Social and Behavioural Change Communication Officer (SBCCO)

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

• Employment type: Full-time
• Duty station: Bayelsa State, Nigeria
• Application deadline: 8 September 2026
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, interviews may take place while the advert remains open, and the vacancy may be filled early.
• No relocation allowance is available.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ORGANISATION AND ROLE PURPOSE

MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices provides reproductive-health services and products, including family-planning services, and works with government and communities to improve access for underserved people. The Social and Behavioural Change Communication Officer will lead community entry, stakeholder engagement, demand generation, advocacy and monitoring activities that connect people in Bayelsa State with accurate information, referrals and quality services.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Community entry, mapping and engagement

• Conduct community entry and map key influencers, structures, barriers and opportunities in target locations.
• Prepare and implement stakeholder-engagement plans.
• Build and maintain an up-to-date database of government, non-governmental, religious and community contacts.
• Develop practical community-mobilisation plans and sustain effective relationships with community leaders, civil-society groups and media actors.
• Adapt communication and engagement approaches to local context and the needs of underserved groups.

Community-based organisation and partner management

• Identify suitable community-based organisations, professional bodies and other partners for collaboration.
• Build the capacity of community organisations, town announcers, Ward Development Associations or Committees, Youth Champions and other community mobilisers.
• Support partners to deliver consistent communication, sensitisation and stigma-reduction activities.
• Monitor partner and mobiliser performance and provide coaching or corrective support where needed.

Demand generation and service uptake

• Develop and implement channel-specific demand-generation strategies and monthly work plans.
• Use MSI's applicable channel, SUMO and demand-generation approaches to support service access and programme targets.
• Segment markets and communities by location, need and access barriers.
• Mobilise clients, strengthen referrals and track completed referrals and service uptake.
• Use community outreach, traditional and religious leaders, youth and women's groups, town criers, door-to-door mobilisation and appropriate media channels.
• Support meetings with local and state government, primary-health-care stakeholders and relevant heads of department.
• Design age-appropriate engagement for adolescents and young people and address stigma or misinformation.
• Identify service-delivery hot spots and opportunities for post-abortion-care and reproductive-health information or referrals.
• Develop innovative ways to promote MSI contact-centre and service information.
• Work toward agreed channel and cost-centre targets while maintaining quality and ethical standards.

Advocacy, external relations and visibility

• Facilitate sensitisation and relationship-building with police, traditional and religious leaders and other influential stakeholders.
• Engage media organisations to support accurate information and responsible programme visibility.
• Maintain constructive working relationships with the State Ministry of Health, other line ministries and relevant technical working groups.
• Identify partnership opportunities that expand reach and improve community trust.
• Document activities through approved stories, photographs and visibility materials while observing consent and safeguarding requirements.

Monitoring, data quality and reporting

• Conduct routine data-quality assessments, spot checks and validation of community-mobilisation and referral records.
• Track referrals, in-reaches, service uptake and contact-centre referrals.
• Analyse results to identify gaps, improve mobilisation and strengthen accountability.
• Prepare accurate monthly and quarterly reports.
• Develop approved More Together stories, success stories and supporting photographs.
• Work with relevant technical, service-delivery and monitoring colleagues to ensure data and narrative reports are consistent.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• First degree in any discipline.
• At least three years of post-NYSC experience in strategic communications or a closely related role.
• Demonstrated communication, planning and management skills.
• Experience managing or working with civil-society organisations and community partners.
• Practical experience in advocacy, community engagement and stakeholder mobilisation.
• Experience with donor-contract budgeting and reporting.
• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with senior government stakeholders.
• Experience working remotely and managing or coordinating teams across locations.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively across functions and with diverse teams.
• Strategic and analytical thinking.
• Ability to lead or coordinate diverse remote teams.
• Pro-choice commitment and alignment with MSI's mission.
• Flexibility, sound change-management skills, initiative and decision-making ability.

SAFEGUARDING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

MSI Nigeria is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment. The organisation is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and has zero tolerance for abuse, exploitation and harassment. The successful candidate must comply with MSI's safeguarding, conduct and confidentiality requirements.

HOW TO APPLY

Complete the official MSI Nigeria application form for the Social and Behavioural Change Communication Officer (SBCCO), Bayelsa. Submit accurate personal and employment information and all requested supporting details. Apply promptly because review and interviewing take place on a rolling basis and the role may be filled before the stated closing date.