Head of Communications & Public Relations recruitment
The incumbent will be overall responsible for creating, managing and implementing a pro-active strategy aimed at stakeholders including the creation/ maintenance of a segmented VIP contacts database and formulating a strategy for publication of the bank’s annual report and the Group reporting.
Essential Duties Responsibilities by Dimensions:
A.Shareholder Financial:
-Set, manage and control communication and PR related budgets to facilitate the delivery and execution of the communications strategy.
-Supervise in creating Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the Communications Public Relations unit for performance monitoring and quality measurement purposes and assist in monitoring their achievement on a periodic basis.
-Develop a pro-active strategy aimed at serving all shareholders, major and minor with emphasis on equality and fairness in dealing with all shareholder groups.
B.Customer (Internal External):
-Develop a strong partnership relationship with Newspapers, Televisions and other Media Communications.
-Establish and maintain ties with the local communities and Government officials this will also help to further strengthen the Group’s CSR initiatives.
-Caters to all group departments/ units, within the internal channels of communications.
-Cater to all external stakeholders with regard to communicating QNB core messages and information.
-Coordinate securities market communication related activities viz. maintaining and enhancing the relationship with Doha Securities Market (DSM), reporting on daily events/ developments at the DSM etc.
-Liaising with the departments/ units within the Group to ensure data required for compilation of the referenced report is collected on periodic basis.
-Build and maintain strong and effective relationships with all other related units to achieve the Department’s goals/ objectives.
-Provide timely and accurate information to the external auditors and the compliance function, as and when required.
C.Internal (Processes, Products, Regulatory):
-Co-ordinate the support of the documentation and the implementation of departmental policies and procedures which will set out the principles, methodology and techniques to establish an effective Communication and PR function.
-Responsible for designing, developing and executing the Communication and PR strategy.
-Maintain and build Group image and reputation through community, media, and industry relations, internal and external corporate communications, and tradeshow activities.
-Ensure creation and maintenance a segmented VIP contact database.
-Ensure unit’s compliance with Corporate Governance policies’ related disclosure requirements in the annual reports.
-Successfully manage, drive and execute public relations programs aimed at increasing awareness and preference for the Group’s brand and its products and services.
-Develop press opportunities for senior management to engage directly with the media including: interviews, press tours, speaking engagements, etc.
-Write press releases, by-lined articles, case studies, white papers and other communications as necessary.
-Assist with the production of all the Bank’s related publications including Annual Report, Economic and Business Reviews.
-Monitor company, industry and competitive news, keeping Group’s insiders up-to-date; leverage as appropriate for proactive media pitching.
-Serve as a primary communications advisor to the company; internal clients include senior management, marketing leadership, product managers, investor relations and field management.
-Ensure QNB spokespersons are media-ready with respect to messaging and interviewing techniques.
-Support Crisis Communications activities; assist in the development of specific scenario-based crisis response plans. Provide critical communications assistance during crises, including message development and communication strategy.
-Identify key accumulations of communication within and between business areas and assess the impact across the Group with a view to proposing recommendations for mitigation.
-Implement and monitor PR activity, forward planning all PR activity, build and maintain media and analyst relations.
-Analyze industry news to identify topics and trends, take briefings from senior staff and draft opinion pieces and articles producing news-led content for the website and newsletter.
-Development of a strategic outreach plan for industry analysts, editors, and other industry contracts taking into consideration a broad range of communication vehicles, continuity of messaging, and client interaction.
-Develop, implement, manage and maintain internal and external customer outreach and communications programs.
-Develop media deliverables including press releases, press kits, media alerts, case studies, etc.
-Provide expert communications knowledge across the disciplines of Communications and employee engagement in order to provide strategic direction, support and advice to the relevant stakeholders on communications matters.
-Produce and oversee the execution of an integrated stakeholder communications strategy across the Group.
-Work closely with the Media Relations and Advertising functions to ensure consistency of internal and external messages.
-Identify and leverage appropriate resources (such as New Media) and external agencies to support business communication goals.
-Ensuring effective media coverage and overall promotion of events, raising the Group’s profile within the general public.
-Direct media relations and marketing communications activities across the whole Group, working strategically with journalists and freelances in maximizing media coverage.
-Support the delivery of the business strategy by developing and delivering a comprehensive internal and external communications strategy thereby facilitating an improvement in employee engagement and communication across all the business units.
-Establish, implement and promote best in class communications practices and frameworks across all units.
D.Learning Knowledge:
-Deep understanding of Communications and PR fundamentals, with the ability to advise senior level management with confidence and successfully manage an external agency.
-Co-ordinate all communication management training across all business areas within the Group.
-Represent the Group in seminars/ conferences to reflect a superior image about the Group and its strategy.
E.Other:
-Ensure high standards of confidentiality to safeguard commercially sensitive information.
Education/Experience Requirements:
-Bachelor degree preferably in Communications and Public Relations related area, Masters is a plus.
-Minimum of 10 years experience in a major bank of which at least 4 years in bank in a managerial capacity in a similar function.
Required Special Skills:
-Ability to develop and implement communication and PR strategies in complex organizations and develop internal communication solutions that contribute to improving business performance.
-Ability to absorb technical information and communicate to non-technical audiences.
-Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of media and industry analyst contacts.
-Thorough understanding of communications planning and the ability to develop multi-channel communication solutions targeted to different audience segments / needs.
-Excellent networking and relationship building skills and the ability to interact with confidence with different cultures, levels and functions within the Group.
-Consolidates stable and continuous relationships with heads of both public and private sector departments and establishments where the bank interest is to have close relation.
-Ability to be involved with highly-sensitive information, using discretion and integrity.
-Excellent written and presentation skills.
-Resilient, with the ability to work to deadlines and demanding work schedules
-Maintain high levels of professionalism under pressure.
-Well-developed analytical and interpersonal skills.
-Able to build key partnerships by collaboration and build relationships across the organization to deliver results.
-Ability to actively listen to others and communicates to create clarity, focus, and alignment. Able to collaborate effectively with a wide range of functions across the Group to identify and create the right solution.
-Ability to inspire and motivate others to gain commitment.
-Exercise high degree of initiative and thinking to perform complex tasks where no procedures or processes are available.
Operating Environment/ Location:
-Located at Qatar with visits to domestic and overseas entities, as and when required/ considered necessary.
Framework and Boundaries:
-Group’s overall strategic plan.
-Budgetary and scorecard targets.
-Applicable policies and procedures.
-Relevant regulatory pronouncements of applicable local and international regulators and related best practices.
-Delegated and re-delegated authorities as per the delegation of authority structure.
-Instructions of the GM Communications and the Chief Operating Officer.
Communications and Working Relationships:
-Management of individual divisions, departments, units, subsidiaries, branches and other Group entities, whether within or outside Qatar.
-Regulatory authorities, external professional associations/ bodies, institutional investors and local communities, and also Newspapers, Televisions and other Media Communications.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
-Directly supervises the Head of Shareholder Relations, Head of External Communications and Head of Internal Communications.