Account Director, Public Affairs

We are seeking an Account Director with expertise in public affairs, government relations, and strategic communications. This professional will have a strong background in policy advocacy, issues management, stakeholder engagement, and project leadership. The successful candidate will join our growing Public Affairs practice in Dubai, contributing to high-profile campaigns.

What we’re looking for:

We are seeking a proactive, high‑performing Public Affairs professional who can operate confidently as both a leader and a team player, a balance widely recognized as essential for effective performance and for driving collective success. You bring the ability to lead with purpose while collaborating seamlessly within a broader team environment, reflecting modern leadership expectations where leaders also act as active players when needed.

You have a strong track record in public affairs, issues management, and strategic communications, with a deep understanding of UAE and Saudi’s regulatory and policy landscape. You excel at building trusted relationships with government stakeholders, clients, and partners, and you bring the judgment and agility required to navigate complex, fast‑moving policy environments. You inspire confidence, elevate team performance, and deliver high‑impact results while growing across sectors and communication channels.

Responsibilities:

• Design and lead strategic public affairs programs that shape policy conversations and advance organizational priorities, aligning with the core PA function of directing information and stakeholder engagement.
• Monitor, analyse, and interpret regulatory and policy developments in the UAE to provide clear, actionable insights aligned with strategic communication goals
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with government entities, industry stakeholders, and partners to support effective issue management and influence public perception.
• Develop integrated communication strategies across traditional media, digital platforms, and stakeholder channels to support credibility and reputation management, consistent with Public Affairs Officer roles.
• Provide strategic counsel on emerging issues, risks, and opportunities, supporting leadership decision‑making and enhancing the organization’s public positioning
• Collaborate closely with cross‑regional teams to ensure alignment between global and regional public affairs priorities, reflecting modern PA team structures and leadership expectations.
• Prepare and oversee the development of briefing materials, policy positions, and stakeholder engagement plans to ensure consistent high‑quality outputs that strengthen the organization’s narrative.
• Support multi‑stakeholder initiatives, events, and advocacy efforts that advance business objectives and reinforce organizational credibility across key audiences.

Qualifications

• Experience: 7+ years in public affairs, government relations, policy advocacy, or strategic communications, with strong preference for experience navigating UAE and Saudi Arabia’s policy and regulatory environment.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in public policy, Political Science, Communications, International Relations, or a related field.
• Language Skills: Full professional fluency in English (written and spoken). Arabic is a plus.
• Policy & Cultural Insight: Deep understanding of UAE’s political ecosystem, policymaking processes, government stakeholders, and national initiatives such as Vision 2030.
• Policy Writing & Analysis: Strong ability to craft policy positions, briefing notes, and advocacy messaging, backed by sharp analytical skills and the ability to simplify complex issues.
• Leadership: Proven track record leading public affairs teams, managing multi‑market workstreams, and guiding stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Stakeholder & Media Engagement: Experience engaging with government ministries, regulators, industry bodies, and media; comfortable drafting public statements, managing narratives, and supporting issue management.
• Project & Issue Management: Ability to manage fast‑moving policy files, coordinate cross‑functional inputs, and deliver high‑quality outputs under pressure.
• Industry Knowledge: Experience working across sectors such as healthcare, technology, energy, transportation, or government sectors is a plus.

Careers at APCO

Through our recruitment, hiring and retention efforts, APCO is committed to building teams to bring the best possible expertise and robust perspectives to our clients. We embrace differences in experience, viewpoint and ideas, starting with our values and extending to our behaviors, policies and practices. We aim to create a positive work experience and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.