COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER (CLO) AT NESTOIL PLC

About Company:

Nestoil Plc was incorporated in Nigeria in 1991 for the provision of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services to the energy and oil & gas industry. Since then, Nestoil has grown to become the leading indigenous EPC provider for major IOCs (International Oil Companies) in Sub-Saharan Africa like National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Total, etc.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Description:

• The Community Liaison Officer (CLO) serves as the primary interface between the project or company and host communities.
• The CLO ensures smooth stakeholder engagement, conflict mitigation, and timely dissemination of project-related information to local communities.
• The role is central to maintaining community trust, enabling “Freedom to Operate (FTO),” and ensuring compliance with community engagement protocols under Master Service Agreements (MSA) or Field Management Agreements (FMA).
• In projects such as those in OML 42, swampy terrains, and sensitive operational environments, the CLO plays a critical role in securing social license to operate and ensuring continuous community alignment with project goals.

Key Responsibilities
Community Engagement and Relationship Management:

• Act as the face and voice of the project/company in daily interactions with host community representatives, traditional rulers, youth leaders, women’s groups, and other grassroots stakeholders.
• Maintain a constant and respectful dialogue to foster mutual understanding and preempt issues that could affect project timelines.
• Organize, attend, and document town hall meetings, sensitization programs, and community awareness sessions before and during project execution.
• Relay community feedback, concerns, and complaints to company leadership and follow up on resolutions.

Stakeholder Mapping and Intelligence Gathering:

• Identify and map key community influencers, gatekeepers, stakeholders, and power dynamics in each host community.
• Monitor socio-political developments, community expectations, and sentiments that may impact project implementation.
• Advise the project team on potential risks and mitigation measures based on community pulse and intelligence reports.

Conflict Resolution and Crisis Management:

• Mediate disputes between the community and contractors or subcontractors on employment, contracts, or environmental impacts.
• Provide early warning signals on brewing conflicts and support rapid response to avoid project disruptions.
• Support the negotiation of peace accords, resolutions, or compensatory actions under community-related grievances.

Local Content and Employment Compliance:

• Ensure implementation of community employment, subcontracting, and local vendor utilization in line with MoUs, GMOU provisions, or NEPL/local government policies.
• Verify and document all local hires and community contractors working on-site.
• Liaise with HR, SCM, and project teams to ensure compliance with agreed-upon quotas or expectations.

Documentation and Reporting:

• Maintain detailed records of all community engagements, agreements, minutes, incident logs, grievances, and resolutions.
• Prepare weekly and monthly community affairs reports, including community risk registers and mitigation plans.
• Support audit and compliance activities involving host community engagement.

Project Support & Freedom to Operate (FTO):

• Facilitate project access and movement in communities by ensuring community buy-in and informed consent.
• Collaborate with security and logistics teams to ensure safe project execution with minimal disruptions.
• Issue or coordinate the issuance of FTO memos confirming that the community is informed and project conditions are favorable for execution.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, Political Science, Community Development, Public Relations, or related field.
• 5–10 years’ experience in community relations, particularly in oil & gas or infrastructure sectors within the Niger Delta or similar environments.
• Deep knowledge of host community dynamics, especially in swamp terrain and brownfield environments like OML 42.
• Experience working under Master Service Agreements (MSA) or FMAs with indigenous and local content considerations.

Key Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong oral and written communication in English and local dialects is a plus.
• Deep cultural sensitivity and political awareness.
• Ability to remain calm and impartial in tense or emotionally charged situations.
• Good documentation, reporting, and administrative skills.
• Proactive, empathetic, and trusted by both community and company stakeholders.

Why This Role Matters:

• The Community Liaison Officer is essential for maintaining peaceful and productive relationships with host communities. In regions like the Niger Delta, their work directly influences project continuity, safety, and reputation.
• This role ensures that community voices are heard and respected while aligning expectations with operational realities.

Salary

Application Closing Date: Not specified

Application Instructions:

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO APPLY