Manager - Marketing, DIFC Innovation Hub (UAE Nationals)

Job Purpose:

Lead the development and delivery of strategic marketing, communications, community engagement, and event programmes that advance the objectives of DIFC Innovation Hub and its ecosystem platforms. The role oversees brand strategy, content, digital marketing, public relations, social media, ecosystem engagement, and flagship events, while providing leadership to multidisciplinary teams and managing key stakeholder relationships. Through effective planning, governance, and collaboration, the role drives brand visibility, ecosystem growth, stakeholder engagement, and organisational impact across all marketing and community initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

Marketing Leadership & Strategic Planning

• Lead the development and execution of integrated marketing and communications strategies across DIFC Innovation Hub, Dubai AI Campus, Dubai PropTech Hub, FinTech Hive, Ignyte, and future ecosystem initiatives, ensuring alignment with DIFC's strategic objectives.
• Establish annual marketing priorities, budgets, performance targets, and growth plans while identifying opportunities to enhance brand positioning, visibility, and stakeholder engagement.
• Monitor marketing performance across all channels and initiatives, providing strategic direction and recommendations to optimise impact and business outcomes.

Team Leadership & Performance Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop the marketing team, including oversight of the Social Media Lead, Assistant Marketing Manager, Community & Events Lead, Business Marketing team, and external agencies and suppliers.
• Foster a high-performance culture through effective resource planning, coaching, performance management, and continuous development of team capabilities.
• Ensure collaboration, alignment, and efficient delivery of marketing and community engagement activities across DIFC Innovation Hub and Ignyte.

Ecosystem, Brand & Content Governance

• Oversee brand management, content strategy, thought leadership, public relations, digital marketing, website content, and social media activities across all ecosystem brands and platforms.
• Ensure consistency of messaging, visual identity, and brand positioning across all marketing channels, communications, campaigns, and stakeholder touchpoints.
• Govern the development, review, and approval of strategic content, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities, market positioning, and brand standards.

Flagship Events & Stakeholder Engagement

• Manage the marketing strategy and stakeholder engagement plans for flagship initiatives including Dubai FinTech Summit, Dubai Future of Finance Week, Dubai AI Festival, and other strategic programmes.
• Collaborate with senior leadership, government entities, sponsors, partners, media, and ecosystem stakeholders to maximise event visibility, participation, and commercial outcomes.
• Ensure integrated marketing campaigns are delivered across all channels to support event objectives, audience growth, and ecosystem engagement.

Digital Marketing, Partnerships & Organisational Alignment

• Oversee digital marketing activities, website strategy, performance marketing initiatives, and audience growth programmes to enhance reach, engagement, and conversion across all platforms.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring marketing initiatives support DIFC's broader business objectives and strategic priorities.
• Drive continuous improvement across marketing processes, governance frameworks, reporting mechanisms, and operational effectiveness to ensure best-in-class marketing delivery.

Qualifications & Experience Requirements:

Relevant Experience:

• 4 to 6 years of experience in a similar role
• At least 1 year progressive leadership responsibility in an organization of similar scope and size

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Marketing, Business Administration, or another relevant field.
• Fluent in English and Arabic