Communication Officer at Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria

The Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) was established in 2004 as an affiliate of the Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore in the United States of America. It has grown to become a leading local non-governmental organization addressing the HIV/AIDS crises in Nigeria through the development of infrastructure for treatment, care, prevention, and support for people living with and those affected by HIV/AIDS but has now expanded its services to other infectious and non-infectious diseases including, cancer, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases. IHVN is structured to develop and maintain linkages with local and international organizations in collaborative ways that support the Government of Nigeria's health sector strategic plans. IHVN key technical and funding partners are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The Institute, which as of March 2006 was supporting seven treatment sites in five states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory, now offers ARV services in 290 facilities, PMTCT services in 623 facilities, tuberculosis services in 170 facilities and HIV Counseling and Testing Services in 612 facilities under its ACTIONPlusUp project. Also, through funding from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, MDR-TB, 13 treatment centers offer treatment for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis and 1830 facilities, malaria services. All these facilities and treatment centers comprise of primary, secondary and tertiary health centers in twenty two states. Eleven of the hospitals it supports are University Teaching Hospitals. IHVN, which has expanded activities to meet the growing public health challenges in Nigeria, has grown into an organization of about 398 staff members, from initial staff strength of ten.

Job Summary:

• The prospective Communications Officer will be responsible for developing and implementing communication strategies to promote the organization’s mission, values, and objectives.
• He/she will manage internal and external communications, media relations, social media presence, and content creation; ensuring consistent and effective messaging is passed across all platforms to engage stakeholders and the public.

Key Responsibilities:

• Write, edit, and produce high-quality content for various platforms including press releases, articles, newsletters, social media posts, and website content.
• Develop and execute comprehensive communication plans.
• Develop internal communication strategies to keep employees informed and engaged.
• Align communication strategies with organizational goals and objectives.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies.
• Create and engage multimedia content, such as videos and infographics, to support communication campaigns.
• Establish and maintain relationships with IHVN’s media contacts.
• Draft and distribute press releases and media kits.
• Organize and coordinate press conferences, media briefings, and interviews.
• Create and distribute internal newsletters, memos, and announcements.
• Coordinate internal events and meetings to foster a positive organizational culture.
• Develop and implement social media strategies to increase online presence and engagement.
• Work with the social media (SM) officer to monitor SM channels and respond to comments and inquiries.
• Ensure consistency in branding and messaging across all communication channels
• Engage with stakeholders, including employees, customers, partners, and the community
• Organize and participate in community outreach activities and events.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities.
• Proven experience in a communication or public relations role.
• Proficiency in using social media platforms and content management systems.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of media relations and crisis communication.

Preferred Skills:

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with thematic teams.
• Skills to organize communication awareness campaigns
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with the media, stakeholders, employees, vendors, partners, government institutions, etc
• Exceptional networking skills
• Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and work under pressure.
• Experience working collaboratively with different departments and teams.
• Flexibility to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• Strong attention to detail to ensure accuracy and consistency in communication materials.
• Ability to think creatively and develop innovative communication strategies and content.

Working Conditions:

• Full-time position may require occasional evening or weekend work.

Method of Application

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