Team Lead, Brand and Corporate Communications Job Vacancy

Leadway is seeking an experienced communications professional to lead its brand and corporate communications function. The successful candidate will shape and protect the company’s corporate reputation, strengthen stakeholder relationships and ensure consistent messaging across Leadway Assurance and its operating companies.

The role covers corporate communications strategy, public relations, media engagement, executive profiling, crisis communications, internal communications and brand reputation management. You will work closely with executive leadership, Human Resources, commercial teams and external partners to communicate the company’s priorities and strengthen its corporate identity.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Communications and Media Relations

• Develop and execute integrated corporate communications, public relations and brand reputation campaigns.
• Build and maintain relationships with leading business, financial, technology and lifestyle media organisations, journalists and industry thought leaders.
• Prepare press releases, media statements, executive correspondence, thought leadership articles and strategic communication plans.
• Monitor media coverage and public sentiment, identifying opportunities and potential threats to Leadway’s reputation.
• Coordinate media engagements and communications activities across the company’s operating companies.

Executive Communications and Thought Leadership

• Prepare speeches, opinion articles, briefing documents and presentations for executive committee members and group leadership.
• Strengthen executive visibility through strategic media placements, industry engagements and thought leadership initiatives.
• Support executive participation in corporate events and other high-profile engagements.
• Ensure corporate messaging reflects the company’s strategy, values and business priorities.

Crisis and Reputation Management

• Monitor emerging reputational risks and implement early-warning and media-listening processes.
• Coordinate crisis communications and rapid-response protocols to minimise reputational damage.
• Prepare holding statements, manage media enquiries and support timely responses to sensitive issues.
• Maintain a consistent, authoritative and empathetic corporate voice across media and digital channels.

Internal Communications and Corporate Publications

• Develop internal communications programmes that improve employee engagement, cultural alignment and staff advocacy.
• Translate organisational changes, strategic milestones and business developments into clear internal communications.
• Oversee the editorial direction and production of annual reports, Annual General Meeting (AGM) materials, corporate profiles and sustainability communications.
• Work with Human Resources and executive leadership to strengthen organisational culture and employee understanding of company objectives.

Brand Governance and Stakeholder Management

• Ensure consistent corporate messaging across Leadway Assurance, its operating companies and strategic business units.
• Collaborate with brand design, digital, experiential and commercial teams to align corporate communications with wider marketing activities.
• Coordinate communications with Legal and Compliance, commercial teams, digital business units and operating company representatives.
• Manage relationships with public relations agencies and other external communications partners.

Budget Management and Performance Measurement

• Ensure communications campaigns, media engagements and agency retainers remain within approved budgets.
• Identify cost efficiencies in media buying, agency management and communications activities.
• Measure campaign performance, return on investment and earned media value.
• Conduct budget reconciliations and report on communications performance.

Team Leadership and Development

• Supervise and mentor corporate communications analysts, interns and other assigned team members.
• Manage agency workflows and monitor the quality and timeliness of deliverables.
• Introduce relevant communications technologies, digital tools, AI-assisted storytelling methods and modern public relations analytics.
• Encourage continuous learning, collaboration and high performance within the communications team.

Requirements and Qualifications

Interested candidates should meet the following requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification from a recognised university.
• A minimum of 5–7 years of relevant experience in a corporate organisation, marketing agency or communications-related environment.
• Mandatory Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) certification.
• Proven experience in corporate communications, public relations, media relations and brand management.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare executive speeches, thought leadership content and corporate governance documents.
• Experience managing media relationships, communications campaigns and corporate reputation.
• Strong writing, editing, presentation and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience working with executive leadership and managing external communications agencies.

A master’s degree is an added advantage. Professional qualifications or certifications from bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) are desirable.

Experience in a public relations agency, media organisation or financial services company is an advantage. Knowledge of Nigeria’s insurance, pensions and financial services regulatory environment is also beneficial.

Required Skills and Competencies

The ideal candidate should demonstrate:

• Strategic leadership and business acumen.
• Brand strategy and reputation management.
• Corporate communications, public relations and media engagement.
• Marketing strategy, positioning and campaign management.
• Content development, copywriting and editorial management.
• Crisis communications and risk assessment.
• Stakeholder engagement, negotiation and persuasion.
• Project, budget and vendor management.
• Critical thinking, problem-solving and sound decision-making.
• Emotional intelligence, empathy and customer focus.
• Team leadership, coaching and mentoring.
• Change management, collaboration and adaptability.
• Digital marketing, market research and business intelligence.
• Financial acumen and an understanding of environmental, social and governance (ESG) communications.
• Integrity, professionalism and respect for individuals.

Reporting Relationships

The role directly supervises corporate communications analysts and communications interns. Indirect reports may include National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) associates and external agency personnel.

Key internal stakeholders include executive leadership, Human Resources, commercial and retail teams, digital business teams, operating company brand representatives, and Legal and Compliance.

External stakeholders include customers, journalists, media organisations, marketing communications agencies and industry bodies.