Associate Director, Public Affairs APCO Worldwide

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.