Head of Community Engagement

About the Role

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) seeks a Head of Community Engagement for a key 12-month contract position. The role involves leading the community and events segment within a major sector activation program designed to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s status as a global center of culture, tourism, and creative industries.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop a comprehensive community-building strategy, including segment targeting, engagement channels both physical and online, flagship event planning, and a coordinated year-round activity schedule.
• Create and manage ongoing community programs from initial concept through implementation.
• Expand and energize the ecosystem surrounding the sector’s community programs and events.
• Design and oversee a balanced portfolio of B2B and B2C events such as industry conferences, summits, and showcases.
• Construct detailed business cases for each event, defining goals, audience, budgeting, revenue, sponsorship models, and anticipated community and sector impacts.
• Coordinate event execution in partnership with agencies, operating partners, and venues, ensuring quality, budget adherence, and performance outcomes.
• Identify and secure international intellectual properties (IPs) for hosting in the UAE to boost community growth and sector visibility through negotiation and bid leadership.
• Manage contractual arrangements, rights, requirements, and delivery models for global IP hosting.
• Establish and maintain a KPI framework monitoring community expansion, engagement, event metrics, sponsorship revenue, and economic influence, coupled with budget oversight.

Candidate Profile

• Proven expertise in end-to-end management of event portfolios with strategic, financial, and operational oversight leading to verifiable outcomes.
• Strong background in delivering premium MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events.
• Experience in negotiating and managing commercial partnerships and hosting agreements with diverse stakeholders.
• Advanced commercial acumen and skill in financial evaluations, business case development, budget responsibility, and partnership appraisal.
• Highly desirable: intimate knowledge of creative industries, media, and interactive entertainment sectors.
• Existing network within event organizing, content creation, and industry media sectors is an advantage.
• Fluency in English is essential; proficiency in Arabic is a plus.

Contract Details

This position is offered as a 12-month freelance contract based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.