Media Liaison Officer (English)

Posted Date over 2 years ago
Location Dubai
Discipline Events & Exhibitions
Job Reference 30296
Salary 0.0

Our client is now recruiting for a Media Liaison Officer (English).  You will be directly reporting to the Vice President – Communications

Job Purpose      

The Communications department handles all external communications, including strategic communications, earned news, public relations, media relations, editing, media partnerships, and other writing (e.g. web stories, thought leadership), as well as attracting media to attend and cover the event, and manage their facilities and services. The key purpose of the department is to communicate Expo 2020 Dubai news to media, locally, regionally and internationally, to generate positive coverage to contribute to achieving visitation goals and a stronger reputation for the host country.

The Media Liaison Officer is responsible for driving Expo 2020’s strategic and substantive narrative, engaging top-tier media, planning and delivering strategic campaigns, managing internal and external stakeholders, and protecting the reputation of Expo 2020 and the host country. 

Core Accountabilities    

Strategic responsibilities:

  • Support the development and delivery of strategic, proactive communications that secure positive media coverage for Expo 2020
  • Fulfil role as part of the Expo 2020 crisis communications team as required
  • Support the delivery of wider Expo 2020 MarComms activity and campaigns

Operational Responsibilities:

  • Role is twofold: to support activity on the ground based in the Expo Media Centre, responding to the journalists needs and to respond to the needs of the media globally who may be remote, ensuring that we provide them with the content they need to cover Expo remotely
  • Drive the communications for Expo programme activities, pushing material to the media on the Programme for People and Planet, business programme and the events and entertainment programme
  • Manage proactive and reactive media relations
  • Respond to media enquiries across the globe via Tawassul and press office email
  • Organise interview opportunities for Expo spox – prepare briefing books, staff and follow up on interviews
  • Identify feature opportunities for Expo content to be included in global features e.g. on sustainability, women, youth, SDG goals etc.
  • Identify opportunities to place content in Expo’s key markets – UK, US, France, Germany, Russia, India, China
  • Pitch editorial to the media who are covering the event remotely
  • Prepare material for daily media briefing, ensuring spokesperson is properly briefed and provide background insight on global trending news and Expo news agenda
  • Liaise with IP’s & partners to support them with their media outreach
  • Write press releases, features, Op-Eds as required across all of Expo’s programme

Knowledge, Qualifications & Skills required

Essential             

  • 5+ years’ experience in a PR agency working on high profile clients, managing multiple clients
  • Must have proven event experience with clients, ideally working on mega events
  • 5+ years’ experience of managing a range of stakeholders, including media
  • Experience of working in an active press office environment
  • Excellent writing skills – able to write quickly and accurately press releases, features, Op-Eds, briefing books
  • Experience of staffing interviews for senior spokespeople with the ability to manage the interview opportunity from identification of opportunity, preparing briefing book, staffing and managing the interview and follow up to ensure accurate strong coverage
  • Experience of working in a crisis environment, ability to remain calm and focused
  • Excellent English communications skills, both written and oral
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Strong organisational skills
  • Ability to work under pressure
  • Innovative, adaptable, flexible, enthusiastic and confident
  • Experience in working within a team, supporting others but accountable for own work and a self-starter

Desirable

  • Local knowledge of the UAE
  • Verbal and written language capabilities
  • Excellent Arabic communications skills
  • Additional language skills
  • Experience working in, and with, mega events

Core /Functional Competencies:

  • Collaborative Relationships
  • Adaptability and Flexibility
  • Effective Communication
  • Planning & Organizing
  • Specialized Job Knowledge
  • Strategic Thinking

Functional Competencies

  • Professional Ethics          
  • Specialized Job Knowledge
  • Personal Accountability 
  • Stability & Resilience
  • Effective Communication             
  • Problem Solving & Analysis
  • Planning & Organizing   
  • Creativity & Innovation
  • Dependability & Initiative            
  • Governance and Compliance
  • Supporting & Cooperating           
  • Cultural Sensitivity
  • Accountability and Motivation   

Leadership Competencies

  • Strategic Thinking
  • Influence & Negotiation
  • Delegation and Supervision
  • Leadership
  • Leading Change