Communication Unit Head

Job purpose

Responsibilities

• Support the development and implementation of the museum’s communications strategy, annual plans, and priority campaigns.
• Translate museum priorities into proactive communications campaigns, narratives, and media opportunities.
• Lead national and international earned-media campaigns across exhibitions, programmes, collections, research, and institutional initiatives.
• Identify compelling stories, thought-leadership opportunities, and editorial angles that strengthen the museum’s profile and relevance.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local, regional, and international journalists, editors, and media partners.
• Lead media pitching, interviews, media visits, press trips, and other media engagement opportunities.
• Oversee press releases, media advisories, briefing materials, Q&As, key messages, speeches, and other communications materials.
• Support issues and crisis communications, monitor emerging reputational risks, and support spokesperson preparation and media training.
• Manage and develop Communications Unit team members and oversee external PR and communications agencies.
• Build stakeholder relationships and provide communications and media engagement advice.
• Monitor and evaluate communications performance against objectives and KPIs.

Required qualifications and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or another relevant discipline.
• A postgraduate qualification in a relevant field is desirable.
• Minimum 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public relations, media relations, and/or editorial roles.
• Strong track record of independently leading complex communications campaigns and securing high-quality earned media.
• Experience managing agencies, projects, budgets, and multiple concurrent priorities.
• Experience managing or supervising team members, including delegation, quality control, coaching, and performance management.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, including senior-level messaging, media materials, and briefing documents.
• Strong experience in issues, reputation, and crisis communications.
• Experience in a museum, cultural institution, heritage organisation, government entity, similarly complex public-facing organisation, or PR agency is preferred.
• Experience developing national and international media strategies and relationships across top-tier outlets is preferred.
• Arabic and English bilingual capability is highly desirable.

Location

• The source lists the role in the Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates.