Manager - External Communications

ADNOC Abu Dhabi UAE; Al Ruways Industrial City; On-site; AED 446,400 - 669,600; Full time

Job summary

ADNOC Abu Dhabi UAE is looking for a Manager - External Communications to lead the external communication function in the Oil and Energy sector. The role involves developing corporate communication strategies, managing public relations activities, and ensuring stakeholder engagement.

The ideal candidate has over 15 years of experience in external communications and a minimum of 5 years in a managerial position. This opportunity presents a chance to shape public perception and strengthen corporate reputation.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of professional experience in external communications roles.
• At least 5 years of experience in a managerial communications position.
• Strong knowledge of corporate communication strategy development and implementation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead external communication function and public relations activities.
• Develop corporate communication strategies for the Group.
• Manage stakeholder relationships and advise on reputation issues.
• Coordinate public relations plans aligned with business priorities.

Skills

External communications

Public relations

Corporate communications

Reputation management

Stakeholder engagement

Media relations

Strategic communications

Communication strategy

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Communications or equivalent

Job description

Manager - External Communications

Job Snapshot

• Role: Manager - External Communications
• Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
• Industry: Oil and Energy
• Function: Public Relations
• Experience: Minimum 15 years external communications experience, including 5 years managerial or supervisory experience
• Job Type: Full-time

Job Details

• Country: United Arab Emirates
• City: Abu Dhabi
• Industry: Oil and Energy
• Function: Public Relations
• Salary: 40000-60000
• Gender: Any
• Candidate Nationality: Any
• Job Type: Full-time

Role Context

Manager - External Communications leads the day-to-day external communication function and ensures that public relations activities, media engagement, corporate messaging, and reputation management plans support the Group's strategic objectives. This position works closely with subsidiaries, assets, operating companies, senior stakeholders, media representatives, journalists, and communication teams to ensure consistent storytelling and coordinated public engagement. The role helps shape how the organization is understood by external audiences while proactively managing communication risks and identifying opportunities to strengthen trust, visibility, and reputation.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day external communication operations and ensure delivery of an efficient Group-wide communications program.
• Develop and implement corporate communication strategies that strengthen and protect the Group's image and reputation.
• Identify communication opportunities that support positive stakeholder perception locally, regionally, and internationally.
• Advise leadership and internal stakeholders on reputation issues, communication risks, public perception challenges, and response approaches.
• Manage public relations plans and initiatives in line with strategic objectives and business priorities.
• Support reputation risk management by monitoring issues, preparing communication guidance, and helping protect the Group's public standing.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with subsidiaries, assets, and operating companies to align external communication efforts across the Group.
• Ensure public relations strategies and corporate communication plans remain consistent, accurate, and relevant across business units.
• Develop strong media relationships with core print, digital, and online media outlets as well as journalists locally and globally.
• Create better media opportunities by nurturing trusted relationships and identifying relevant editorial, interview, and storytelling possibilities.
• Initiate analysis of public perception trends, media coverage patterns, sentiment indicators, and communication performance metrics.
• Use trend and media analysis to recommend improvements to public relations strategies, stakeholder engagement plans, and communication content.
• Manage the planning and scripting of targeted storytelling initiatives that communicate business priorities clearly and credibly.
• Lead development of stakeholder engagement strategies and content that deliver reliable, accurate, and influential messages.
• Support business teams with tailored communication approaches for specific audiences, topics, sectors, and operational priorities.
• Coordinate communication planning for reputation-sensitive matters, corporate announcements, public messaging, and media-facing initiatives.
• Ensure external communication materials reflect professional standards, strategic intent, brand expectations, and stakeholder needs.
• Encourage creative communication methods that improve public understanding of the Group's operations and contribution.
• Perform related communication assignments, advisory tasks, and special projects as directed by management.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Communications, or an equivalent discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of professional experience in progressive external communications roles.
• At least 5 years of experience in a managerial or supervisory communications position.
• Experience in a large-scale organization with complex business operations is preferred.
• Experience across multiple industries or within the energy sector is an advantage.
• Strong knowledge of corporate communication strategy development and implementation.
• Strong understanding of public relations strategy, media relations, reputation management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to create communication strategies that support business outcomes and protect organizational reputation.
• Strong knowledge of reputation management techniques, public perception management, and communication risk handling.
• Creative and innovative approach to communications with the ability to introduce better ways of working and support change.
• Good understanding of complex group operations and the ability to tailor communications to different business requirements.
• Proven ability to manage relationships with subsidiaries, operating companies, media representatives, journalists, and senior stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong storytelling, scripting, presentation, and advisory capability.
• Strong leadership, judgment, planning, coordination, issue management, and decision-support skills.
• Able to manage sensitive communication topics, fast-moving media issues, and multiple stakeholder priorities with confidence.

Skills Set

• External communications
• Public relations
• Corporate communications
• Reputation management
• Reputation risk management
• Stakeholder engagement
• Media relations
• Media engagement
• Corporate storytelling
• Strategic communications
• Communication strategy
• Public perception analysis
• Media coverage analysis
• Communication metrics
• Issues management
• Executive communication support
• Stakeholder messaging
• Public relations planning
• Corporate messaging
• Press communication
• Journalist relations
• Online media relations
• Print media relations
• Content planning
• Script development
• Business storytelling
• Communication advisory
• Group communication alignment
• Subsidiary communication coordination
• Crisis communication awareness
• Brand reputation protection
• Senior stakeholder management
• Change communication
• Energy sector communications

Why Join Us

This role offers a senior opportunity to lead external communications in Abu Dhabi's Oil and Energy sector, where reputation, stakeholder trust, and accurate storytelling are critical to business success. The position provides exposure to Group-wide public relations, media strategy, reputation risk management, stakeholder messaging, executive-level advisory work, and communication planning for complex business operations. It is a strong fit for a communications leader who wants to shape public perception, strengthen corporate reputation, and support strategic engagement within a major energy organization.

About the Company

ADNOC Group is a leading energy organization in the United Arab Emirates with operations across oil, gas, refining, petrochemicals, logistics, trading, and industrial energy infrastructure. The company supports national energy priorities through safe operations, strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, innovation, sustainability, and long‑term value creation across its businesses.