Senior Director, Corporate Communications

Job Title: Senior Director, Corporate Communications

Location: Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Function: Corporate Communications

Position Type: Permanent, full-time (Relocation supported)

About the Opportunity

We are constructing one of the largest primary metals and industrial complexes in the Middle East—a multi-billion-dollar project backed by international industrial shareholders and a major sovereign investment ecosystem.

Having spent the development phase out of view, we are now transitioning from confidentiality to high international visibility. As there is currently no existing communications function, website, owned channels, or brand system, this appointment represents a ground-floor "build mandate". Everything the organisation communicates publicly over the next decade will begin with this role.

The Role

You will establish the organisation as a credible, disciplined, and internationally legible industrial enterprise. You will own the strategy and execution of our emergence from confidentiality, the overarching corporate narrative, and the governance standards required for an asset backed by listed shareholders across multiple jurisdictions.

This is a true build role. Initially, you will be doing the work personally while directing it—equally comfortable drafting executive remarks late at night and presenting reputation risk strategy to the Board the following morning. (Note: Government relations and regulatory affairs are managed separately).

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy & Narrative: Develop the corporate story, message architecture across global markets, and the sequenced launch strategy.
• Media & Reputation: Build regional and international media relationships from scratch; oversee inbound queries, spokesperson preparation, and media monitoring.
• Brand & Digital Assets: End-to-end launch of our bilingual website, corporate identity, editorial calendar, and an extensive photo/film asset library.
• Executive Communications: Serve as trusted advisor to executive leadership; draft speeches, statements, opinion pieces, board materials, and investor narratives.
• Shareholder Coordination: Manage disclosure interfaces with shareholder communications and investor relations functions across multiple jurisdictions on a no-surprises basis.
• Internal & Site Communications: Build a multichannel architecture for a rapidly growing, multilingual workforce spread across corporate offices and active construction sites.
• Issues & Crisis Management: Establish and test crisis frameworks, scenarios, holding statements, and simulation drills prior to operational launch.
• Department & Partner Management: Build the operating model, hire the internal team, manage budgets, and select agency partners.
• Capital Markets Readiness: Align the equity story with the corporate narrative to establish securities disclosure discipline in preparation for future capital market activity.

First-Year Expectations

• First Quarter: Complete governance audits; secure approval for disclosure protocols and emergence calendars; initiate brand and website agency briefs.
• First Six Months: Launch the bilingual website; deploy corporate identity; contract primary agencies; establish crisis frameworks and run executive simulations; execute initial controlled announcements.
• End of Year One: Achieve a fully functioning department; establish measurable media presence; finalize launch playbooks; embed systematic executive reporting.

Candidate Profile & Requirements

• Experience: 12+ years in corporate communications, including at least 3 years leading a function or serving as a deputy group lead in a large enterprise.
• Corporate Track Record: Strong inside-company track record with direct accountability for commercial and corporate outcomes.
• Building Capabilities: Proven experience establishing or substantially rebuilding a communications department from the ground up.
• Public/Listed Environment: Experience working under securities disclosure obligations, with a strong understanding of materiality and regulatory timing.
• Heavy Industry Experience: Experience in metals, mining, energy, chemicals, or large-scale industrial infrastructure.
• Major Project / Transition: Demonstrated success communicating a major capital project through construction to operational launch, or through major corporate transitions (IPO, listing, carve-out).
• Crisis Leadership: Practical experience personally leading communications through live reputational, environmental, or operational crises.
• Language & Writing Excellence: Proficiency in Arabic and English is required, with the ability to personally draft publication-standard content (op-eds, speeches, statements) without relying on agencies.
• Location: Willingness to be based in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with regular site visits.

Preferred / Advantageous Skills:

• Experience working within or alongside international joint ventures or Chinese-listed enterprise structures.
• Experience preparing for an Initial Public Offering (IPO).
• Background in metals, mining, or aluminium.
• Pre-existing network within regional and international industrial/metals trade media.
• Experience within sovereign-backed or state-linked portfolio entities.

What The Role Offers

• Direct reporting line to senior operational leadership and standing attendance at Executive Committee meetings.
• Clear authority over external communications clearance and direct ownership of the department budget and agency selection.
• Clear, milestone-linked progression framework as the organisation advances toward capital market readiness.
• Full relocation support, along with comprehensive medical coverage and standard corporate allowances.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are invited to apply directly via the link or by submitting their updated CV:

✉️ Email Application: Send your CV to [email protected] (Subject Line: Senior Director, Corporate Communications - Riyadh)