Assistant Director of Communication (Pre-Opening) (Saudi National)

At InterContinental Hotels & Resorts®, we are committed to delivering exceptional experiences that reflect our brand values. As part of this family, you are expected to embody these values by being:
• charming by being approachable, having confidence and showing respect.
• Stay in the moment by understanding and anticipating guests’ needs, being attentive and taking ownership of getting things done.
• Make it memorable by being knowledgeable, sharing stories and showing your style to create moments that make people feel special.

As Assistant Director of Communications, you will be responsible for:

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
ESSENTIAL
• Manage the key Marketing Communication processes at hotel including Marketing Planning, Collateral and Advertising Production, Content Management, Public Relations, Promotion and Events and social media according to IHG Marketing Communications standard operating procedures.
• Deliver and execute an annual Marketing Plan for all hotel events, public and media relations, loyalty and channel marketing and other marketing activities.
• Align marketing communication activities to hotel’s key business segments to ensure clear return-on-investment (ROI) for time and budget invested in the activity.
• Develop media contacts, manage media relations, and organize media activities to promote good publicity and drive hotel awareness.
• Build continued hotel awareness by delivering new hotel stories and press releases of promotion or event to media, trade publications and local community.
• Manage hotel events including budgeting, guest list, agenda/programme, media participation, photography/video and gifts.
• Develop hotel and marketing collaterals according to Brand standards for promotions.
• Manage IHG Hotel Content Manager system to update text and images that optimizes the content quality and best represents the Brand standards.
• Manage hotel image database from official hotel photos, event photos, staff photos to use in hotel promotion.
• Manage hotel social media system and processes to support tactical campaigns, engage hotel guests and build hotel client database.

• Development and implementation of branding according to InterContinental guidelines and marketing plans for new product / service launches working closely with Field Marketing Services, Operations, Sales, and appointed agency.
• Development and management of the annual advertising plan (traditional and social), working with appointed agency.
• Manage the reputation and awareness of the hotel in KSA, GCC and key feeder markets.
• Monitor awareness of competitor activities and use the information to develop Marketing strategies.
• Conduct weekly marketing meetings to understand progress of jobs on file.
• Manage and develop the marketing Team, comprising a digital marketing manager, marketing executive and graphic designer.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Prepare and manage the department’s Marketing budget as part of Business Planning:

Assist Commercial Director in preparing all Marketing sections of the Sales & Marketing department annual budget.

Assist Commercial Director in monitoring Marketing revenue targets and controlling Marketing costs to ensure performance against budget.

Assist Commercial Director in preparing the hotel’s short term and long-term strategic plan for all Marketing priorities.

HUMAN RESOURCE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support Commercial Director and Director of Human Resources to maximize Sales and Marketing staff resources.

Assist in recruiting in line with company guidelines.

Prepare detailed induction program for new staff.

Implement department standards and procedures.

Regularly communicate with staff to maintain good relations.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor's degree in marketing, Mass Communications, Media or related field is preferred.

Expected to possess the following skills:

• Demonstrated ability to interact with and present to customers, employees and third parties that reflects highly on the hotel, owning company, the Brand and IHG.
• Proven ability to lead, manage and motivate a team.
• Able to manage projects with different financial budgets and performance objectives.
• Strong time-management skills and able to multi-task.
• Strong writing skills in Arabic and English.
• Numbers savvy and can manage monthly P&L.
• Proficient in the use of all Microsoft Office software.
• Proven ability to work with external vendors to deliver objectives.
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience with luxury hotels.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
• Comply with hotel rules and regulations and provisions contained in the employment handbook.
• Comply with the company’s grooming standards to portray a professional image of self and the hotel.
• Comply with time and attendance policies set by the resort.
• Actively participate in training and development programs and maximize opportunities for self-development.
• Demonstrate understanding and awareness of all policies and procedures relating to health, hygiene and fire life safety.

HOW DO I DELIVER THIS?

We genuinely care about people, and we show this through living out our promise of True Hospitality each day. It’s what connects every colleague in all IHG® hotels.

Each IHG® hotel brand delivers True Hospitality in their own way, and at the heart of it all are specific, core service skills.

• True Attitude: being caring, wanting to make a positive difference, and building genuine connections with guests.
• True Confidence: having the knowledge and skills to perform your role, and giving guests the confidence that they can trust you, to help and support them during their stay.
• True Listening: focusing on what your guest is saying, picking up on body language that is often overlooked, and understanding what the guest wants and needs.
• True Responsiveness: is about providing guests with what they need, and doing so in a timely and caring manner.