Director of Media Relations (Local & International)

About the role

The Director of Media Relations will lead Course Conductor’s media engagement strategy across the United Arab Emirates and international markets. Reporting to senior leadership, the role is responsible for building strong relationships with media outlets, managing reputation risks, and shaping the organization’s narrative through strategic storytelling.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute integrated local and international media strategies.
• Lead relationships with local, regional, and international media organisations, building long‑term partnerships with editors, journalists, broadcasters and digital platforms.
• Identify and secure opportunities for positive editorial coverage.
• Manage complex and sensitive media issues, including crisis communications and rapid response planning.
• Design and launch proactive editorial campaigns aligned with strategic priorities.
• Advise executives on messaging, interviews, speeches and public positioning.
• Monitor media trends and reputational risks, establishing monitoring frameworks and reporting dashboards.
• Lead, mentor and develop the media relations team.
• Collaborate with government entities and strategic partners.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or a related field.
• Minimum 12 years of media relations experience, with extensive exposure to both local and international media.
• Established relationships with leading media organisations in the UAE and abroad.
• Proven expertise in crisis communications and media risk management.
• Experience managing high‑profile executives and spokesperson programmes.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver editorial campaigns that generate measurable media impact.
• Fluent in Arabic and English.

Required skills

• Strategic storytelling
• Public relations
• Media risk management
• Crisis communications
• Editorial campaign development
• Media engagement strategy
• Media monitoring frameworks