About the Opportunity

A well-established and growing organisation in Abu Dhabi is looking to appoint a Head of Marketing & Communications to establish and lead its marketing and communications function.
This is a newly created leadership position offering the opportunity to shape the organisation's brand, communications strategy and market presence from the ground up. The successful candidate will initially be highly hands-on, taking ownership of a broad marketing and communications remit while working with specialist external partners. As the organisation continues to grow, they will have the opportunity to build and lead an in-house team.
Working closely with the senior leadership team, the Head of Marketing & Communications will play a key role in strengthening corporate positioning, enhancing stakeholder engagement, supporting business development and establishing a consistent and compelling presence across all channels.

Key Responsibilities

Marketing Strategy & Function Development
Develop and implement an integrated marketing and communications strategy aligned with organisational objectives
Establish the structure, processes, governance and operating model for the function
Develop annual marketing plans, budgets and performance frameworks
Establish brand guidelines, communications standards and marketing processes
Identify emerging market trends and opportunities to strengthen the organisation's positioning
Brand, Corporate Communications & Digital
Own and develop the corporate brand across the organisation and its various business activities
Ensure consistency of messaging, tone of voice and visual identity across all channels
Lead the development and ongoing management of the corporate website
Develop digital marketing and search strategies to improve visibility and engagement
Manage the organisation's social media presence, particularly LinkedIn
Develop executive communications, speeches, articles, statements and thought leadership content
Support senior executives with personal branding and external communications
Identify opportunities for speaking engagements, partnerships, sponsorships and thought leadership
Manage external PR, communications, creative and digital agencies as required.
Content & Business Development
Develop high-quality corporate and commercial marketing materials, including presentations, brochures, proposals and credentials
Create compelling thought leadership and insight-led content
Develop campaigns that support business development, client engagement and brand awareness
Partner with commercial and business teams to develop tailored marketing and client-facing materials
Ensure all communications are aligned with corporate positioning and relevant governance requirements
Events & Stakeholder Engagement
Develop and manage an annual corporate events and engagement programme
Lead the planning and delivery of senior-level events, conferences, roundtables, client engagements and corporate initiatives
Manage event budgets, timelines, suppliers and external partners
Work closely with senior stakeholders to maximise the impact of key events and engagement opportunities
Evaluate event performance and identify opportunities to improve future activity.
Agency, Supplier & Budget Management
Manage relationships with external marketing, PR, creative, digital and events agencies
Establish clear briefs, scopes of work and performance expectations
Oversee external suppliers including designers, developers, photographers and videographers
Manage marketing expenditure and ensure activity delivers strong value and measurable outcomes
Support procurement processes relating to marketing and communications.
Performance & Analytics
Establish meaningful KPIs across marketing and communications activity
Monitor digital performance, social media engagement, campaign effectiveness and event outcomes
Produce regular performance reports for senior leadership
Use data and insight to continually improve marketing effectiveness
Leadership
Build and develop a high-performing Marketing & Communications function
Recruit, manage and develop the team as the organisation's requirements evolve
Establish a culture of accountability, creativity, collaboration and continuous improvement
Position Marketing & Communications as a strategic partner to the wider organisation

About You

The ideal candidate will be an experienced marketing and communications leader who combines strategic thinking with strong hands-on execution.

You will have

15+ years experience across Marketing & Communications, with significant leadership experience
A proven track record of building, developing or transforming a marketing and communications function
Strong experience across corporate communications, brand, digital marketing, content, events and stakeholder engagement
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality executive-level content
Experience managing agencies, suppliers, budgets and multiple concurrent projects
Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to work closely with senior executives
A commercially minded approach, with an understanding of how marketing and communications can support organisational growth and business development
The ability to operate comfortably in a stand-alone, hands-on role while simultaneously developing the longer-term strategy and team structure

Desirable Background

Experience within one or more of the following sectors would be advantageous:
Financial Services
Banking
Investment Management
Wealth Management
Professional Services
Consulting
Government or Government-related organisations

Head of Marketing & Communications (Financial Services)