JOB PURPOSE:
The Team Leader, Corporate Communications is responsible for setting and leading the corporate communications agenda to strengthen the organisationu2019s reputation, influence, and narrative across key stakeholders, including senior executives, corporate leaders, regulators, and government officials. The role provides strategic counsel to CXOs and executive leadership, ensuring cohesive, credible, and highu2011impact communications that support business objectives and longu2011term value creation.
As a senior overseeing corporate communications delivery, the Team Leader defines media strategy, drives executive positioning, and leads thought leadership initiatives at a national, regional, and international level. Managing a dedicated team across Public Relations and Media, the role ensures disciplined execution, robust governance, and consistently high standards across earned media, stakeholder engagement, and executive visibility.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Corporate Communications & Reputation Strategy
- Define and lead the corporate communications strategy to enhance organisational reputation, leadership visibility, and stakeholder confidence.
- Translate business priorities into clear, compelling external narratives aligned with corporate values and long-term strategic objectives.
- Act as a senior advisor to executive leadership on reputation management, public positioning, and sensitive communications matters.
- Lead crisis and issues communications approach and planning, including scenario preparedness, messaging frameworks, and executive response protocols.
- Advise executive leadership during highu2011risk or crisis situations, ensuring timely, coordinated, and wellu2011governed communications.
- Safeguard organisational reputation during complex, highu2011risk and sensitive situations through strategic communications and executive advisory.
Media Strategy & Media Relations
- Own and continuously refine the organisationu2019s media strategy across national, regional, and international outlets.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with senior editors, journalists, and media opinion formers.
- Oversee proactive media engagement, issue management, and media response in highu2011profile or sensitive situations.
- Ensure disciplined and accurate creation of press releases, media statements, bylined articles, and executive interviews.
Executive Positioning & Thought Leadership
- Drive executive positioning and thought leadership strategies for CXOs and senior leaders.
- Oversee development of briefing documents, messaging frameworks, talking points, speeches, and opinion pieces.
- Ensure executives are fully prepared for public appearances, interviews, conferences, and highu2011level engagements.
- Design and lead media and executive communications training for CXOs and senior leaders, ensuring preparedness for interviews, public appearances, and highu2011stakes engagements.
Media Monitoring, Insights & Reporting
- Oversee comprehensive media monitoring and analysis to track reputation, sentiment, share of voice, and emerging risks.
- Provide clear, executiveu2011level insights and recommendations to senior leadership and boards.
- Use data and intelligence to continuously refine communications strategies and media engagement approaches.
Enterprise Communications
- Define and lead the enterprise communications strategy to ensure alignment between business priorities, leadership direction, and employee understanding.
- Shape and articulate the organisationu2019s enterprise narrative, translating strategy, performance, and transformation initiatives into clear, credible messages for internal stakeholders across all levels.
- Lead communications related to the employee value proposition (EVP), culture, leadership visibility, and organisational milestones, ensuring consistency with the corporate brand and external positioning.
- Oversee communications for enterpriseu2011wide change initiatives, leadership updates, and major business announcements.
People Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop a highu2011performing team across Public Relations and Media.
- Set clear objectives, ensure accountability, and build depth of capability within the corporate communications function.
- Foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and professional rigor across the team.
Representation & Public Presence
- Represent the organisation confidently in senioru2011level external engagements, industry forums, and select public platforms as required.
- Demonstrate strong presence, credibility, and authority in highu2011visibility settings.
QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
Minimum Qualification
- Bacheloru2019s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, International Relations, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
- Masteru2019s degree in Communications, Publics Relations, Media, Public Affairs, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred.
- Relevant professional certifications in communications, public relations, or leadership development are an advantage.
Minimum Experience & Knowledge & Skills
- 10-12 years of progressive experience in corporate communications, strategic communications, or public affairs within large, complex organisations.
- Proven experience leading and developing multidisciplinary teams, including PR, media, and communications specialists, with clear accountability for performance and delivery.
- Demonstrated success working crossu2011functionally with senior leaders across business, Government Affairs, Legal, Human Capital, Brand, and Commercial teams.
- Extensive experience advising and working directly with CXOs, corporate CEOs, board members, and senior government officials on highu2011impact, reputationu2011sensitive matters.
- Strong background in media strategy, thought leadership, executive positioning, and narrative development at enterprise level.
- High level of judgment, influence, and stakeholder management capability, with the confidence to operate in highu2011pressure, highu2011visibility environments.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Arabic are mandatory.
