Manager Communications (UAE National Only)

Role Overview

Manager Communications at Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi, UAE. UAE National candidates only.

Company Overview

Etihad Airways is the UAE's national airline, operating from a hub in Abu Dhabi and connecting people across continents and cultures. The organization is pursuing its "Journey 2030" ambition to double its fleet, expand its network and grow its people for a new era of excellence.

Role Purpose

To manage a broad and evolving portfolio of communications projects, engaging confidently across executive leadership, internal business units, media, government entities, agencies and community partners. To translate business priorities into powerful external narratives that build Etihad's reach, credibility and reputation across corporate, social and community priorities. To own media and public relations, position the airline across new and established markets locally and regionally, and research media landscapes to identify channels, partners and opportunities that deliver impact through integrated bilingual communications aligned to business needs.

Key Responsibilities

Content Development and Distribution

• Manage the development, approval and distribution of content for external channels in Arabic and English, including press releases and statements.
• Maintain bilingual key messages and narrative frameworks that underpin the portfolios.
• Produce content across a range of channels with strong emphasis on digital.

Media Relations and PR

• Coordinate responses to media requests about the airline and its divisions, preparing written statements on the company's behalf.
• Maintain regular exchange of information with the media.
• Identify positive PR opportunities, arrange and escort media familiarisation trips, and produce press packs.
• Coordinate media for events such as route launches.
• Explore and assess media landscapes across different markets, mapping key outlets and opportunities to support route launches and portfolio campaigns.
• Brief, manage and evaluate PR agencies and suppliers across markets, ensuring quality, consistency and value from external partners.

Executive Communications

• Build and manage external profiles of executive spokespeople, securing interviews, opinion pieces, speaking platforms and media opportunities.
• Prepare detailed briefing packs ahead of executive engagements.
• Craft speeches, talking points and scripts that give the executive leadership team a clear and consistent voice at media events, conferences and public platforms.
• Translate business priorities into messages that resonate with each audience.

Corporate, Social and Community Communications

• Lead communications across Etihad's corporate, social and community priorities, including the Emiratisation agenda, CSR initiatives in the UAE and internationally, ESG commitments and the airline's contribution to the Abu Dhabi Community Engagement Strategy.
• Translate priorities into clear, accurate and credible narratives.
• Work with relevant departments to verify all information before publication.
• Coordinate with government and community stakeholders to align activity with national and emirate priorities.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Risk Management

• Monitor and evaluate coverage, sentiment and share of voice across Arabic and English media.
• Produce regular reporting with insight and recommendations to sharpen future activity.
• Monitor the external environment for emerging issues and reputational risk.
• Prepare reactive statements, holding lines and Q&A in both languages.
• Escalate reputational risks as appropriate.

Stakeholder Management and Project Delivery

• Manage stakeholders from executive leadership to departmental content owners, advising on tone, style and content.
• Run portfolios as concurrent projects with clear timelines and deliverables.
• Demonstrate strong planning and project management skills to run multiple communications projects concurrently and manage competing deadlines.
• Keep stakeholders aligned from brief to delivery.

Emergency and Incident Support

• Support corporate emergency procedures during disruption and major incidents as required.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree-level education or professional qualification in journalism, communications or a related field.
• At least five years of communications experience, or Press Office, PR agency or journalism experience.
• An aviation or aerospace background is advantageous.
• Established relationships with UAE and regional media, or demonstrated ability to build them quickly.
• Familiarity with Abu Dhabi government and community stakeholders and the emirate's strategic priorities is a strong advantage.

Skills & Competencies

• Bilingual in Arabic and English: able to write and proofread quickly, under pressure and to a high standard.
• Proficient in MS Office.
• Experience briefing and managing external agencies.
• Confidence interpreting media monitoring and evaluation data.
• Creative and editorially rigorous mindset with a sharp eye for detail.
• Judgement to know what will resonate with diverse audiences.
• Highest standards of presentation and administrative skills.
• Flexibility to work extra unsociable hours with little or no notice when required by the nature of departmental work.

Additional Information

The role requires flexibility; the nature of the department's work can result in the need to work extra unsociable hours with little or no notice.