Associate Director, Public Affairs

Opportunity

This role is for a seasoned public affairs leader to support government relations, policy advocacy, and strategic communications in Riyadh. The position will contribute to major campaigns tied to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and other national priorities, working within a growing public affairs team.

What you’ll bring

The ideal candidate is a driven public affairs professional who can lead confidently while also working closely with others as part of a broader team. You should have a strong background in issues management, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications, along with a solid grasp of Saudi Arabia’s policy and regulatory environment. Success in this role depends on your ability to build credible relationships with government stakeholders, clients, and partners, and to handle fast-changing policy situations with sound judgment and adaptability.

You will be expected to bring direction, strengthen team output, and deliver measurable impact across sectors and communication channels.

Responsibilities

• Shape and run public affairs programmes that support policy discussions and advance organisational priorities.
• Track, assess, and explain regulatory and policy changes in Saudi Arabia, turning them into practical insights for communication planning.
• Develop and sustain trusted relationships with government bodies, sector stakeholders, and partners to support issue management and influence public understanding.
• Create integrated communication plans spanning traditional media, digital channels, and stakeholder outreach to strengthen credibility and reputation.
• Advise leadership on new issues, risks, and opportunities, helping guide decisions and improve the organisation’s public position.
• Work with teams across regions to keep global and regional public affairs priorities aligned.
• Oversee the preparation of briefing documents, policy positions, and stakeholder engagement plans to maintain high-quality and consistent outputs.
• Support multi-stakeholder initiatives, events, and advocacy activities that help achieve business goals and reinforce credibility with key audiences.

Qualifications

This position calls for 10 or more years of experience in public affairs, government relations, policy advocacy, or strategic communications, ideally with direct exposure to Saudi Arabia’s policy and regulatory landscape.

A bachelor’s degree is required in Public Policy, Political Science, Communications, International Relations, or a similar discipline.

Full professional fluency in both Arabic and English, spoken and written, is essential.

Strong knowledge of Saudi Arabia’s political environment, policymaking processes, government stakeholders, and national initiatives such as Vision 2030 is important.

The role also requires excellent policy writing, analytical thinking, leadership capability, stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to manage complex workstreams under pressure.

Experience across sectors such as healthcare, technology, energy, transportation, or government is considered an advantage.

Who this role suits

Applicants should be experienced public affairs professionals who can lead teams, manage sensitive policy issues, communicate clearly with senior stakeholders, and contribute effectively in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment.

About APCO

APCO says it is committed to building teams with a wide range of expertise, viewpoints, and lived experiences. The organisation aims to foster an inclusive environment where people can belong, contribute, and grow.

• Shape and run public affairs programmes that support policy discussions and advance organisational priorities.
• Track, assess, and explain regulatory and policy changes in Saudi Arabia, turning them into practical insights for communication planning.
• Develop and sustain trusted relationships with government bodies, sector stakeholders, and partners to support issue management and influence public understanding.
• Create integrated communication plans spanning traditional media, digital channels, and stakeholder outreach to strengthen credibility and reputation.
• Advise leadership on new issues, risks, and opportunities, helping guide decisions and improve the organisation’s public position.
• Work with teams across regions to keep global and regional public affairs priorities aligned.
• Oversee the preparation of briefing documents, policy positions, and stakeholder engagement plans to maintain high-quality and consistent outputs.
• Support multi-stakeholder initiatives, events, and advocacy activities that help achieve business goals and reinforce credibility with key audiences.

• 10+ years of experience in public affairs, government relations, policy advocacy, or strategic communications, preferably in Saudi Arabia.
• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Communications, International Relations, or a related field.
• Professional fluency in Arabic and English, both written and spoken.
• Strong understanding of Saudi Arabia’s political system, policy processes, government stakeholders, and Vision 2030.
• Proven ability to write policy papers, briefing notes, and advocacy messages, supported by strong analysis skills.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including team leadership, multi-market coordination, and stakeholder strategy.
• Experience engaging ministries, regulators, industry groups, and media, including drafting public statements and supporting issue management.
• Ability to manage fast-moving policy matters, coordinate cross-functional input, and deliver high-quality work under pressure.
• Sector experience in healthcare, technology, energy, transportation, or government is a plus.

• Opportunity to work on high-profile public affairs campaigns aligned with Saudi Arabia’s national priorities.
• Chance to join a growing public affairs practice in Riyadh.
• Inclusive workplace culture focused on diverse perspectives, belonging, and professional growth.

Experienced professionals with a background in public affairs, government relations, policy advocacy, or strategic communications are encouraged to apply, especially those with Saudi Arabia market knowledge and full Arabic-English fluency.