Description
Our Purpose
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Title and Summary
Director, Communications Markets Covered: UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Afghanistan________________________________________
Overview
Mastercard connects and powers an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere. In East Arabia, Mastercard is scaling impact across consumers, SMEs, financial institutions, governments, and fintechs.
Based in Dubai and reporting to the East Arabia Marketing & Communications Lead, the Communications Director will define and execute a market-relevant strategy that advances business priorities, strengthens reputation, and protects trust. The role partners closely with divisional leadership and cross-functional teams across the region.
We are seeking a strategic leader with a proven ability to deliver across external and internal communications, including media relations, executive visibility, social/digital, employee engagement, issues/crisis, CSR, and event communications.
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Key Responsibilities
Strategy & Counsel
• Own the East Arabia communications strategy and narrative.
• Provide strategic counsel to the Division President and senior leadership on reputation management, executive positioning, and stakeholder engagement.
External Communications & Reputation Building
• Lead proactive, measurable external communications (earned, owned, shared) that position Mastercard as a trusted technology partner across East Arabia.
• Build and manage relationships with tier-1 media, influencers, and key opinion leaders.
• Design thought-leadership platforms and executive visibility programs aligned with enterprise priorities.
• Ensure consistent messaging across external channels, including press releases, interviews, op-eds, and social media.
Issues & Crisis Management
• Lead crisis response protocols and spokesperson readiness in collaboration with Legal and Public Policy teams.
• Serve as the communications lead for risk mitigation and sensitive issues across the cluster.
Executive & Internal Communications
• Drive employee engagement through compelling internal campaigns, leadership messaging, and town halls.
• Support executive communications for senior leaders, including speechwriting, internal updates, and strategic messaging.
Digital & Social Media
• Manage the social media strategy for East Arabia, ensuring alignment with global and regional platforms.
• Amplify Mastercard's voice through digital storytelling and executive social media presence.
Customer Engagements & Events
• Lead communications planning and execution for strategic customer engagements and Mastercard-owned experiences.
• Ensure messaging consistency, speaker readiness, and flawless delivery across all touchpoints, including major industry forums.
Campaigns, CSR & Partnerships
• Orchestrate communications for flagship announcements and customer programs.
• Integrate CSR/ESG storytelling and community initiatives relevant to East Arabia markets.
Governance, Measurement & Operations
• Uphold Mastercard's Communications Policy and brand standards.
• Manage agencies and budgets; track KPIs including share of voice, sentiment, reputation score, and engagement metrics.
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Experience Required
• Extensive experience in Communications, preferably in multinational environments, financial services or technology.
• Fluency in English and Arabic.
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Skills & Attributes
• Proven track record in strategic communications and media relations.
• Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent presentation capabilities and proficiency in MS PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.
• Self-starter with high energy, motivation, and resilience.
• Ability to navigate complex, matrixed environments.
• Creative thinker with a test-and-learn mindset.
• Team player with strong achievement and results orientation.
Corporate Security Responsibility
All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:
Abide by Mastercard's security policies and practices;
Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard's guidelines.
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