Job Summary
The Communications Officer – RCCE will provide communications‑focused coordination and technical support to the CGPP project, with a specific emphasis on Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE). The role will apply strategic communication, advocacy, and social mobilization approaches to support polio eradication and routine immunization objectives. Working closely with government counterparts, the CGPP Secretariat, and partner CBOs, the officer will ensure high‑quality communication, engagement, visibility, and documentation that contribute to improved community trust, vaccine uptake, and program learning.
Roles and Key Responsibilities
- Write, design and manage the production of creative and compelling communication and promotional materials, stories, photos, video, fact sheets, brochures, etc. for the project, targeted at various audiences, including the donor, local and national governments, local Church, partners, media and others as needed.
- Use and tailor agency messages tailored for each audience and identify and utilize effective distribution channels to disseminate communications materials to key audiences.
- As appropriate, create and adapt the project’s content for publication on social media, the agency newsletter and the CGPP secretariat.
- Support the dissemination of relevant information among personnel, partners, project participants, or other relevant actors within the agency.
- Develop and maintain relationships with local media and help identify opportunities to reach key audiences, and support other program staff in effective local media representation.
- Provide communications support for events, including signage, handouts, talking points, photos, liaising with media, etc., and liaise with local media, as appropriate, when CRS‑supported events take place.
- Support the creation of processes, manuals and training for CRS staff and partners on issues related to communications and promoting visibility for the project.
- Provide on‑site communication and RCEE-related technical support to CBO Partners, under the guidance of the Senior Project Officer and CGPP Secretariat Communications Lead to strengthen RCCE interventions, including advocacy efforts, compound meetings, community dialogues, and other engagement activities.
- Collaborate closely with government health agencies (MOH, PHCMB, Polio EOC), development partners, and stakeholders to process, analyze, and apply communication data for improving program activities across focal LGAs.
- Support the use of relevant public health and contextual data to inform and strengthen RCCE messaging and community engagement approaches.
- Work with the Project Officer-MEAL to contribute to the analysis and use of communication‑related data, ensuring compliance with reporting standards and accurate documentation of progress across indicators.
- Lead documentation and evidence generation on communication outcomes, including success stories, program evaluations, research activities, communication assessments, and case studies.
- Provide guidance on community feedback mechanisms, ensuring accurate communication appropriate communication responses to community concerns, misinformation, and rumors, and coordinating information flow with government and partners.
- Participate actively in program communication activities, including review meetings, campaigns, technical working groups, and other assignments as delegated.
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with relevant donor regulations and visibility requirements is an added advantage.
- Experience in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly In Design, and familiarity with canva are strongly desired.
Supervisory Responsibilities
None
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, Journalism, International Relations or a related field.
- Minimum of five years’ experience supporting development or humanitarian projects.
- At least three years of professional experience in communications, preferably for an NGO or another organization in development and humanitarian programming.
- Experience supporting health or immunization programs—particularly polio—will be an added advantage
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Demonstrated ability to effectively disseminate to diverse target audiences using appropriate communication channels.
- Highly proficiency in Microsoft Office applications; knowledge of desktop publishing skills and basic design tools is required.
- Ability to influence and collaborate effectively without direct authority.
- Ability and desire to work effectively and respectfully with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders in cross‑cultural settings.
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong observation, active listening, and analytical skills, with sound judgment.
- Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and written/verbal communication skills, including cross-cultural settings
- Working knowledge of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC), Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM), and One Health concepts as applied to development programming.
- Strong relationship-management skills, with the ability to work closely with local partners, government counterparts, and community members.
- Demonstrated commitment to ethical conduct in accordance with professional and organizational standards.
- Proactive, resourceful, solution-oriented and results-focused approach to work.
Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
- Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
- Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
- Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
- Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
- Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.
Required Languages: English is required for this position. Knowledge of Hausa is considered an added advantage.
Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 50%.
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: CGPP project staff, CRS Nigeria staff, as well as technical resource persons from regional and headquarters offices
External: CGPP project partner staff, secretariat, relevant government ministries, departments and agencies.
Safeguarding:
CRS is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all people who interact with our work. We uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and expect all staff and partners to respect and protect the dignity and rights of everyone from any form of harm, abuse, harassment, or exploitation. All staff are required to follow CRS’s safeguarding policies and procedures and to complete mandatory safeguarding e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
What we offer
CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer
About Company
General Requirements
CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements. All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.
CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.
Company
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.
CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse. The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.
CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.