Head of Communications, MENA

Description

TikTok is hiring a Head of Communications for MENA to lead our external reputation, narrative, and stakeholder engagement across one of our most dynamic and complex regions. This role blends strategy and hands-on execution: you will shape the strategy, but also work with a team to ensure it lands in a fast-moving and rapidly-changing environment. The right candidate brings a deep understanding of the MENA media, cultural and geopolitical landscape, strong media relationships, and the judgment to operate through ambiguity, risk, and rapid change.

You will be part of a broader regional team across the Middle East, Africa, South & Central Asia and Eastern Europe, oversee a small team within MENA, and work closely with cross-functional partners while representing regional realities and priorities.

The role is based in the UAE with regional scope and travel.

Responsibilities
- Lead, own and deliver the communications and PR strategy across MENA, grounded in regional insight and aligned with global priorities.
- Shape and evolve TikTok's MENA narrative, balancing trust and safety with proactive storytelling around economic impact, creators, SMBs, and cultural relevance.
- Integrate policy and communications, working closely with Government Relations and Public Policy teams to anticipate regulatory and geopolitical risks and translate complex policy topics into clear, credible external narratives.
- Provide senior counsel to leadership on navigating MENA's media, cultural, and geopolitical landscape, bringing strong judgement and context.
- Lead issues and crisis response across markets, proactively identifying risk using external and internal signals, and manage fast, coordinated, and high-quality response, with clear decision-making.
- Secure and manage high-impact speaking, media, and stakeholder opportunities, preparing spokespeople with the context, positioning, and confidence required.
- Build and maintain a strong network of senior journalists, editors, commentators, and policy stakeholders, leveraging relationships for both proactive storytelling and rapid response.
- Drive cross-functional alignment across communications, GR, legal, trust & safety, and global teams to ensure consistency and impact.
- Assume broader regional responsibilities where required.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications
- Extensive experience in communications or PR, with proven experience operating in complex, high-stakes and high-scrutiny environments.
- Deep understanding of the MENA media, geopolitical and cultural landscape.
- Proven experience in crisis and issues management across multiple markets.
- Strong exposure to public policy, government, or regulatory communications (direct or closely partnered).
- Proficiency in Arabic and English is required to communicate with external stakeholders.
- A well-established network of senior media and KOL stakeholders across the region.
- Ability to set strategy and execute independently, with strong judgement and a bias for action.

Preferred Qualifications
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in fast-moving environments.
- Experience in tech or platform companies is a strong advantage.