Main purpose of job:

Nigeria is a crucial partner for the UK in Africa,  and home to one of FCDO’s biggest development portfolios. Nigeria is an UK Government Tier 1 country but is grappling with serious challenges which cut across many UK priorities, including climate change, conflict, security and stability, prosperity, and demographics. It will be central to our thinking on Africa for the next 50 years. Nigeria is home to the second largest number of poor people in the world and has the largest economy and population in Africa, making it a priority partner for the UK now and into the future.

The 500+ staffed UK in Nigeria Mission has an integrated delivery structure of five thematic “blocks” charged with achieving the key outcomes of the UK’s relationship with Nigeria . Delivery is supported by five enabling teams. The blocks include several other government department staff from across the Mission, including Department for Business and Trade, Ministry of Defence, and the Home Office. The British High Commission has a Deputy High Commission in Lagos as well as a wider sub-national structure with staff present in six other state-based locations.

The post holder will:

• Be a creative, organised, and dynamic strategic communications professional ready to join the UK Government’s Communications network in Nigeria as soon as possible.
• Be based in Abuja and lead work on the coordination and implementation of communications activities linked to the portfolio owned by HMG colleagues working out of our Governance and Stability (G&S) areas of activity. This includes promoting UK-Nigeria bilateral engagements in Local Elections, Home Office/ Border Security/ UKVI and Social Inclusion (including women and girls’ strategy).
• Work closely with the communications team colleagues in Lagos, supporting and working through the Head of Communications who is based in Abuja.
• Build stakeholder relationships as part of a dynamic and busy team covering proactive and reactive, strategic, and tactical communications responsibilities. They will work with policy and programme colleagues, stakeholders, and customers from across the UK’s International Nigeria network. This includes working with colleagues from different HMG departments. They will also lead on the coordination and delivery of soft power communications engagement in Abuja and in the southern regions of Nigeria.
• Lead on communications for: Ministerial visits, for the High Commissioner, for Partners Across Government and for delivering Africa and network-wide communications strategies in Abuja and across southern regions in Nigeria. The jobholder will be responsible for generating UKinNigeria social media content and for engagement with Nigerian and international media linked to the work of the G&S portfolio.
• Be a confident and effective communicator and able strategist who can identify the correct audiences, calibrate the right key messages, and innovatively help to shape the UKs narrative through a range of traditional, digital and if necessary unconventional communication channels. 

• Qualified to at least to undergraduate degree level or extensive relevant work experience.
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English.
• Highly organised, able to take initiative and to work accurately within deadlines and with limited supervision in a fast-paced environment.
• A good working knowledge of ICT software (e.g. MS Word) in general and strong skills in digital media, including Face book, Twitter, and other social networking sites.
•  Attention to detail and comfortable producing accurate statements under pressure and taking direct instructions to also deliver under pressure.
• Strong networking and relationship management skills towards both senior and junior staff internally and externally.
• Previous experience in public relations, marketing, or media, including developing, implementing multiple media communication plans/media campaigns, and managing events.
• Effective management of teams of colleagues and experience of delivering results through others.