Head of Communications

Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates

Job Title: Head of Communications (METNA)

Location: Abu Dhabi or Qatar – with significant travel across the Middle East, Türkiye and North Africa region

Salary: Circa 580,000 UAE Dirham (AED) – (inclusive of housing and transport allowance) + executive package

Who we are:

Join BAE Systems and you’ll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you’ll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You’ll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow, shaping a safer future, for all of us.

From the depths of the ocean, to the far reaches of space, there’s no limit to where a career at BAE Systems could take you.

Role description:

Reporting to the Regional Managing Director and Group Marketing & Customer Communications Director, you will lead all communications across the METNA (Middle East, Türkiye and North Africa) region. You’ll be a highly driven self-starter who works to the highest standards to develop and deliver integrated strategic communications that support business-winning campaigns, strengthen brand positioning, and protect company reputation across priority markets, working closely with internal and external stakeholders.

Based in Abu Dhabi with significant travel across the Middle East, Türkiye and North Africa markets, you will drive stakeholder engagement, campaign messaging, and innovative delivery. You will ensure consistent, high-quality communications aligned with corporate strategy, collaborate across international teams, and build strong partnerships to deliver impactful customer and marketing communications across the region.

Core duties:

• Leading strategic brand positioning in priority markets through integrated communications, aligned to campaigns, corporate objectives, and visual identity
• Delivering multi-channel activity including exhibitions, advertising, digital, social media, and thought leadership to enhance visibility and engagement
• Protecting and strengthening regional reputation through proactive messaging, stakeholder engagement, and targeted media and communications initiatives
• Representing Communications at senior level, support crisis activity, and advise business leaders on effective campaign delivery and messaging
• Collaborating with regional, business unit, and sector teams to provide campaign support, stakeholder mapping, and communications expertise
• Managing agencies, budgets, governance, reporting, and spokesperson readiness, ensuring compliance with policies and alignment to business priorities
• Delivering employee engagement strategy, promoting regional initiatives and sharing impactful stories across the organisation

Essential skills:

• Strong communications skills across all functional disciplines including brand management skills, aligning messaging to corporate objectives and market priorities
• Proven experience delivering integrated, multi-channel campaigns across PR, digital, events, and thought leadership
• Expertise in reputation management and crisis communications, with ability to manage risk and protect brand credibility
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, advising senior leaders and building strong external relationships
• Effective cross-functional collaboration, supporting business units and regional teams with communications expertise
• Solid agency, budget, and governance management, ensuring compliance, performance tracking, and spokesperson readiness
• Demonstrates full professional fluency in English, with strong written and verbal communication skills

The Team:

You’ll be joining a high-performing, vibrant, international team where you’ll be expected to both provide expert communications advice and counsel to the senior country directors as well as your own perspective on driving regional strategy. Bring your ideas, grow your skills and thrive in a culture built on collaboration, diversity and ambition.

Why BAE Systems?

Here you’ll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You’ll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what’s most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.

A place where everyone can thrive:

We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 11th June 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

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