Associate Director - Director International Media Relations (Bilingual- Arabic & English)

About the role

Burson, part of WPP, is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation. WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company - powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com For more information visit bursonglobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram . More about the role: We are looking for a senior, bilingual International Media Relations professional to join Burson as part of a dedicated seconded team embedded within the Corporate Communications function of a high-profile global organisation operating at the intersection of energy, policy and international affairs. This role sits at the heart of complex, high-stakes communications across regional and international markets. You will lead strategic media engagement, shape narratives that resonate across Arabic and international press, and serve as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders navigating an evolving geopolitical and business landscape. Experience across energy, oil, gas or adjacent regulated sectors will be highly advantageous. This is an opportunity for a commercially astute communications leader who thrives in sophisticated environments and understands the nuance of operating within regionally sensitive, globally visible mandates.

Responsibilities

• Lead international and regional media strategy development and execution across Arabic and global markets
• Serve as a senior counsel to client leadership on proactive and reactive media engagement
• Develop clear, compelling messaging frameworks, Q&A documents and media responses
• Oversee press office operations including media planning, pitching and journalist engagement
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Tier 1 Arabic and international media
• Manage high-profile announcements, executive interviews and press conferences
• Provide crisis communications support including rapid response planning and issue mitigation
• Collaborate with Burson and client stakeholders to ensure narrative consistency across markets
• Experience that contributes to success:
• Fluent in Arabic and English (spoken and written) with exceptional drafting capability in both languages
• Proven experience in international media relations at Associate Director or Director level within an agency or in-house corporate communications team
• Strong, established media network across GCC and wider regional press
• Deep understanding of the Middle East media landscape and its geopolitical sensitivities
• Experience supporting senior executives with media preparation and reputation management
• Background in energy, oil, gas, infrastructure or other complex regulated sectors preferred
• Demonstrated experience managing issues and crisis communications
• Ability to operate confidently within embedded/seconded environments and complex stakeholder structures
• If you are a strategic, bilingual media leader ready to operate at the forefront of international communications, we would love to here from you.
• #LI-NE1
• You belong at Burson:

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