Director, Communications at KwaraLEARN (Government of Kwara State)

KwaraLEARN (Leading Education Achievement and Reform Now) is a core new education programme by the Government of Kwara State to deliver dramatic improvements in learning outcomes in public schools for all children across Kwara State. KwaraLEARN will transform all government primary schools across the state into powerful public schools using an innovative technology and data-driven platform, coupled with high-quality learning materials, effective training and ongoing coaching for teachers and school leaders, and technology-enabled support teams to create 360-degree support for learning outcomes.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Director, Communications

Location: Kwara
Employment Type: Full-time

Programme Overview

• Working for the technical implementing partner for the programme, you will work towards preparing Kwara and its youth for a bright future with a strong educational foundation. Being part of this transformative programme will be a challenging but fulfilling experience
• You will have the opportunity to impact young lives and help build the future of Kwara and Nigeria. The programme is one of the most exciting and ambitious education programmes not only in Nigeria, but also across Africa. A quality education has the power to transform the opportunities for Kwara’s youth and the State.
• In joining us, you will join a group of dynamic and passionate Nigerians taking concrete action to help ensure a better future for the children of Kwara.

Corporate Affairs:

• The Corporate Affairs group is the eyes, ears and public face of the organisation. It leads on strategy and is responsible for influencing and strengthening the internal and external landscapes that surrounds and impacts NewGlobe and its growing portfolio. The Corporate Affairs group is responsible for the public reputation of NewGlobe and its programmes, creating environments that support programmatic growth through engaging with stakeholders, influencing policy making and designing impactful communications.
• The Corporate Affairs strategy is based upon a deep understanding, and awareness of, national and global trends, policies, regulatory changes and current affairs. It leads the overall strategic direction and implementation of initiatives and strategies across multiple channels, audiences and geographies.
• The Corporate Affairs group always takes both a national and global perspective and is highly attuned to the nuances of frequently evolving politics and policy issues. Its work is based upon both an in depth understanding of NewGlobe, its programmes and the broader global and national education landscapes in which it operates. Through this, it devices strategies that connects NewGlobe’s programming with a diverse, and ever-expanding set of stakeholders.

Communications:

• The Communications team is housed with the Corporate Affairs group. It collaborates across departments and programmes to create and execute compelling strategies; locally and globally.
• Communications has a wide portfolio of responsibilities including external and internal relations, advocacy, strategy, digital, reputation management and media relations. We are focused on ensuring that the exceptional achievements being made across a wide portfolio of programming are effectively and impactfully communicated.
• We lead, develop and support strategies in multiple programmes and continents simultaneously; shaping and influencing the external environments in which we work. We pride ourselves in being able to respond quickly and effectively at all times.

About the Role

• As Director of Communications, you will be the communications lead for a large scale government education programme.
• You will support the government in the creation and delivery of communications strategies and ensure that the programme is being communicated effectively to a wide range of stakeholders both at a statewide, national and international level.
• You will be able to leverage relationships to influence communications approaches and build strong advocacy platforms to further the aims and ambitions of the work.
• You will create, write and design content that is both compelling and impactful; that places your programme at the core of the group communications strategy in Nigeria.

What You Will Do

• Manage the communications for a statewide government education programme.
• Act as the communications lead for a government communications team and programme.
• Develop compelling communications strategies for the promotion of the programme within Nigeria and internationally.
• Directly manage media engagement and cultivate media contacts.
• Pitch stories to both national and local media to achieve high visibility for print, broadcast, TV and online media outlets.
• Evaluate opportunities for communications partnerships and platforms that will strengthen the programme.
• Act as a spokesperson and represent the programme in local and national forums.
• Build a strong advocacy engagement programme with national and multinational partners.
• Write clear and compelling pitches, press releases and articles.
• Support the government to develop content strategies for digital communications.
• Identify media trends, news cycle opportunities.
• Support internal communications initiatives to promote the programme.
• Analyse and measure results of communications initiatives.
• Work closely within the Nigerian communications group to ensure that the communications strategy for the programme is advanced and complementary to the group strategy.

What You Should Have

• A Master’s Degree
• 8+years relevant experience in communications.
• Experience of working with or for the government in a communications capacity.
• Experience in Nigeria of working in communications for political, campaigning, non-profit, or social enterprise. Experience with a multinational organisation is a plus.
• Experience working within a matrixed global organisation.
• Strong experience of creating and executing communications plans and strategies.
• An established network of local and national media contacts.
• Experience of being the lead external relations contact for media and stakeholders.
• A strong sense of the news agenda and ability to make issues and campaigns relevant.
• Experience of handling crisis communications.
• Experience of supporting the creation and delivery of social media and digital campaigns.
• Strong writing and editorial skills.
• A strong-sense of teamwork and ability to both manage and execute programmes.
• An extremely proactive and determined attitude.
• Prior experience within a fast-paced, disruptor, metric driven consulting or educational organisation is a bonus.

You’re Also:

• A detailed doer – You have a track record of getting things done. You’re organized and responsive. You take ownership of every idea you touch and execute it to a fine level of detail, setting targets, engaging others, and doing whatever it takes to get the job done. You can multi-task dozens of such projects at once and never lose sight of the details. Likely, you have some experience in a start-up or other rapid-growth company.
• A networking mastermind – You excel at meeting new people and turning them into advocates. You communicate in a clear, conscientious, and effective way in both written and oral speech. You can influence strangers in the course of a single conversation. Allies and colleagues will go to bat for your ideas. You have an existing network from prior experience in the country, preferably in the regulatory, education, or business sectors.
• A creative problem-solver – Growing any organisation or programme from scratch and at scale comes with massive and constant challenges. On top of that, NewGlobe works in often fragile, sometimes volatile low-resource communities and with complex government systems. You need to be flexible and ready to get everything done effectively, quickly, and affordably with the materials at hand.
• A relentless advocate –The children we serve and teachers we empower never leave your mind. You know them, get them, have shared a meal with them (or would be happy to in the future). You would never shrink back from shaking a parent’s hand or picking up a crying child, no matter what the person was wearing or looked like. Every decision you make considers their benefit, experience,
• and value.
• A malleable learner –You believe you can always do better. You welcome constructive criticism and provide it freely to others. You know you only get better tomorrow when others point out where you’ve missed things or failed today.
• A curious investigator – You ask why a lot. You don’t just take what you see and accept it. You wonder why it is that way, and are aware that the world we see is created by human choices and actions – and it could be different. You wonder, and see the world as wonderful even when you want to change a part of it that is unjust.

Application Closing Date
30th June, 2022.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online