Job Title: Community Liaison Officer (CLO)

Reports To: Strategy and Commercial Officer 

Department: Community Relations 

Location: Warri – Project Field Office / Site Location 

Position Summary

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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Political Science, Community Development, Public Relations, or related field.

• Minimum of 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.