Community Liaison Team Leader at Mines Advisory Group (MAG International)

Line managed by: Community Liaison Manager

Line manages: Community Liaison Officers

Location: Borno, with travel across LGAs of North East as security conditions permit

Important Notice: Position is subject to funds availability

Overview of role:

The CL Team Leader (CLTL) is responsible for the supervision of his/her teams and their daily Community Liaison activities according to MAG Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). A CL team comprises two CL Officers (CLOs). The CLTL is responsible for developing implementation plans for the teams and the teams’ continuous improvement. CLTL reports to the CL Supervisor and the CLM.

The CLTL will engage with communities and key/relevant stakeholders in a participatory manner, and work closely with their team and other MAG departments to ensure that community liaison activities are relevant, of high quality, innovative, and seamlessly integrated into all MAG operations.

Responsibilities:

A CL Team Leader will be expected to carry out some or all of the following activities, but not limited to:

Leadership

• Lead by example and motivate staff ensuring CLO engagement in their work and that all activities are conducted with the highest levels of standards.
•  Monitor the CL team dynamics, skills, attitudes, and approaches, follow up on M&E QA/QC feedback and create improvement plans if necessary.

Compliance and Accountability

• Ensure CL team surveys, reports, and documents are complete and of high quality before submission.
•  Ensure that procedures are carried out as trained and as per Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Ensure CL teams follow Do-No-Harm principles and protect vulnerable groups during CL operations.
• Ensure CL team deployment is by MAG’s Safety and Security SOPs and continuously assess the safety situation of the operational area - report any incidents. 
• Ensure that CL teams comply with all MAG CL-related policies, particularly the policy on personal conduct.

Coordination 

• Plan strategically to achieve productivity objectives and coordinate day-to-day activities accordingly.
• Support CL teams in data collection, conducting NTS and RE activities and cover for team members if absent.
• Support CL teams to deliver quality RE activities to clearly identified target groups, using engaging and participatory approaches, according to a well-defined RE plan.

Reporting Responsibilities: 

• Develop and submit weekly and monthly reports to the immediate line manager.
• Contribute to donor reporting as required.
• Extract data from the MAG database and perform data analysis according to CL reporting requirements.
• Ensure that both soft copies (in Excel format) and hard copies of CL daily activities are accurately recorded and readily available as needed.
• Develop and submit case studies or success stories in text, video, or audio format as required.

CL Development

• Support the CLM and CLS to develop and implement (refresher) training packages according to identified needs.
• Identify challenges, solutions, and new opportunities to further develop CL provision to at-risk communities.

External relations

• Establish contact with community focal points and key stakeholders at regular interval and maintain network in the areas of operation.
• Liaise with local authorities, military, NGOs and other stakeholders and attend relevant meetings as required.  
• Conduct RE Sessions for NGO staff members or other service providers.

Equipment

• Ensure that all equipment is accounted for and maintained. Report any faults immediately to the CLM/CLS.
• Ensure proper use of the means of transportation and communications, and NTS equipment and RE material.
• Any other duties as required by the CLS, CLM.

Person Specification

• Previous experience in managing teams involved in community-based education activities.
• Previous experience in conducting awareness or community-based education activities.
• Previous experience in data reporting and/or using participatory techniques to gather information in at-risk communities.
• Relevant experience in community-based facilitation and community mobilization
• Experience in developing good relationships with people and working in a participatory manner with groups of different ages, statuses, and backgrounds
• Previous experience living and working in a cross-cultural, multi-sector team environment in Northeast Nigeria
• Experience working with rural communities from a variety of different ethnic groups

 Desirable Experience

• Previous experience in Humanitarian Mine action  
• Experience in data analysis including the development of data-gathering mechanisms and tools.
• Experience using mapping equipment and platforms such as GPS, range finders, Google Earth, etc.

Essential Skills and Knowledge

• Language Proficiency: Fluent in English and either Kanuri or Hausa.
• Interpersonal Abilities: Strong interpersonal skills, capable of building effective relationships and maintaining effective communication with diverse community groups and stakeholders.
• Presentation Skills: Excellent presentation skills, with the ability to engage and captivate an audience.
• IT Skills: Proficient in Ms Word, MS Excel and PowerPoint
• Organizational Competence: Outstanding organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines effectively.

Essential Aptitude

• Teamwork and development driven: Ability to work well with teammates and other colleagues even in high pressure situations, and to collectively develop the work, demonstrating initiative and a solution-oriented approach.
• Self-Motivation and Flexibility: Self-motivated, flexible, able to think of solutions, and enthusiastic in your approach to work, with frequent travel of varying lengths and locations.
• Commitment to Quality: Determined to maintain high-quality standards.
• Cultural Respect: Ability to respect and appreciate others' cultures, beliefs, norms, and values.
• Cultural Adaptability: Ability to blend in and adapt effectively to people from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.

Qualifications

• University/College Degree/Diploma studies in the field of Sociology, Education, social administration, Community Development, Development Studies, or any relevant field of study.