Head of GCC Corporate Affairs

Client of Hanson Search Ltd; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Client of Hanson Search Ltd is seeking a Head of GCC to lead a focused regional engagement function. The role requires steering senior government relations, public affairs and strategic advisory work, with close collaboration to the Chairman, CEO and regional leadership across the UAE and Gulf.

A credible regional network and a track record of strategic advisory to decision-makers are essential. You will oversee stakeholder mapping, engagement planning, and high-profile visits while shaping

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level experience in government relations, public affairs or strategic advisory within the GCC region.
• Proven ability to advise chairs and senior executives on high-stakes engagements.
• Established credibility with government, sovereign and business stakeholders in UAE and wider Gulf.
• Strong commercial acumen gained in or alongside investment, financial services, or multinational business.
• Willingness to travel across the region as required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a regional stakeholder map and engagement plan aligned to investment priorities.
• Advise on senior meeting and event requests for the Chairman, CEO and senior principals.
• Shape and protect the firm’s regional corporate reputation and support media engagement.
• Contribute to sponsorships and partnerships aligned to regional themes and governance.
• Collaborate with governance boards to map and report critical regional relationships.
• Serve as liaison with a bilateral business council and support engagement while maintaining role separation.
• Lead a dedicated engagement coordinator for CRM, pipeline, briefings and actions.

Skills

Senior government relations experience

Public affairs strategy

Stakeholder engagement

GCC regional knowledge

C-suite engagement

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Following a highly successful first phase in the region the firm has established a strong local presence and built senior relationships It has also developed a credible pipeline of investment opportunities The GCC is now a principal focus for new investment with a rapidly growing regional team and an expanding network across its investment teams portfolio companies and impact initiatives The Head of GCC reports into the Corporate Affairs Director in the UK and works closely with the Chairman CEO regional leadership and investment teams Leading a small focused function they will ensure the firm engages the right people for the right reasons with the right preparation and follows through consistently

Strategic Engagement Responsibilities

• Stakeholder Strategy: Develop and maintain the firm’s regional stakeholder map and engagement plan, identifying relationship gaps, overlaps and sensitivities. Link engagement to investment portfolio and wider political priorities.
• Senior Engagement Advisory: Assess significant meeting and event requests directed to the Chairman, CEO and senior principals. Advise whether to accept, delegate, defer or decline based on stakeholder importance, strategic relevance, relationship history, timing and any risk or protocol considerations.
• Corporate Reputation and Media: Shape and protect the firm’s corporate profile in the region and support local media engagement alongside the wider Corporate Affairs team.
• Sponsorship and Partnerships: Provide input into sponsorship, partnership and charitable proposals using a consistent framework so that support is credible and proportionate. Support should also be aligned to the firm’s purpose and focused on a small number of regional themes.
• Governance: Work with the firm’s Middle East governance board to map and report on critical regional relationships.
• Business Council Liaison: Act as the firm’s point of contact with a bilateral business council in which the Chairman holds a senior role. Support engagement where there is a legitimate firm interest while maintaining a clear separation between the two roles.
• Team Leadership: Direct a dedicated engagement coordinator responsible for the CRM, meeting pipeline, briefing commissions and action tracking.

Experience and Skills

• Significant senior experience in government relations, public affairs, corporate affairs or strategic advisory within the GCC.
• Time as a government special adviser or in a comparable role close to senior decision makers would be ideal.
• An established network and genuine credibility with government, sovereign and business stakeholders across the UAE and the wider Gulf.
• Strong commercial acumen ideally gained in or alongside investment, financial services or a multinational business, with the ability to distinguish access from genuine strategic value.
• A nuanced understanding of the region, recognising Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the wider GCC as distinct markets with their own dynamics.
• Sound judgement, absolute discretion and strong political antennae, with the confidence to challenge requests and decline diplomatically.
• Experience advising chairs, chief executives or ministers, as well as managing high-profile visits and engagements.
• Exposure to media relations, corporate reputation and sponsorship or partnership decision making.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce concise, well-judged briefings at pace.
• Willingness to travel across the region as required.

The role offers a competitive compensation package and the opportunity to build a new function from the ground up. You’ll gain direct exposure to senior leadership in a growing regional platform backed by an established international investor.