Program Communications Manager | Qatar Foundation Doha, Qatar

1. Job Details:
Position Title: Program Communications Manager

2. Job Purpose:
Primary Function:
Initially written as a Directors role, now positioned within the new organisation structure as a manager’s role for strategic reasons!

Consequently this role requires a very senior PR/ Communications professional who has at least 15 years of experience in corporate communications at a CEO level and in multi-cultural, multi lingual environments working with communications initiatives that are international or global. This is an Executive Quality Control Position.

The Program Communications Manager is responsible for developing and implementing the Qatar Foundation (QF) communications strategy by integrating corporate communications objectives with program communications objectives to support QF’s business objectives. The Program Communications Manager strategically manages the implementation of timely, integrated communications activities to effectively communicate key messages to internal stakeholders (including QF employees, institutional partners and joint venture audiences) and external stakeholders (global audiences, media, students, and academia).

The Program Communications Manager drives the implementation of the PR&M communications strategy through functional team plans and tactics that support the overarching QF communications strategy, and ensures integration of QF messages through a variety of communications channels. This position approves and evaluates all budgets, policies and plans, and provides ongoing counsel and support to all QF departments. The Program Communications Manager monitors and evaluates the plans of all PR & Marketing functional teams.

Additionally:
The Program Communications Manager is responsible for coordinating and strengthening program-focused initiatives that support the Qatar Foundation (QF) communications strategy and QF’s business strategy. This position works to integrate and ensure consistent messaging of institutional partners’ communications programs and activities, serving as a primary liaison to partners and their communications teams as well as a resource to divisional teams throughout QF.

Coordinating directly with the PR & Marketing Director, responsible for QF corporate messaging and supervising Program Managers that work directly with divisional VPs in identifying communications strategies and priorities for program-focused communications, this position is responsible for specific program campaigns in each of three QF program areas. The Program Communications Manager drives the implementation of the PR&M communications strategy through program communications plans and tactics, and ensures integration of program-related messages through a variety of communications channels.

Direct reports – this position monitors and evaluates the plans of: Media Relations Manager, Events Manager, Communications Manager, Publications Manager, Marketing Manager, Documentary Manager.

Program-focused campaign program managers (3 staff) are planned in the future, following the full establishment of the Directorate and other managers. Each of these will have responsibility for strategic communications campaigns and messages in specific program areas: Education, Science and Research, Community Development and Joint Ventures.

3. Job Dimensions:

4. Key Result Areas:
Primary Responsibilities:
1. Support the PR & Marketing Director in the development of the QF communications strategy and also the PR & Marketing Communications plans (tactics), with focus on the identification and prioritization of key QF stakeholders, their individual objectives for each QF program area, and equally a broad scale understanding of the plan across QF.
2. Oversee and ensure proper implementation of the PR & Marketing communications strategy to enhance public perception of QF in support of branding goals and strategy with key stakeholder audiences. Develop measurement tools to assure goals regarding perception strategies are met.
3. Oversee, monitor, evaluate and ‘link’ the individual communications plans and all other initiatives as outlined in the 09/10 Business Plan, of the Media Relations Manager, Communications Manager, Publications Manager, Marketing Manager, Events Manager and Documentary Manager driving all communications initiatives in line with the overall QF Communications Strategy.
4. Lead functional teams of the PR & Marketing department and work to build communications plans and activities that are focused on outcomes, and are integrated, consistent and proactive in supporting the advancement of the QF story.
5. Establish appropriate measurement and evaluation processes for all communications initiatives within the directorate, and oversee their implementation.
6. Write, implement, manage and lead the PR & Marketing Directorate’s annual Business Plans, Risk Registers and general Best International Practice standards.
7. Draft, facilitate, manage and oversee all Service Level Agreements between PR & Marketing Directorate and Qatar Foundation entities.
8. Create an overarching Crisis Communication strategy, guidelines, systems and processes for Qatar Foundation, in conjunction with Her Highnesses office. Oversee and conduct Crisis Management training and establish appropriate policies for spokespeople.
9. Ensure the understanding and implementation of the PR & Marketing communications strategy by all PR & Marketing managers and unit heads.
10. Manage and oversee QF’s internal and external communications initiatives, ensuring staff is kept updated on QF and program-related activities.
11. Serve as the management resource for partner institutions and divisional vice presidents. Ensure understanding and support for the QF communications strategy and plan by program divisions and institutional partners.
12. Develop strong integration processes and coordination mechanisms within the department, with special focus on collaboration with divisional VPs, PR & Marketing functional managers, unit heads and communications practitioners of partner organizations.
13. Manage and oversee program-specific communications initiatives and campaigns, ensuring PR & Marketing staff is kept updated on program-related activities, efforts and initiatives, and that PR & Marketing levels of service meet client needs.
14. Work with partners to ensure consistency of messaging about QF in all PR & Marketing internal and external communications, including program-related communications. Serves as a resource to PR & Marketing staff to ensure consistent and updated messaging related to QF program areas.
15. Oversee programs communications initiatives as outlined in the PR & Marketing communications strategy.
16. Analyze and evaluate on a qualitative/quantitative basis the effectiveness of all program and corp-orate communications in meeting established goals and objectives.
17. Manage the creation and execution of PR & Marketing department employee meetings and briefings, as well as staff feedback mechanisms.
18. Establish performance standards, monitors performance on an ongoing basis and identifies staff development opportunities.
19. Secure approval of the department budget and supervises budget administration, vendor and contract management and resource allocations, approving PR & Marketing-supported program communications campaign budgets and vendor resources.
20. Provide ongoing support and guidance to PR & Marketing functional teams on communicating critical issues internally and externally such as reorganizations, issues and policies.
21. Develop and implement new mechanisms and channels to improve the integration of strategic communications objectives into Internal and External marketing communications and activities.

. Knowledge, Skills & Experience:
Job requirements: BA/BS in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing Management or other related field. Advanced degree in related field preferred. At least 15 years of communications experience in a large organization with a diverse, international stakeholder base. At least five years of project management experience required. Five years at an international / global level is preferable.

Specific Skills: Previous management experience in a corporate or strategic communications setting and/or experience across media relations, internal communications, change management, social marketing, marketing, cultural and linguistic communications, publications and events. Excellent English written and oral communication skills.

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Tags: Doha, PR Jobs in Doha, PR Jobs in Qatar

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 1:11 pm and is filed under Public Relations. For the latest job openings in advertising, media, marketing and PR in the Middle East check out the RSS 2.0 feed!