Job Description
We are looking for an PR Director for a government affiliated entity based in the UAE.
Location – Sharjah, UAE
Salary – 45,000 – 50,000 AED/month
Qualifications & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or a related field.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in public relations, corporate communications, or media relations.
- Proven experience managing PR campaigns across corporate and destination or tourism-related portfolios.
- Strong network of media contacts across regional and international markets.
- Demonstrated experience in drafting high-quality press materials and executive communications.
- Strong understanding of brand management, reputation management, and crisis communications.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; Arabic is an advantage.
- Highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
Key Responsibilities:
Corporate & Destination Public Relations (External Communications):
- Develop and lead a holistic PR strategy for the company at both corporate and destination levels, aligned with business objectives and national positioning.
- Oversee all media relations, including press releases, interviews, press conferences, media briefings, and editorial features.
- Position the company as a thought leader in investment, tourism, culture, sustainability, and economic development. Ensure consistent messaging across all destinations, subsidiaries, and sector verticals while allowing for destination-specific storytelling.
- Lead PR communication for: Destination launches and milestones, Major events, exhibitions, and global forums, Strategic partnerships and MOUs, Awards, achievements, and rankings, Leadership announcements and initiatives.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, and international media, editors, journalists, and opinion leaders.
- Manage all PR agencies, including scope definition, KPIs, budgets, and performance evaluation. Oversee the creation of high-quality PR content (press kits, media factsheets, narratives, executive profiles, Q&As).
Leadership Visibility & Executive Communications:
- Advise senior leadership on media positioning, messaging, and public appearances.
- Prepare leadership talking points, speeches, interviews, op-eds, and key messages.
- Ensure leadership communication aligns with the company’s brand values, tone of voice, and strategic priorities.
- Coordinate media training for executives when required.
Internal Communications:
- Lead the Internal Communications function to ensure employees are informed, aligned, engaged, and inspired.
- Develop and implement an internal communications strategy that supports organizational culture, transparency, and performance.
- Oversee internal channels such as: Internal newsletters and announcements, CEO and leadership messages, Town halls and internal campaigns, Change management communications. Ensure alignment between external messaging and internal communication, avoiding contradictions and information gaps.
- Support HR and leadership in internal announcements, organizational changes, and employee engagement initiatives if requested
Crisis & Reputation Management:
- Act as the lead authority on crisis communications and reputation management.
- Develop and maintain crisis communication frameworks, holding statements, and escalation protocols.
- Monitor media coverage and public sentiment, proactively identifying reputational risks.
- Coordinate closely with Legal, Executive Office, and Marketing during sensitive issues.
Strategic Alignment & Governance:
- Ensure all PR and communication activities comply with government communication protocols, governance standards, and brand guidelines.
- Work closely with: Corporate Marketing & Brand, Digital & Social Media teams, Events & Partnerships, Government Relations, Executive Office.
- Establish PR policies, approval processes, and messaging frameworks to maintain control and consistency.
- Lead annual PR planning, budgeting, and reporting.
Measurement & Reporting:
- Define and track PR KPIs, including Share of voice, Media sentiment. Quality of coverage, Leadership visibility, Internal engagement metrics.
- Provide regular reports to senior management highlighting performance, impact, risks, and opportunities.
Team Leadership, Capability Building & Training:
- Lead, manage, and develop the PR and Internal Communications team across corporate and destination functions, ensuring clear roles, accountability, and high-performance standards.
- Set team objectives, performance KPIs, and development plans aligned with the company’s strategic priorities. Identify capability gaps and implement structured training programs in areas such as media relations, crisis communications, executive messaging, content quality, and government communication protocols.
- Coach and mentor team members to build strategic thinking, judgment, and leadership readiness, ensuring succession planning for key roles.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, professionalism, and continuous improvement across the communications function.
- Oversee workload distribution, resource planning, and agency integration to ensure efficiency and quality of output.
About the Role:
We are seeking an PR Director who is responsible for developing, managing, and executing strategic public relations initiatives that enhance brand reputation, visibility, and positioning across corporate and destination portfolios. The role plays a key part in shaping public perception, strengthening media relationships, and ensuring consistent messaging across all external communications. Working closely with internal stakeholders and external agencies, the role supports integrated communication strategies that align with organisational objectives, brand guidelines, and stakeholder expectations, while positioning the organisation as a leading destination and corporate brand locally and internationally.