Host Communities Liaison & Development Manager

About the role

A client is seeking a seasoned Host Communities Liaison & Development Manager to lead stakeholder engagement and Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) activities for the Ruta Field development, with immediate focus on supporting the Ruta-06 drilling, completion and testing programme. The role secures and maintains the social licence to operate so that the project can run safely and without interruption.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute an integrated Host Communities Engagement Plan and manage verified stakeholder registers across traditional institutions, community leadership and groups.
• Negotiate, draft and implement project-specific Drilling MoUs and Freedom to Operate (FTO) frameworks to protect key project milestones.
• Drive statutory HCDT implementation, from sensitisation and NUPRC approvals through to CAC incorporation, Board of Trustees setup and governance documentation.
• Coordinate community mapping, statutory needs assessments and the five-year Host Communities Development Plan.
• Administer grievance-resolution mechanisms and maintain external relations risk registers to protect project schedules from community disruptions.
• Act as the external interface with project partners, regulators, legal teams, contractors, marine logistics personnel and host communities, aligning field execution with community agreements, regulatory requirements and corporate expectations.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Community Development, Sociology, Law, Business Administration, Environmental Management or a related field; postgraduate qualification is an advantage.
• 12-15+ years of community/external relations experience in the Nigerian oil and gas, infrastructure or extractive industries.
• Demonstrable experience engaging Niger Delta host communities, ideally in Ondo/Ilaje or similar coastal environments.
• Strong working knowledge of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the NUPRC Host Communities framework.
• Practical experience supporting drilling, seismic, construction or offshore/marine mobilisation from a community-relations perspective.

Required skills

• Exceptional negotiation and conflict-resolution skills.
• Political neutrality, high ethical standards and strong executive communication.
• Ability to manage corporate, regulatory and community relationships while representing the organisation externally.

To apply, interested candidates should send their application and updated CV by email to the recruiter, quoting "Host Communities Liaison & Development Manager" as the subject.