PR Account Director (Strategic Communications)

Saatchi & Saatchi Qatar; Doha; On-site; QAR 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Saatchi & Saatchi Qatar is seeking a senior leader to guide day-to-day strategic PR for major government and corporate clients in Qatar and the wider GCC. You will oversee programmes, advise executives, and shape narratives to protect reputation and drive informed decision-making.

You will manage crisis readiness, engage stakeholders across media and government, and lead teams delivering strategic communications that align with client priorities and commercial goals.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10-12 years of experience in public relations, corporate communications or strategic communications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in Arabic and English, with ability to develop high-quality narratives.
• Proven experience advising C-suite on reputation, stakeholder engagement and priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day strategic direction and delivery of communications accounts.
• Oversee communications programmes aligned with client priorities to protect reputation.
• Advise clients on critical communications, transformation, and executive positioning.
• Shape strategies considering political, economic, regulatory and stakeholder environments.
• Manage crisis preparedness, response, and leadership advisories during live issues.
• Oversee crisis playbooks, holding statements, Q&As and briefing materials.
• Build high-performing teams and stay ahead of media landscape and trends.
• Monitor account performance and escalate commercial risks and opportunities.
• Contribute to new business proposals, pitches and strategic presentations.

Skills

Strategic communications

C-suite advisory

Stakeholder engagement

Media relations

Crisis management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications

Job description

Lead the day-to-day strategic direction and delivery of communications accounts, working under the strategic oversight of the Director of Public Relations. Oversee communications programmes that align with clients’ organisational priorities, protect reputation and support informed decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver strategic communications and PR programmes that strengthen client relationships, achieve measurable outcomes and contribute to account growth, while remaining agile, solving problems effectively and adapting priorities in response to changing client and business needs.
• Advise clients on critical communications, organisational transformation, executive positioning, stakeholder engagement, and reputation management, with the Director of Public Relations leading counsel on executive-level, high-risk and business-critical matters.
• Shape communications strategies by considering the political, economic, regulatory and stakeholder environment.
• Anticipate emerging issues and provide strategic recommendations before risks escalates.
• Manage crisis preparedness, response and recovery programmes and advise leadership teams during live issues and high-pressure situations, with the Director of Public Relations leading counsel on executive-level.
• Oversee the development of crisis playbooks, holding statements, stakeholder messaging, Q&As and executive briefing materials.
• Challenge assumptions and provide independent strategic counsel grounded in evidence, stakeholder insight and risk assessment.
• Build high-performing teams capable of delivering strategic communications counsel and foster a strong understanding of the media landscape, stakeholder dynamics and emerging communications trends across the team, ensuring strategic recommendations remain relevant and evidence-based.
• Support the Director of Public Relations in monitoring account performance, resource allocation and commercial objectives while escalating commercial risks and opportunities.
• Contribute to new business proposals, pitches and strategic presentations alongside the Director of Public Relations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10-12 years of experience in public relations, corporate communications or strategic communications, with significant experience in Qatar and/or the wider GCC.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Arabic and English is a must, with the ability to develop and review high-quality strategic narratives, messaging frameworks, executive communications and briefing materials.
• Proven experience advising C-suite stakeholders on complex communications challenges, reputation, stakeholder engagement and organisational priorities.
• Strong understanding of Qatar and the wider GCC political, economic, regulatory, media and stakeholder landscape, with the ability to translate external developments into clear communications implications and recommendations.
• Proven experience in reputation management, issues and crisis communications, including advising senior leadership during sensitive or high-pressure situations and overseeing crisis preparedness and response materials.
• Demonstrated track record of developing and leading strategic communications programmes for major government entities, national institutions and/or large corporate organisations.
• Strong strategic and analytical capability, with the ability to assess complex information, challenge assumptions and develop evidence-based recommendations aligned with client objectives.
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, International Relations, Political Science, Business or a related discipline.