Team Leader, PR & Media Relations (Content)

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 420,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is seeking a Team Leader of Corporate Communications to set and lead the organisation's communications agenda, strengthening reputation and narrative across senior executives, regulators, and government officials.

The role oversees a team across Public Relations and Media, delivering cohesive, high-impact communications and governance across earned media, stakeholder engagement, and executive visibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, International Relations, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Master’s degree in Communications, Publics Relations, Media, Public Affairs, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred.
• Relevant professional certifications in communications or leadership development are an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the corporate communications strategy to enhance reputational leadership and stakeholder confidence.
• Own and refine the organisation’s media strategy across national, regional, and international outlets, building strong media relationships.
• Drive executive positioning and thought leadership for CXOs and senior leaders, including briefing documents, talking points, and speeches.
• Oversee media monitoring, insights, and reporting to track sentiment, share of voice, and emerging risks for boards and executives.
• Lead enterprise communications to align business priorities with employee understanding and corporate branding across the organisation.
• Manage and develop a high-performing team across Public Relations and Media, setting objectives and ensuring delivery.
• Represent the organisation in senior external engagements, industry forums, and select public platforms.

Skills

Bilingual English/Arabic

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

JOB PURPOSE

The Team Leader, Corporate Communications is responsible for setting and leading the corporate communications agenda to strengthen the organisation’s reputation, influence, and narrative across key stakeholders, including senior executives, corporate leaders, regulators, and government officials. The role provides strategic counsel to CXOs and executive leadership, ensuring cohesive, credible, and high‑impact communications that support business objectives and long‑term value creation.

As a senior overseeing corporate communications delivery, the Team Leader defines media strategy, drives executive positioning, and leads thought leadership initiatives at a national, regional, and international level. Managing a dedicated team across Public Relations and Media, the role ensures disciplined execution, robust governance, and consistently high standards across earned media, stakeholder engagement, and executive visibility.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Corporate Communications & Reputation Strategy

• Define and lead the corporate communications strategy to enhance organisational reputation, leadership visibility, and stakeholder confidence.
• Translate business priorities into clear, compelling external narratives aligned with corporate values and long‑term strategic objectives.
• Act as a senior advisor to executive leadership on reputation management, public positioning, and sensitive communications matters.
• Lead crisis and issues communications approach and planning, including scenario preparedness, messaging frameworks, and executive response protocols.
• Advise executive leadership during high‑risk or crisis situations, ensuring timely, coordinated, and well‑governed communications.
• Safeguard organisational reputation during complex, high‑risk and sensitive situations through strategic communications and executive advisory.

Media Strategy & Media Relations

• Own and continuously refine the organisation’s media strategy across national, regional, and international outlets.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior editors, journalists, and media opinion formers.
• Oversee proactive media engagement, issue management, and media response in high‑profile or sensitive situations.
• Ensure disciplined and accurate creation of press releases, media statements, bylined articles, and executive interviews.

Executive Positioning & Thought Leadership

• Drive executive positioning and thought leadership strategies for CXOs and senior leaders.
• Oversee development of briefing documents, messaging frameworks, talking points, speeches, and opinion pieces.
• Ensure executives are fully prepared for public appearances, interviews, conferences, and high‑level engagements.
• Design and lead media and executive communications training for CXOs and senior leaders, ensuring preparedness for interviews, public appearances, and high‑stakes engagements.

Media Monitoring, Insights & Reporting

• Oversee comprehensive media monitoring and analysis to track reputation, sentiment, share of voice, and emerging risks.
• Provide clear, executive‑level insights and recommendations to senior leadership and boards.
• Use data and intelligence to continuously refine communications strategies and media engagement approaches.

Enterprise Communications

• Define and lead the enterprise communications strategy to ensure alignment between business priorities, leadership direction, and employee understanding.
• Shape and articulate the organisation’s enterprise narrative, translating strategy, performance, and transformation initiatives into clear, credible messages for internal stakeholders across all levels.
• Lead communications related to the employee value proposition (EVP), culture, leadership visibility, and organisational milestones, ensuring consistency with the corporate brand and external positioning.
• Oversee communications for enterprise‑wide change initiatives, leadership updates, and major business announcements.

People Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high‑performing team across Public Relations and Media.
• Set clear objectives, ensure accountability, and build depth of capability within the corporate communications function.
• Foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and professional rigor across the team.

Representation & Public Presence

• Represent the organisation confidently in senior‑level external engagements, industry forums, and select public platforms as required.
• Demonstrate strong presence, credibility, and authority in high‑visibility settings.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

Minimum Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, International Relations, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Master’s degree in Communications, Publics Relations, Media, Public Affairs, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred.
• Relevant professional certifications in communications, public relations, or leadership development are an advantage.

Minimum Experience & Knowledge & Skills

• 10-12 years of progressive experience in corporate communications, strategic communications, or public affairs within large, complex organisations.
• Proven experience leading and developing multidisciplinary teams, including PR, media, and communications specialists, with clear accountability for performance and delivery.
• Demonstrated success working cross‑functionally with senior leaders across business, Government Affairs, Legal, Human Capital, Brand, and Commercial teams.
• Extensive experience advising and working directly with CXOs, corporate CEOs, board members, and senior government officials on high‑impact, reputation‑sensitive matters.
• Strong background in media strategy, thought leadership, executive positioning, and narrative development at enterprise level.
• High level of judgment, influence, and stakeholder management capability, with the confidence to operate in high‑pressure, high‑visibility environments.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Arabic are mandatory.