📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: External Communications Manager
🔹 Company: PwC
🔹 Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Internal Firm Services - Other
🔹 Date Posted: May 5, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Driving innovative media relations strategies to strengthen PwC's regional position.
- Developing and delivering integrated communications campaigns based on thought leadership and market developments.
- Acting as a trusted advisor to senior spokespeople, providing media coaching and content support.
- Collaborating with internal and external teams to ensure campaign alignment and execution.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic and creative mindset, with a strong focus on proactive media relations and campaign development.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Drive innovative, proactive, and impactful media relations strategies for key business areas, strengthening PwC's position as the leading professional services firm in the region.
✅ Develop and deliver integrated communications campaigns built on thought leadership, market developments, and strategic firm priorities.
✅ Act as a trusted advisor to senior spokespeople, providing media coaching, content support, and counsel on reputation-enhancing opportunities.
✅ Collaborate with external PR agencies and internal teams (including marketing, digital, and leadership teams) to ensure alignment and execution of campaigns.
✅ Build and maintain strong relationships with top-tier media across business, economics, tech, sustainability, and government.
✅ Respond swiftly and strategically to media enquiries, managing reactive press as part of an active regional press office.
✅ Identify and manage content opportunities, from op-eds and press releases to social-first narratives and regional storylines.
✅ Monitor media coverage, analyse performance, and support in reporting outcomes and insights for leadership and internal stakeholders.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high level of autonomy and requires strong project management skills to juggle multiple priorities and deliver under pressure.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Relevant degree or field of study not specified
Experience: At least 4-6 years of experience in a senior communications/media relations role, preferably within a business-to-business or professional services environment (in-house or agency).
Required Skills:
- Strong understanding of the Middle East media landscape and regional nuances.
- Proven experience in managing high-impact campaigns and navigating complex or sensitive topics.
- Excellent writing and editing skills in English and Arabic.
- A strong journalist network and track record of securing top-tier media coverage.
- Experience in using digital and social platforms as part of media strategies.
- Ability to translate complex ideas and data into compelling, accessible content.
- Strong project management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple priorities and deliver under pressure.
- A team player with strong interpersonal skills, and the confidence to work with senior stakeholders.
Preferred Skills:
- Strategic thinker with a creative mindset.
- Proactive, resilient, and resourceful.
- Strong business acumen and an interest in current affairs.
- Comfortable working in a matrixed, multicultural environment.
- Passionate about storytelling, purpose-led communications, and making an impact.
ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, a relevant degree or field of study is likely required for this role. Additionally, proficiency in Arabic is highly preferred due to the regional focus of the role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: ATS-optimized keywords suggest a salary range of AED 350,000 - 450,000 (USD 95,250 - 123,750) per annum, based on experience and industry standards for a senior communications role in Dubai.
Benefits:
- Competitive benefits package
- Opportunities for career growth and development
- Global exposure and networking opportunities
Working Hours: Full-time position with a typical workweek of 40 hours, with the possibility of working additional hours as needed to meet deadlines or manage crises.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a senior communications role in Dubai. The actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: PwC is a multinational professional services network headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the Big Four accounting organizations, and provides services such as assurance, tax, and consulting to a wide range of clients.
Company Size: PwC is a large organization with over 299,000 employees worldwide, providing a structured and established work environment with ample opportunities for growth and development.
Founded: PwC was founded in 1913 and has since grown to become one of the leading professional services firms globally.
Company Description:
- PwC is committed to building trust and solving important problems.
- The company operates with integrity, works together, reimagines what's possible, shows interest in others, and makes a difference.
- PwC's vision is to be a trusted professional services firm, attracting the best talent and combining innovative technologies to help organizations build trust and deliver sustainable results.
Company Specialties:
- Assurance
- Tax services
- Consulting
- Global Outsourcing Solutions
- Acceleration Center
Company Website: http://www.pwc.com/ar
ASSUMPTION: PwC's global presence and extensive resources provide a supportive environment for employees to grow and develop their careers.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is a manager-level position, reporting directly to the Head of Communications or a similar senior role within the organization.
Reporting Structure: The External Communications Manager will likely report to the Head of Communications or a similar senior role within the organization and may have supervisory responsibilities over junior communications team members.
Work Arrangement: This is an on-site role based in Dubai, with the possibility of occasional remote work or hybrid arrangements, depending on the organization's policies and the candidate's needs.
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression to a senior or director-level role within the communications function.
- Expansion into other areas of the business, such as marketing, digital, or consulting.
- Opportunities to work on high-profile projects and campaigns, gaining valuable experience and exposure.
ASSUMPTION: Given PwC's large size and diverse range of services, there are ample opportunities for career growth and development within the organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: PwC's Dubai office is a modern, professional environment with state-of-the-art facilities and amenities.
Office Location(s): Emaar Square, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Geographic Context:
- Dubai is a major business hub in the Middle East, with a thriving professional services industry.
- The city offers a multicultural environment, with a large expat community and numerous networking opportunities.
- Dubai has a hot desert climate, with mild winters and very hot summers, and is located in the Eastern Standard Time Zone (UTC +4).
Work Schedule: The typical workweek is Sunday to Thursday, with Friday and Saturday being the weekend. Working hours are generally from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with the possibility of flexible arrangements depending on the role and team.
ASSUMPTION: The work environment at PwC's Dubai office is likely to be dynamic, multicultural, and collaborative, with a strong focus on teamwork and client service.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video call interview with the hiring manager or a member of the HR team
- In-person or video call interview with the Head of Communications or a senior stakeholder
- Final interview or assessment with a panel of stakeholders
Key Assessment Areas:
- Communication skills and media relations experience
- Campaign development and project management abilities
- Cultural fit and alignment with PwC's values
- Understanding of the Middle East media landscape and regional nuances
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
- Demonstrate your understanding of the Middle East media landscape and PwC's business in the region.
- Prepare examples of your past campaigns and their outcomes to discuss during the interview.
- Research PwC's values and be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with the organization's.
ATS Keywords: Media Relations, Communications, Campaign Development, Project Management, Middle East Media Landscape, Arabic, English, PwC, Professional Services
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role is likely to be comprehensive and thorough, with a strong focus on assessing the candidate's communication skills, campaign development abilities, and cultural fit with PwC.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Media monitoring and analysis tools (e.g., Mention, Brand24, Hootsuite)
- Content management systems (e.g., Adobe Experience Manager)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Microsoft Project)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies required for this role may vary depending on the organization's preferences and the candidate's prior experience.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Act with integrity
- Work together
- Reimagine what's possible
- Show interest in others
- Make a difference
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Dynamic and fast-paced
- Results-driven and focused on delivering high-quality work
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you demonstrate PwC's values in your daily work?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you had to manage a complex or sensitive media situation, and how you handled it?
- How do you stay organized and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment?
ASSUMPTION: PwC places a strong emphasis on cultural fit and values alignment, and candidates should be prepared to discuss their personal values and how they relate to the organization's.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing high-impact campaigns and navigating complex or sensitive topics
- Working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with multiple priorities and tight deadlines
- Adapting to a multicultural work environment with diverse perspectives and communication styles
- Developing and maintaining strong relationships with top-tier media in a competitive and ever-changing media landscape
ASSUMPTION: These challenges are inherent to the role and require a proactive, resilient, and resourceful candidate to succeed.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other communications roles, this position places a stronger emphasis on media relations and campaign development, with less focus on day-to-day content creation and social media management.
- In the Middle East, PwC is a well-established and respected professional services firm, offering a high degree of brand recognition and credibility in the market.
- Career progression in communications at PwC may involve moving into other areas of the business, such as marketing, digital, or consulting, or taking on more senior roles within the communications function.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to work for a prestigious global organization in a dynamic and fast-growing region, with ample opportunities for career growth and development.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a high-impact media relations campaign to launch a new PwC service offering in the Middle East
- Managing reactive press and crisis communications for a high-profile client or industry issue
- Creating and implementing a thought leadership strategy to position PwC experts as leading voices in their respective fields
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects are intended to illustrate the types of initiatives the External Communications Manager might work on, and may vary depending on the organization's priorities and the candidate's areas of expertise.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics within the communications function?
- How does PwC support the professional development and growth of its communications team members?
- What are the most pressing communications challenges facing PwC in the Middle East, and how can this role help address them?
- How does PwC measure the success of its communications campaigns, and what key performance indicators (KPIs) are used?
- What opportunities are there for collaboration and knowledge-sharing with other PwC offices and teams around the world?
ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to help the candidate better understand the role, the team, and the organization, and to demonstrate their interest and engagement in the position.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role, using ATS-optimized keywords such as Media Relations, Communications, Campaign Development, Project Management, Middle East Media Landscape, Arabic, English, PwC, and Professional Services.
- Prepare examples of your past campaigns and their outcomes to discuss during the interview.
- Research PwC's values and be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with the organization's.
- Follow up with the hiring manager or HR representative within one week of submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications for the role.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
