Graduate Associate

Publicis Groupe Holdings B.V; Dubai; On-site; AED 78,000 - 123,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dynamic working environment

Access to extensive training

Job summary

A leading strategic communications firm is offering a six-month graduate placement starting September 2025 in Dubai. This full-time role allows graduates to gain hands-on experience across various disciplines, including corporate and financial communications. Candidates will support client teams, monitor media coverage, and engage in business research projects. This position serves as a stepping-stone towards a career in strategic communications, offering competitive pay and mentorship opportunities.

Qualifications

• Aspiration to pursue a career in strategic communications.
• Passionate about news and current affairs.
• Enjoy working independently and in teams.
• Creative writing skills are essential.
• Right to work in Dubai is required.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Detail oriented with ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Proactive with a can-do attitude and multi-tasking ability.
• Proficient with MS Office (PowerPoint & Excel).
• Creative writing and good English (Arabic a plus).

Responsibilities

• Monitor client coverage and send daily reports.
• Build relevant media lists for announcements.
• Research for new business opportunities.
• Developing briefing materials for clients.
• Support with account administration.
• Prepare transcripts and craft long-form content.
• Assist with account administration and team meetings.

Skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Microsoft Office proficiency

Written and spoken English skills

Ability to manage multiple tasks

Proactive attitude

MS Office (PowerPoint & Excel)

English writing skills

Arabic (beneficial)

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

About Kekst CNC Kekst CNC is a global strategic communications firm that specializes in protecting and enhancing reputations. From locations around the globe, our team of 300 professionals provide expert communications counsel, informed by judgment, insights and data‑led analysis.

We apply our communications expertise across high‑stakes corporate, financial, and political matters, helping businesses communicate effectively through periods of disruption, transformation and growth. Kekst CNC is part of the Publicis Groupe.

To support our growing Dubai Office, we are offering competitively paid six‑month graduate placements from September 2025.

Overview

If you are looking for the chance to gain experience in PR and strategic communications, while contributing to an ambitious organisation, then this opportunity is for you. We are looking for multiple proactive, curious and motivated graduates to join our growing Dubai office this September for a five‑month graduate placement.

As a graduate associate, you form an important part of our Dubai team and you will be working directly with our client teams from day one. The six‑month graduate placement will allow you to gain exposure to a range of well‑known companies and industries, as well as hands‑on experience across a number of disciplines – for example: corporate, financial and digital communications, as well as Public Affairs. The work varies from media monitoring, new business research projects, drafting content for social media and press releases, tracking parliamentary debates and selecting committee hearings.

This graduate placement is a full‑time position and offers a competitive salary. Commencing September 2025 for a period of six months. Successful completion of the graduate placement may lead to permanent employment as an Associate. In other words, this can be a great stepping‑stone towards a career in strategic communications!

Responsibilities

• Monitoring client coverage and sending daily coverage reports
• Building relevant media lists for client announcements
• Research for new business opportunities and supporting teams with new business pitches
• Research for existing clients e.g. potential media and high‑profile speaking opportunities
• Developing detailed briefing materials for clients e.g. media engagements and meetings with key stakeholders
• Completing transcripts of client interviews and developing impactful long‑form written content
• Supporting with account administration and attending team meetings

Qualifications

• Have an aspiration to pursue a career in strategic communications
• Are passionate about news, current affairs and the media
• Enjoy working both independently and as part of high‑performing teams
• Excel with strong interpersonal skills
• Have excellent attention to detail and the ability to deliver high‑quality work to tight deadlines
• Are proactive with a can‑do attitude and an ability to manage multiple tasks at a time
• Have Microsoft Office proficiency with a command of the MS Office package (especially PowerPoint and Excel)
• Are a creative writer with excellent written and spoken English skills. Additional languages would be of benefit e.g. Arabic
• Have the right to work in Dubai – the role is conditional on you having, or obtaining, your own valid Emirates ID

Additional information

Kekst CNC offers a dynamic working environment, characterised by the highest level of professionalism, challenging work, a lot of fun and an open corporate culture. This graduate placement provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable experience in a leading global strategic communications firm. Graduates will gain broad exposure to the company’s accounts and mandates by providing support to a variety of client teams. Graduates will gain an insight into how their and others’ work contributes to the account and wider business by working closely with colleagues. In addition to working with and learning from highly experienced advisers, you will have access to extensive in‑person and online training throughout the Graduate placement. Finally, an internal mentor will be assigned to each graduate for support and guidance.