Job Purpose
- Supporting the Director of consumer PR, travel trade marketing and partnership the marketing manager of Public Relations will oversee, develop, and execute the strategic and integrated plan that supports destination The Red Sea's business objectives to drive awareness to ultimately bring visitation.
- This role is essential to increase awareness and positively position the perception of the destination, its collection of experiences, partner destination brands, assets, and events. Through creative and strategic thinking and execution, this role will increase awareness and visibility of the destination, and further enhance its offerings throughout its development phases, contributing to driving the business objectives and overall engagement while liaising as an essential ambassador of The Red Sea and its community and as a spokesperson for press and partnerships.
Job Responsibilities
Public Relations and Communications:
- Supporting the marketing plan, develop a year-round integrated Public Relations and Communications Plan across all destination pillars with unique and thoughtful tactics across all PR and Communications supporting regional and global channels.
- Work closely with all key internal and external stakeholder to develop new storylines and key announcements following the destination's phases of the development.
- Ensure monthly posting of Press Releases to highlight and communicate our news effectively and maintain prominent engagement on our Red Sea Press Room.
- Identify target publications, manage media communications, develop new connections, coordinate media visits and interviews to generate ongoing coverage.
- Pitch and secure coverage through brand agency all-call editorial opportunities as well as B2B Communications opportunities.
- Develop thoughtful series of all new destination content and experiences that support our destination positioning including potential brand collaborations and partnerships.
- Seek, identify, and execute local event participation and activations that reach our local neighborhood surrounding communities.
- Lead on the PR program supporting the destination's key phases of development and ensure all partner brands are well supported from and PR and communications to ensure maximum exposure.
- Ensure full integration of media / PR activities into the overall consumer communications plan and consistency with brand requirements across regional and global communications.
- Be active within local and regional PR committees and associations.
- Engage with Saudi Tourism Authority and other Saudi destinations for potential collaboration and awareness opportunities.
- Verify supporting assets of the destination campaigns - and cross-discipline-relevant to ensure relevant message integration for PR, consumer and trade, as required by the campaign.
- Supported by our destination PR agency, conduct a benchmark on a quarterly basis with key competitors (regional, international) and in the luxury space (retail, travel) to determine opportunities to improve our PR position.
- Manage the PR agency in development of strategy, concepts and execution of measurable PR campaigns that contribute to meeting annual KPIs.
- Regularly monitor Metrics as it applies to PR and Communications and execute tactics to gain ranking.
- Source and develop high-visibility media co-ops and content partnerships to Red Sea top-of-mind among consumers, trade and press.
- Craft speeches and talking points, providing guidance to staff members regarding public speaking and messaging.
- Act as an advisor to senior leaders on executive communications and preparation for internal and external forums.
- Elevate and coordinate thought leadership programs and content aligned with brand positioning and demand generation strategy.
- Report on all media results on a monthly basis.
Budget Management/Control:
- Work closely with the senior director of destination marketing on budget planning, allocations and accurate spend-to-budget.
- Negotiate contracts, media partnerships and services agreements with, third-party agencies, and others as they arise.
- Follow all procurement and financial policy compliance requirements.
Brand Management:
- Ensure brand guardianship across all media and PR applications.
- Co-manage the production and coordination of photo and video shoots for the destination and all operating brands and assets.
- Ensure external messaging is aligned with brand guidelines and destination positioning.
Skills:
- Excellent stakeholder management skill and client-service skills, including ability to manage expectations, interpret needs and keep internal stakeholders informed and engaged.
- Strong organizational, time-management and project management skills.
- Strong analytical skills and creative thinking mindset.
- Strong collaboration skills and influencing capability.
- Excellent leadership skills.
- Excellent English verbal and written skills.
- Arabic would be beneficial.
Qualification and Experience:
- Bachelor's Degree or higher.
- +9 years of PR agency or client-side integrated communications and PR experience, with 6 years at managerial position gained from travel industry / destination tourism marketing functional area.
- Well-versed in traditional, social marketing and PR, as well as management on third-party vendors (e.g. PR agency / KOLs / talent agents), projects, budget and crisis communications.
- Strong acumen in media relations with proven record in media/social media content placements and media co-op opportunities.
- Strategic thinker with good organizational and leadership skills, strong attention to details and ability to set objectives, prioritize, critically assess issues, and deliver within given deadlines and resources.
- Highly proactive and creative, always search for innovative big ideas.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, culturally sensitive; able to work as a team effectively, and influence others, internally and externally, for positive results.
- Willingness to travel.
