Media Relations Lead Specialist

Role summary

This position is for an experienced media relations professional who works with broad guidance and is expected to resolve moderately complex issues, including escalations from junior team members. The role focuses on building practical solutions, managing operational media activity, and tracking performance across traditional media channels.

The successful candidate will be responsible for shaping media outreach, coordinating media coverage, securing advertising space, handling external communications, and producing monitoring and reporting outputs that support PR and brand objectives.

Media relations planning and management

• Carry out an internal review to determine media-related gaps and needs across traditional channels.
• Research leading practices and policy approaches in media relations and adapt them for use at ZATCA.
• Create media strategy, operating approach, policies, and processes based on internal findings and research so information reaches the target audience effectively through traditional media.
• Prepare rollout plans, timelines, calendars, and budgets for media relations work, including traditional media activities, to ensure orderly execution.
• Design media monitoring, reporting, and screening plans that support public relations goals and objectives.
• Draft detailed responses to media mentions in traditional channels in line with communication strategy, content guidelines, and ZATCA’s interests.
• Identify, evaluate, recommend, and work with media partners across traditional media that align with ZATCA’s brand identity.
• Develop and sustain strong working relationships with local, regional, and international media partners to ensure effective engagement through traditional channels.
• Obtain advertising placements in different forms of mass media by negotiating, buying, and overseeing ad space and airtime at the best possible cost.
• Coordinate media appearances for the Spokesperson and prepare briefing and interview materials.
• Manage outward-facing communication across newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, billboards, and similar channels while protecting ZATCA’s image and brand.
• Publish communication, promotional, and advertising content through ZATCA’s traditional media channels.
• Document and archive ZATCA’s external and internal contributions and media coverage.

Media relations monitoring and reporting

• Track implementation of the media strategy, suggest corrective actions when deviations appear, and escalate issues that require resolution.
• Monitor the distribution of marketing and communication content across assigned traditional channels to ensure consistency with brand image.
• Prepare and distribute surveys, gather reach data and media metrics from all traditional channels, and analyze results to improve future planning and update branding strategy when needed.
• Produce periodic reports with improvement insights based on the media monitoring plan to support PR objectives.
• Assess media agencies on quality, capacity, and cost, then share recommendations with senior management to support better decisions.

Organization and operations

• Work in accordance with applicable policies, processes, and standard operating procedures to ensure controlled and consistent delivery.
• Support junior team members in resolving escalated issues and keeping work moving efficiently.
• Escalate complex matters to the appropriate stakeholder to ensure proper closure.
• Carry out additional duties as assigned.

Education

A bachelor’s degree in Media, Public Relations, Journalism, Communications, or an equivalent field is required.

Experience

At least 4 years of relevant professional experience is required.

Competencies

• Ability to collaborate and communicate at a developing level
• Professional conduct at a proficient level
• Digital communication skills at a proficient level
• Marketing campaign capability at a proficient level
• Media production capability at a proficient level
• Public and media relations expertise at an advanced level
• Results-oriented working style at a proficient level
• Customer focus at a proficient level
• Capacity to support change and innovation at a developing level
• Vendor management skills at a proficient level