Associate Director, Public Affairs

The Opportunity

Responsibilities

• Design and Lead strategic public affairs programs that shape policy conversations and advance organizational priorities, aligning with the core PA function of directing information and stakeholder engagement.
• Monitor, analyze, and interpret regulatory and policy developments in Saudi Arabia to provide clear, actionable insights aligned with strategic communication goals
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with government entities, industry stakeholders, and partners to support effective issue management and influence public perception.
• Develop integrated communication strategies across traditional media, digital platforms, and stakeholder channels to support credibility and reputation management, consistent with Public Affairs Officer roles.
• Provide strategic counsel on emerging issues, risks, and opportunities, supporting leadership decision‑making and enhancing the organization’s public positioning
• Collaborate closely with cross‑regional teams to ensure alignment between global and regional public affairs priorities, reflecting modern PA team structures and leadership expectations.
• Prepare and oversee the development of briefing materials, policy positions, and stakeholder engagement plans to ensure consistent high‑quality outputs that strengthen the organization’s narrative.
• Support multi‑stakeholder initiatives, events, and advocacy efforts that advance business objectives and reinforce organizational credibility across key audiences.

Qualifications

• Experience: 10+ years in public affairs, government relations, policy advocacy, or strategic communications, with strong preference for experience navigating Saudi Arabia’s policy and regulatory environment.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Communications, International Relations, or a related field.
• Language Skills: Full professional fluency in Arabic and English (written and spoken).
• Policy & Cultural Insight: Deep understanding of Saudi Arabia’s political ecosystem, policymaking processes, government stakeholders, and national initiatives such as Vision 2030.
• Policy Writing & Analysis: Strong ability to craft policy positions, briefing notes, and advocacy messaging, backed by sharp analytical skills and the ability to simplify complex issues.
• Leadership: Proven track record leading public affairs teams, managing multi‑market workstreams, and guiding stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Stakeholder & Media Engagement: Experience engaging with government ministries, regulators, industry bodies, and media; comfortable drafting public statements, managing narratives, and supporting issue management.
• Project & Issue Management: Ability to manage fast‑moving policy files, coordinate cross‑functional inputs, and deliver high‑quality outputs under pressure.
• Industry Knowledge: Experience working across sectors such as healthcare, technology, energy, transportation, or government sectors is a plus.
• Careers at APCO
• Through our recruitment, hiring and retention efforts, APCO is committed to building teams to bring the best possible expertise and robust perspectives to our clients.
• We embrace differences in experience, viewpoint and ideas, starting with our values and extending to our behaviors, policies and practices.
• We aim to create a positive work experience and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.