Media Relations Consultant

Job Description

Founded in 1984, APCO Worldwide is an award-winning, independently owned global communication and business strategy firm with offices in major cities throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. APCO combines a global perspective with local expertise to help clients around the world manage challenges, opportunities, perceptions and reputations. APCO clients include corporations and governments; industry associations and nonprofit organizations; and six of the top 10 companies on the Fortune 500. The firm is a majority women-owned business.<br>The Media Relations Consultant role is to manage media relations, draft media plans for one of APCO’s largest clients in Saudi by crafting and implementing media engagement plan to maximize media coverage of client’s project.<br>Primary Duties and Responsibilities<br>- Develop a network of high-level professional contacts within the local, regional GCC media, along with specific niche media contacts in areas of clear relevance to the client.<br>- Maintain industry/ media contacts to remain informed of industry activity and trends on local, regional levels<br>- Assist with the development and implementation of client’s media communications strategies and advise on the best means to achieve maximum positive coverage.<br>- Draft and compare media plans for a variety of clients including local and regional ones<br>- Provide guidance on relevance of media outlets to client and resulting exposure, viewing/reading figures they can expect from different media outlets.<br>- Draft media Q&amp;As/talking points for client spokespeople – in English and/or Arabic.<br>- Respond rapidly to, and deal effectively with, enquiries from the media and other opinion formers.<br>- Advise Account Directors and/or Account Managers of media issues and on the best means of handling them.<br>- Develop and maintain contacts with PR departments of key entities related to the client such as Government entities<br>- Evaluate client’s media coverage and advise client teams accordingly.<br>- Ensure the timely and effective dissemination of media communications, including press releases, statements, invitations, fact sheets and other client approved media related material, to target media audiences.<br>- Ensure Arabic and English press releases are aligned prior to dissemination.<br>- Follow up on dissemination of media releases to ensure stories are picked up.<br>- Produce monthly media coverage reports, annual press coverage report and specific press coverage reports for news releases – as advised by client.<br>- Attend meetings with the client<br>- Invite and manage media before, during and after client events.<br>AD-Hocks Assignment/reports:<br>As per the Direct Supervisor’s requests<br>Competencies<br>- Media Relation skills: Established relationships with key local, regional, and international media<br>- Team Work Skills<br>- Excellent Communication skills<br>- Organization skills<br>- Initiative skills<br>Requirements<br>- Bachelor’s degree in Arts/Media/Communications/Journalism<br>- A minimum of 3 years of relevant experience<br>- Fluency in Arabic and English – spoken and written<br>- Relationship with Tier 1 Media locally and in in the GCC<br>Work Conditions<br>- The physical abilities needed to perform the duties of this position, in addition to the office climate:<br>- Office environment is general office setting<br>- Must reside in Riyadh or be willing to relocate<br>- Willing to work additional or irregular hours as needed and allowed by local regulations<br>About APCO in the Middle East and North Africa<br>Home to some of the fastest growing economies in the world, the Middle East and North Africa region has a pivotal role to play in driving global conversations – from environmental policies to religion and pop culture. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are clear leaders in this equation, although the wave of innovation continues to transcend borders.<br>APCO launched its regional operations in 2006 in Dubai. Growing from a team of less than 10 consultants, APCO today has over 200 people from 26 countries working in teams across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Manama and Kuwait and our projects take us to countries across the region and the Levant. APCO was awarded Best Agency in the Middle East by PRWeek in 2019 and Best Agency to Work for: EMEA Network by PRovoke Media in 2017 and 2019.<br>With a portfolio of over 100 clients, APCO’s MENA offices deliver public relations and digital communication support across health, food, consumer &amp; retail, finance, technology, real estate &amp; hospitality, non-profit and public affairs practices. The region also offers specialized services, created for the Middle East, such as our Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model and our Compass and License to Operate offerings.<br>In addition, APCO’s global AI Comms Lab, a first-of-its-kind innovation center which utilizes artificial intelligence to build and protect the reputations of major global brands, governments and organizations is driven from the Dubai office.<br>From helping governments connect with the private sector and civil society, to supporting the Pope’s historic visit to the region and launching iconic brands and destinations, we understand the nuances of the MENA region and pride ourselves on making an impact.