Senior PR Manager

Job description / Role

1. Strategy Planning and Measurement:
- Plan and organize the adaptation of business plans into strategic communication briefs - focused on PR delivery, but should not be carried out in isolation of the wider comms mix. Define, implement and analyse relevant, timely and segmented comms activities that meet commercial requirements in collaboration with stakeholders.

2. Brand Management:
Manage the integrity of the brand from planning to execution in the market through PR channels as well as the retail, call centre, digital and partner presence. Manage PR activities in accordance with marketing plans and ensure that PR activities are commensurate with brand values, positioning and propositions.

3. Product PR and Marketing:
Support the VP in strategy development and implementation of PR & CSR activities to support product briefs, maximize campaign Return on Investments, track implementation status whilst maintaining regular contact with stakeholders to help achieve revenue targets.

4. Partnerships:
Support third party relationships with trade, charities, institutions, government, authorities, sponsorships etc ensuring all PR activities fall within strategic objectives, are on brand to drive brand reputation and growth.

5. Integration and enhancement of specialist activity:
Integrate and align the elements of PR with the rest of the marketing mix including Advertising, Digital, Sponsorships, Corporate Affairs, Media Relations to help develop strongly aligned comms in order to enhance the impact, consistency and cost-effectiveness of the communication.

6. Sponsorships and Events:
Plan PR activity to support and leverage engagement opportunities and represent FGB to meet global sponsorship strategy. Support the comms teams in the evaluation and management of a calendar of events and exhibitions based on business needs, CEO participation, industry affairs, sponsorship, internal engagement and branding opportunities.

7. Digital:
Ensure support of Digital Marketing team to deliver online brand presence via PR and other relevant content channels, using social, transactional and promotional channels both direct to customer and via partners.

8. Information share, HR and collaboration:
Identify and promote advocacy and education about comms best practice among communication stakeholders, partners, suppliers and commercial stakeholders so that they can optimize their role in the delivery of impactful communications. Manage and coach any direct reports, guiding them to improved performance through continuous training and development.

9. Budget and investment:
Provide input into the annual budgeting process and track PR & CSR (or other relevant activity) expenditure to ensure budgets are aligned with agreed activity plans and used efficiently.

10. Supplier management:
Work with Procurement, Legal and Finance to meet vendor management criteria. Manage and review supplier relationships and performance to ensure optimum output and those contractual terms are met. Review the marketing services market to keep up to date with trends and top performers who could add value to FGB's communications portfolio.

11. Brand Research, Projects and ROI:
Manage assigned projects and ensure delivery of assignments on brand, brief and within scope, time, quality, cost and ROI parameters. Manage share of voice studies, consumer insights, competitor comms and media monitoring services in order to better inform and enable decision making in active markets so that comms solutions can be relevant, tailored and targeted to appropriately impact the chosen audience segments.

Requirements

- Degree or Honours with a specialization in a media related field.
- A post graduate qualification from a professional media institution e.g.
Chartered Institute of Marketing would be a distinct advantage.
- 6+ yrs experience in a PR and/or communications role in an international organization.
- Experience in the financial services industry is preferable.

The jobholder must have significant experience of developing PR briefs, implementing PR activity plans, producing and implementing integrated communications. Must have excellent knowledge of all aspects of PR, media relations, the PR media landscape and good relations with media channels (English and Arabic).

Planning and Organizing skills Program and project management skills Knowledge of Banking would be a distinct advantage as the job function will invoice teamwork with many commercial and support departments.

The ability to think of creative solutions is important, as is the ability to work on several projects simultaneously and under tight deadlines. Excellent (English and Arabic language) communication skills are of paramount importance. Ability to write coherent, consistent copy/content in both languages would be extremely valuable.

About the Company

Established in 1979 and headquartered in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, the bank offers a full range of financial services to business and consumer sectors throughout an extensive network of branches across the UAE.

Internationally FGB has branches in Singapore and Qatar, representative offices in India and Hong Kong and a subsidiary in Libya.

FGBs story of growth and value creation for its stakeholders is a strong one - from Abu Dhabi origins to UAE acquisitions and an international footprint, from Corporate to Wholesale Banking including debt, transactional banking and Islamic products, from burgeoning Treasury to global money markets, asset management and research. Notably in the Consumer market FGB has developed segmented and customer centric products in all categories and brought technology and extra benefits to its customers.

Today, FGB is recognised as a world-class organisation committed to maximising value for shareholders, customers and employees as it focuses on delivering banking products and services that meet client needs and support the UAE's dynamic economy. In line with its commitment to excellence the bank continues to invest significantly in people and technology to provide superior service standards.

First Gulf Bank was awarded the 'Best Bank in the United Arab Emirates' and 'Best Bancassurance' titles at the Banker Middle East Industry Awards 2013. It was also ranked as the 3rd most powerful company in the UAE and 6th leading bank in Forbes' 'Top 500 in the Arab World' list.

First Gulf Bank carries an A+ Long-Term (IDR) rating from Fitch, an A2 Long Term Deposit rating from Moody's, an A+ Long Term Foreign Currency Rating from Capital Intelligence and a AAA Long-Term Financial Institution Rating from RAM Ratings of Malaysia.