Media and Communications Officer

The Media and Communication officer plays a crucial contributory role in developing and implementing comprehensive support to the implementation of communication strategies to enhance our organization’s visibility and reputation.

Their support will focus on tailored media relations, content development and production, and media campaign management, ensuring alignment with CCSI organizational goals.

Their passion for storytelling, excellent communication skills, and a knack for creative problem-solving is pertinent.

Key Accountabilities

• Media and Communication Support – Portfolio:
• Manage a systemic record of all agreed deliverables and ensure adherence to agreed activities.
• Support media coordination activities for events and field visits, including media interviews, press releases, media appearances, etc.
• Engage and participate in routine check-in calls with clients and other stakeholders, and regular planning calls.
• Support campaign/event project planning and delivery.
• Any other related tasks assigned.
• Media relations and engagement:
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, media houses, producers, and other relevant media stakeholders.
• Draft and distribute press releases, media advisories, statements, opinion pieces, media pitches, talking points, and other media materials.
• Coordinate media interviews, press briefings, media roundtables, and other media engagement activities.
• Identify opportunities for the organisation’s leadership and technical experts to contribute to public discourse through interviews, expert commentary, and thought leadership.
• Facilitate media coverage of organisational activities, programmes, campaigns, events, and milestones.
• Maintain an up-to-date database of media contacts, outlets, and relevant stakeholders.
• Track media coverage and assess the visibility, accuracy, tone, and reach of stories about the organisation and its areas of work.
• Issues management and crisis communication:
• Monitor emerging issues that may affect the organisation’s reputation, programmes, partners, or stakeholders.
• Support the preparation of holding statements, key messages, frequently asked questions, briefing notes, and other materials for sensitive or high-profile issues.
• Escalate potential reputational risks and emerging misinformation to the appropriate supervisor or management team.
• Support the implementation of crisis communication plans and coordinate information gathering with relevant teams.
• Verify information before publication and help ensure that organisational responses are timely, factual, consistent, and proportionate.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgement when handling sensitive information and media enquiries
• Reputation Management:
• Lead on planning of annual endowment for media and visibility of the events, harvesting analytics regularly with feedback to improve planning and execution.
• Develop media contacts base with regular updating, including compiling profiles of key media contacts.
• Provide support for media engagements throughout the whole process: including setting up interviews, interview coordination, and reporting coverage.
• Provide support with media briefing material in preparation for interviews (ensuring media interviewers are well prepared with pre-reads and any necessary content to help make the interview fruitful for both parties).
• Conduct daily media monitoring, reporting and counseling for reputation management purposes.
• Press trip management, including identifying key stakeholders, providing briefing support, and monitoring the outcomes of press trips.
• Draft Op-ed, written Q&As etc., including pitching for media placements and engagements.
• Content Development:
• Develop high-quality communication materials that communicate the organisation’s work, achievements, research, and impact.
• Produce news stories, feature articles, human-interest stories, case studies, success stories, blogs, newsletters, website content, and other editorial materials.
• Translate technical reports, research findings, policy documents, and programme outcomes into accessible content for non-technical audiences.
• Identify compelling story angles that demonstrate the human impact of programmes and initiatives.
• Support the production of multimedia content, including short videos, interviews, photography, podcasts, and digital storytelling products.
• Ensure all communication materials are factually accurate, editorially sound, audience-appropriate, and consistent with organisational messaging and brand guidelines.
• Work with programme teams and partners to identify stories, gather evidence, verify information, and secure appropriate consent for the use of photographs, interviews, and personal stories.
• Develop and refine podcast concepts, content calendars, and episode plans to align with target audience interests and podcast goals.
• Manage production schedules, coordinate logistics with hosts, guests, and sound engineers, and ensure timely episode releases.
• Knowledge of basic video editing skills
• Media monitoring, intelligence, and reporting:
• Conduct daily or periodic monitoring of traditional and digital media for coverage relevant to the organisation, its partners, programmes, and areas of interest.
• Prepare media monitoring reports, coverage summaries, media scans, and communication performance updates.
• Analyse media narratives, public sentiment, emerging issues, misinformation, and reputational risks that may affect the organisation.
• Identify influential voices, recurring narratives, information gaps, and opportunities for proactive communication.
• Provide timely insights and recommendations to management to inform communication decisions and stakeholder engagement.
• Maintain accurate records of media mentions, published stories, interviews, communication outputs, reach, and engagement metrics.
• Contribute to periodic reports assessing communication performance against agreed objectives and indicators.
• Events and stakeholder communications:
• Support communication planning and execution for conferences, workshops, launches, policy dialogues, training sessions, and other organisational events.
• Prepare event briefs, invitations, speeches, presentations, talking points, programmes, and post-event reports.
• Coordinate media attendance, interviews, photography, videography, and event coverage.
• Develop post-event content, including highlights, news stories, social media updates, and summaries of key outcomes.
• Support communication and information-sharing with partners, government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, and other stakeholders.
• Communication| Project Visibility | Strategy and Planning:
• Support clients with strategic thought partnerships, plans, and approaches.
• Collaborate with programs team to plan and manage communication-related events, including program launches, donor visits, workshops, Radio/TV campaigns and community outreach activities.
• Conduct media research to keep up to date with new media developments.
• Supporting impactful media campaign management, evaluating successes and lessons learned.
• Represent the organization in communication groups, and media events.
• Support in implementing core communication activities with other departments.
• Provide support in enhancing visibility for all organization’s programs and projects.
• Support the development of proposals in core communication RFPs.

Qualifications

• Essential Skills, Knowledge, and Experience:
• Demonstrable experience supporting media for development work
• Being technology savvy
• Experience with report writing
• Organizational skills including managing and coordinating activity calendars
• Desirable Skills, Knowledge, and Experience:
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced program environment, prioritizing tasks and managing multiple deadlines.
• Familiarity with local culture across regions in Nigeria, including cultural nuances, customs, and traditions.
• Experience working in a diverse and inclusive environment, with a strong understanding of social justice and equity principles.
• Knowledge of local languages (e.g., Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Idoma, Bini, Ibibio etc.) and ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders.
• Familiarity with Nigerian media landscape, including local media outlets and influencers.
• Experience with community engagement, advocacy, and/or public outreach initiatives.
• Strong understanding of Nigerian history, politics, and social issues.
• Ability to travel frequently within Nigeria.

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to take initiative with minimal supervision.
• Strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to think and act strategically
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in written and oral communications.
• Advanced independent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Strong computer skills: proficient with Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word and PowerPoint)
• Must have demonstrable and proven strong journalistic skills alongside ability to analyze complex information and identify key insights.
• Application Closing Date
• 30th November, 2026.
• How to Apply
• Interested and qualified candidates should apply below USING APPLY ONLINE NOW BUTTON