Job Description
The PAO- UAE supports the CCO in preserving and enhancing the bank's image and reputation in the marketplace, and provides the businesses with strategic and focused communications counsel in support of their growth objectives. The functional areas typically covered by the PAO include:
Media relations
internal communications
community affairs including charitable grants
NGO relationship management and employee volunteering
branding
Co-ordination of corporate events and sponsorships
The successful candidate will join a team focussed on a comprehensive communications strategy for a global organisation in one of its key franchises, the EMEA Emerging Markets division. The role covers all group businesses and bears primary responsibility to the franchise – not just for the current success of the business, but also for its future health.
As a member of the UAE Country Coordination Committee (CCC), the PAO acts as counselor to the CCO as well as each of the business heads, supporting them to execute their duties in such a way as to maintain and strengthen the bank’s reputation amongst:
Employees
Media
Clients
Community
Government and regulators
Duties and Responsibilities
Your main responsibilities in this role include the following:
Provide general public affairs counsel and support to all core businesses within UAE – developing public affairs plans that reflect the business/franchise goals and ensuring that they remain consistent, coordinated and effective in conveying the group’s key messages;
Coordinate all media relations activities including establishment of media policies and procedures – building relationships with key target media and regularly developing storytelling opportunities for bank spokespersons;
Execute consistent employee communication plan together with CCO and key business leaders to ensure constant employee messaging in line with firm’s values/culture/priorities;
Develop and execute community relations programs in line with the priorities established by the Citi Foundation as well as the UAE franchise’s charitable contribution plans;
Manage senior involvement in special events – conferences/seminars corporate sponsorships, senior visits, thought leadership seminars, customer events etc;
Address situations and manage communication aspects of crises as and when they materialize;
Contribute to website content (together with the UAE GCB marketing team) and ensure the communication is coherent with Citi’s branding guidelines;
Coordinate efforts with EMEA Emerging Markets GPA team to maintain consistency of internal and external narrative and extract communication synergy across the EMEA EM franchise.
Job Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations required or equivalent Communications educational experience preferred
6-10 years of experience in a multinational corporate environment
Fluent in English- Demonstrated written/oral presentation skills
Arabic fluency highly preferred (written/oral)
Ability to write clearly and concisely
Media management and crisis communications experience
Social media knowledge and skills
Excellent planning and organisational skills
Experience working on tight deadlines
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Solid record of successful communications campaigns
Public affairs professional with broad experience of the varying disciplines within Corporate Communications – whether gained atan agency or acting as a principal in a large organization;
Knowledge and understanding of financial services and banking (corporate/consumer)
Familiarity with US/international business culture and practice
Empathy with the complexities of large matrix organizations – understanding of the need to engage strongly with a wide range of internal stakeholders in varied geographic locations
Deep knowledge of local cultures, history, national sensitivities
Communicate complex concepts in a meaningful way, using accessible language
Excellent news judgement
Ability to build and maintain strong relationships at all levels of a large organisation
Ability to influence
Ability to navigate a large and complex organisation
Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously prioritise and manage time effectively
Ability to convey a compelling story that speaks to Citi’s business strategy
Maturity and strength to manage crisis situations along with the judgment and team-sense to escalate matters where appropriate, working closely with Legal, Compliance and fellow GPA partners
Team-oriented with natural tendency to involve others as appropriate
high personal integrity
Ambition – for self, team and company to grow and to succeed
