Graduate Associate

Publicis Groupe; Dubai; On-site; AED 67,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Kekst CNC, part of Publicis Groupe, is offering a six-month graduate placement in Dubai starting September 2025. As a Graduate Associate, you will work directly with client teams from day one across corporate, financial, digital communications and Public Affairs.

The role is full-time and provides exposure to media monitoring, research projects and content creation. You will gain hands-on experience across disciplines, contribute to pitches, and develop briefing materials while collaborating

Qualifications

• Aspiration to pursue a career in strategic communications.
• Passion for news, current affairs and the media.
• Enjoy working both independently and in high-performing teams.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail and ability to deliver high-quality work to tight deadlines.
• Proactive with a can-do attitude and ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Proficient in MS Office (PowerPoint & Excel).
• Creative writer with strong English; Arabic beneficial.
• Right to work in Dubai (Emirates ID).

Responsibilities

• Monitoring client coverage and sending daily reports.
• Building media lists for client announcements.
• Research for new business opportunities and support with pitches.
• Research for existing clients and opportunities.
• Developing briefing materials for media engagements and meetings.
• Transcripts of client interviews and long-form written content.
• Supporting account administration and team meetings.

Skills

Media monitoring

Research

Content drafting

Briefing materials

Transcripts

Long-form writing

Account administration

Team collaboration

PowerPoint

Excel

Creative writing

Arabic language (beneficial)

Tools

MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)

Job description

Company description

About Kekst CNC Kekst CNC is a global strategic communications firm that speclallzes in protecting and enhandng reputations. From 1. 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 businesse communicate effectively through periods of disruption, transformation and growth. Kekst CNC is part of the Publicis Groupe. To support our growing Dubal Office, we are offering competitively paid six-month graduate placements from September 2025.

Overview

About the Role: 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 select 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
• Excell 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

What we offer: 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.