cross-cutting issues in mission operations relevant to communications and advise on public positioning.
• He /she will develop guidelines for dealing with crisis communications through local media and have the capacity to remain reactive to emergencies
• Produce or commission the production of digital content from the country to meet the needs of donors and digital communication in Dakar.
• Guarantee the production of digital content requested by donors, either by producing it yourself or by independently managing local service providers, in accordance with the required deadlines.
• Provide all digital content requested by the communication department in Dakar, either by producing it yourself or by managing local service providers independently, according to the required deadlines.
• Ensure that all projects in the country receive relevant digital coverage: take photos and videos at the right moments/significant moments in the project, gather relevant testimonials illustrating the project and its impact.
• Coordinate with the digital communications team in Dakar to take initiatives and propose country-related content that feeds the digital editorial calendar and does not fall under donor obligations (e.g. staff portraits, themed videos for World Day, etc.).
• Designing and producing content (in a variety of formats - articles, success stories, real-life stories, etc.) in conjunction with the head office teams.
• Identify relevant e-influencers to promote and publicize the activities carried out in your country, at pan-African and international level (France, USA) and pass them on to the head office digital communications team.
• All digital content produced must be validated and distributed by the digital communications team in Dakar.
• Coordinate with the digital communications team in Dakar to take initiatives and propose content relating to the assignment, feeding into the digital editorial calendar and not covered by donor obligations (e.g. staff portraits, themed videos for a World Day, etc.).
• Designing and producing content (in a variety of formats - articles, success stories, real-life stories, etc.) in conjunction with the head office teams.
• Identify relevant e-influencers to promote and publicize the activities carried out by ALIMA and its partners in the mission area, at pan-African and international level (France, USA) and pass them on to the head office digital communication team.
• All digital content produced must be validated and distributed by the digital communications team in Dakar.
• Develop a "digital communication" reflex within the mission and train staff to make them autonomous in the production of photo and video content that can be used for ALIMA's social networks.
• Develop a "digital communication" reflex within your Mission and train your colleagues in the Mission to make them autonomous in the production of photo and video content that can be used for ALIMA's social networks.
• Produce or commission the production of digital content arising from the assignment, meeting the needs of donors and digital communication in Dakar.
• Guarantee the production of digital content requested by donors, either by producing it yourself or by independently managing local service providers, in accordance with the required deadlines.
• Provide all digital content requested by the communication department in Dakar, either by producing it yourself or by managing local service providers independently, according to the required deadlines.
• Ensure that all the projects on the assignment receive relevant digital coverage: take photos and videos at the right moments/significant moments in the project, gather relevant testimonials illustrating the project and its impact.

Actively contribute to press relations:

• Carry out regular media monitoring on relevant subjects in the country of intervention, and report news that can be used by ALIMA and its partners in the media.
• Propose a press relations strategy for the mission, including the main national media and above all foreign press correspondents (France, US, UK, etc.), to be validated with the Head of Mission and the Communications Department.
• Identify the key journalists covering the news and issues in the mission country. Be identified as a local resource person by these journalists. Provide them with regular information on the activities of ALIMA and its partners in the country.
• Develop a "press relations" reflex within the mission and train staff in public speaking.
• Organizing and coordinating any press visits to the country of assignment, in collaboration with the teams in the field, the Desk and the Communications department - consequently travelling to the country of assignment to ensure that these visits run smoothly.
• Coordinate with the Communications Department in Dakar to propose, via the press relations agency in Paris or New York, subjects that will attract the attention of journalists (e.g. decoding a news item in your country, interviewing the head of mission, organizing a report in the field, etc.).
• Design and produce relevant content and media for press relations, to be fine-tuned with press agencies and the communications department: press releases, press kits, computer graphics, organization of filmed interviews, provision of photos, etc.

Actively contribute to internal communications:

• Relaying to the Mission team the achievements and news of ALIMA and its partners
• Promote the mission's activities to all ALIMA staff and partners (in coordination with the communications department)
• Maintain close and regular relations with the pool of ALIMA spokespeople and its partners in the country of operation (e.g. Head of Mission, General Coordinator, doctor in the field, etc.) or by theme (e.g. Research, Nutrition) so that they can be easily activated.
• Monitor and analyse the situation with a view to continuous improvement
• To keep abreast of current events in the mission country and adapt communications activities accordingly, in conjunction with the Communications Department and the Head of Mission.
• If necessary, Manages, develops and supervises staff (Field Communication Officers) under his/her direct responsibility.
• Implementation of safeguards against abuse of power, gender-based violence and sexual violence:
• Participates in training and awareness sessions

Implements abuse prevention standards:

• Ensures that team members complete training and awareness sessions and follow abuse prevention rules
• Helps create and maintain a nurturing and protective environment

Experience and Skills

• Level of study: Postgraduate Degree in Communication

Experience:

• At least 3 years proven experience in a similar role
• References in the management of complex projects
• Technical references in the design and production of 360° communication actions and media (communication plans, production of content and media, "plume", graphic chain, press relations, digital, events, etc.)
• Experience in coordinating communication and media content
• Knowledge of the African continent is essential
• Experience in the humanitarian or voluntary sector would be a plus
• Experience in photography, videography and the design of documents and other documentation products

Language Skills:

• A perfect level of English
• A good level of French
• Knowledge of a local language is an important asset for success in the position

Other qualities and skills required:

• Interest in general interest communication
• Strategic sense, ability to devise, formalise and deploy communication strategies
• Mastery of project management
• Aptitude for digital technology
• Ability to adapt to a multicultural environment
• Field experience (travel)
• Knowledge of the local context of the country would be a plus.
• Autonomy, thoroughness, curiosity and good interpersonal skills.
• Excellent writing skills, solid journalistic writing and documentation skills for humanitarian or similar organisations
• Ability to manage complex projects in FR and EN, and to express oneself and write in FR and EN
• Perfect command of IT tools

Conditions

• Contract term: Contract under Nigerian law, fixed-term contract for 1 year, renewable
• Start date: June 2024
• Salary: Level 9 of ALIMA's salary scale for Nigeria

Other Benefits:

• Cost of living allowance (10%), Transport Allowance and Health cover for employees and their dependents.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.

Note: Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

Application Deadline 24th March, 2024.