Communication Specialist

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Date: Jul 21, 2026

Location: Saudi Arabia

Company: King Abdullah University of Science & Technology

Job Purpose

 

The Communications Specialist role supports the implementation of KAUST’s communications strategy. Operating at the intersection of relationship management, strategic planning, and hands-on execution, this role is key in fostering engagement with key stakeholders and implementing effective communications.

 

Collaborating closely with a portfolio of designated business units or assigned stakeholders, the role assists in drafting, getting approval for and executing comprehensive marketing communication strategies tailored to meet KAUST's operational goals and brand positioning. Drawing upon communications expertise, the role serves as a liaison between business units and the specialist teams in GBC, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives while delivering integrated communication plans and activities.

 

Central to the role's effectiveness is the establishment of strong, trusted relationships with KAUST stakeholders and GBC specialist teams. By fostering open communication and collaboration, the Communications Specialist facilitates the exchange of insights and ideas, garnering collective support for

initiatives.

 

Major Accountabilities

 

  • Collaborate with business units and stakeholders to understand communication activity strategy and support requirements.
  • Assist in developing marketing communication tactical plans aligned with university strategy objectives, brand positioning, and target audience needs.
  • Engage with stakeholders, GBC teams, digital teams, and creative partners to execute campaigns and initiatives.
  • Facilitate effective communication and coordination with stakeholders and liaise with the GBC specialist teams to ensure alignment and smooth execution of approved projects
  • Use insights from stakeholders and market research to refine and optimize marketing communication plans for maximum impact.
  • Monitor and evaluate the performance of communication initiatives, providing insights for continuous improvement.
  • Stay updated on industry trends and best practices in marketing communication to enhance effectiveness and innovation.
  • Implement a consultative approach to engage university partners and division teams.
  • Develop workplans and manage expectations.
  • Manage stakeholders, including regular reporting, monitoring activity, and escalation of issues.
  • Coordinate, draft, and deliver communications, content, and assets across various channels.
  • Support the development of clear, audience-focused messaging aligned with KAUST’s brand and communication objectives.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure consistency in messaging across all channels.
  • Utilize various communication channels, including digital platforms, print media, social media, and events, to reach target audiences effectively.
  • Ensure all communications and content adhere to brand guidelines and reflect the university's values, tone, and style.

 

  • Work with embedded resources to manage content on social media channels and websites as needed.
  • Support the management of flagship or strategic university events, campaigns, and activations.
  • Assist with conceptualization, planning, approvals, execution, and post-event evaluation and reporting.
  • Track communication activities and maintain records of outputs and deliverables.
  • Support the use of project management tools (e.g., Asana, Zendesk) to track progress and tasks.
  • Other duties as assigned by the Marketing and Communications Manager.

Person Requirements

Competencies
  • Proven experience in supporting integrated campaigns across channels.
  • Ability to manage stakeholder relationships and assist in developing and coordinating communication strategies to meet business objectives.
  • Analytical skills to evaluate performance metrics and optimize activities.
  • Ability to write high-quality, audience-facing communications to meet objectives.
  • Project management skills for delivering communication projects, marketing collateral, and content marketing.
  • Strong oral communication, interpersonal, negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
  • Experience using research and data to inform communications strategy development.

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, public relations, or journalism.
  • Project management certification desirable

Experience
  • 3+ years of experience in a marketing or communications-related role.
  • Knowledge of Asana & Zendesk or other similar project management and ticketing tools
  • Experience in a customer facing/stakeholder management role (Preferred)
  • Higher Education Experience (Preferred)
  • Experience working in a bilingual organization/environment (Preferred)