The British Embassy in Dubai has a vacancy for a Regional Marketing Manager, job grade Executive Officer (EO). This is for a fixed-term contract of three (3) years.  

Main purpose of job:  

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) promotes UK goods and services to buyers in the Middle East and Pakistan (MEaP); drives investment into the UK from the GCC, and delivers UK trade policy objectives, to drive economic growth and increase trade and investment flows between the UK and the region.  

DBT MEaP region covers nine markets:  the six GCC markets (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain), plus Iraq, Jordan, and Pakistan. Priority sectors align with the UK’s Industrial Strategy and Trade Strategy and include advanced manufacturing, creative services, clean energy, life sciences, financial services, and professional and business services among others.   

Reporting into the Deputy Head of Communication and Marketing, the jobholder will: 

• Deliver regional marketing campaigns that support DBT MEaP’s priorities in trade, investment and trade policy, working alongside the Deputy Head of Communication and Marketing. 
• Serve as the brand lead and brand guardian for the region, ensuring all communications and materials comply with GREAT branding guidelines consistent use of the GREAT visual identity. 
• Provide expert marketing advice to DBT teams across the region on traditional and digital marketing channels. 
• Manage the team’s operational functions, including budget forecasting, procurement, supplier relationships and resource management. 
• Build and maintain relationships with DBT teams across the region, DBT Communication & Marketing teams in London, and FCDO communications teams in Embassies across the region, working in a diverse and international commercial environment.  

 
The role requires technical marketing expertise across various channels and analytics (paid search, digital advertising, websites, LinkedIn, social media), strong organisational skills, and the ability to work independently across a geographically dispersed region. 

Roles and responsibilities: 

Marketing

• Contribute to the planning and delivery of DBT priority campaigns, providing specialist input on digital channels.
• Manage digital marketing campaign production timelines and delivery of marketing campaigns.
• Analyse website performance using Google Analytics 4 (GA4), producing and presenting weekly reports with recommendations for optimisation.
• Create and manage digital marketing campaign websites on Wagtail (open-source Python CMS) in English and Arabic, liaising with DDaT in HQ to resolve technical issues and ensure alignment with campaign objectives. Manage and maintain updates to campaign sites. Support campaign evaluation and strategic planning.
• Lead on the production of marketing materials to promote UK trade and investment opportunities to businesses in the region. Develop and produce promotional materials for specific commercial events including invitations, email marketing and event material.

Branding

• Be the regional DBT brand champion responsible for ensuring that all communications and materials produced comply with GREAT branding guidelines, promoting consistent use of the GREAT visual identity, and acting as a point of contact for colleagues who have questions about correct logo usage, templates, and brand standards. Responsible for maintaining and updating brand resources like Canva templates, brand assets, etc.
• Approve templated designs from sector leads for collateral ensuring brand guidelines are followed. 
• Create and deliver monthly branding and event training for country sector leads.  
• Design, deliver and evaluate monthly branding and event training for country sector leads, adapting content based on feedback and emerging needs. 

Event Support

• Act as the primary point of contact for marketing and event managers in UAE and Saudi Arabia, providing guidance and quality assurance on larger projects. 
• Provide event-related guidance and support for the rest of the MEaP region – Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Pakistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman, identifying solutions to delivery challenges and ensuring consistency with regional standards.  

Operations and resource management

• Manage and maintain the MEaP C&M SharePoint site, ensuring information is organised, accessible and up to date for regional colleagues. 
• Manage relationships with internal and external suppliers (design agencies, printers, logistics companies), negotiating to deliver quality marketing services and value for money. 
• Monitor and forecast the team’s budget, managing the finance spreadsheet, forecasting spending in EPM, and tracking actuals in OAC to ensure accuracy. Provide regular budget updates to senior management and flag variances. Raise requisitions and POs, receipting goods/services, liaise with HQ finance and media buying agency finance teams.  
• Lead procurement exercises for suppliers, working with the FCDO Procurement team to ensure compliance with processes and achieve value for money. 

The FCDO is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We do not discriminate on any basis, including categories protected by law. In keeping with the FCDO’s commitment to disability inclusion in the workplace, hiring managers must incorporate the principles set out in the FCDO Disability Confident scheme job applications in the CBS recruitment process.  Our CBS are recruited by Missions in-country in line with local employment laws. 

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required.  

Key behaviours required:  

• Managing a Quality Service: Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise, and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs. 
• Delivering at Pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive. 
• Making Effective Decisions: Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions. 
• Seeing the bigger picture: Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest. 
• Working Together: Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support. 

• A minimum of three years’ experience working in a marketing role with responsibilities similar or relevant to those outlined above. 
• A university degree or equivalent qualification in marketing.
• A successful track record of supporting international marketing campaigns in the Middle East.
• Proven ability to manage suppliers and agencies.
• Deep understanding of digital, social media and content marketing channels.  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.  
• Excellent organisational and self-management skills to respond effectively to tight – and changing – deadlines and priorities.  
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, including stakeholder engagement skills to build relationships and credibility with colleagues and within the UK government network.  
• Ability to work independently, managing competing priorities and exercising judgement to resolve day-to-day issues. 
• Experience of budget management and financial administration, including forecasting, monitoring spends and maintaining accurate financial records.
• Competent in using Canva to produce on-brand visual content for digital and print channels.
• Experience in brand management, including applying brand guidelines and ensuring consistency across communications outputs.