Senior Manager, International Communications – GCC (Contractor)

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Saudi Arabia)

12-Month Contractor

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Hybrid - 3 days on site in Riyadh, (2 days working from home)

Looking for opportunities with purpose, impact and possibilities? Our client, Vertex, is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation. As they grow their pipeline at pace, they are strengthening their reputation for creating transformative medicines for people with serious diseases.

The Senior Manager, International Communications – GCC is a 12-month contract role, responsible for ensuring continuity in the delivery of Vertex’s communications priorities across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia.

Based in Riyadh, the contractor will be responsible for executing external and corporate communications strategies and activities across the GCC in close collaboration with International Communications and cross-functional colleagues in the region.

The role will help strengthen Vertex’s corporate profile, support key business and product-related communications priorities, and ensure the effective implementation of international communications programs across the GCC.

Given the contract nature of the assignment, the role requires a hands-on and experienced communications professional who can integrate quickly, operate independently, manage multiple stakeholders, and maintain momentum across established priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement communications plans and activities across the GCC, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia, in alignment with International Communications strategy and local and regional business priorities.
• Support the delivery of external communications and media relations activities, including proactive media opportunities and reactive communications.
• Develop and coordinate communications materials, including press releases, Q&A documents, background materials, briefing documents, and spokesperson preparation.
• Partner closely with cross-functional colleagues across the GCC and International teams to identify external communications opportunities and support spokesperson engagements and media interviews.
• Adapt global and international communications materials and messaging for markets across the GCC, ensuring local relevance.
• Support the execution of locally relevant social media and digital communications activities, where appropriate.
• Provide stakeholder, media, and reputational insights from across the GCC to inform regional and international communications planning.
• Monitor the external environment and identify emerging issues, opportunities, and potential reputational risks.
• Support issues preparedness, mitigation, and management in alignment with international messaging and escalation processes.
• Oversee media monitoring, insights, and reporting across the GCC, ensuring that relevant developments are shared with appropriate cross-functional stakeholders.
• Support congresses, events, media activities, and other external engagement opportunities across the GCC.
• Coordinate and manage communications agencies supporting GCC markets, including the delivery of agreed activities, timelines, and budgets.
• Support locally relevant internal communications and employee engagement activities across the GCC, where required.
• Ensure all communications activities and materials comply with applicable company policies, regulatory requirements, and industry standards.
• Maintain close alignment with International Communications and escalate significant issues, risks, or deviations from agreed plans promptly.
• Ensure effective handover and continuity of priority GCC communications activities at the beginning and end of the assignment.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

The successful contractor will bring:

• Significant professional experience in corporate communications, external communications, public relations, or a related field.
• Good understanding of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology environment across the GCC, particularly in Saudi Arabia.
• Proven experience delivering external communications, media relations, and digital communications in collaboration with global or international teams.
• Strong knowledge of the media landscape across the GCC, particularly in Saudi Arabia, and, ideally, established relationships with relevant media contacts.
• Experience developing press materials, briefing documents, Q&As, executive communications, and spokesperson preparation.
• Experience in issues preparedness, reputation management, and reactive communications.
• Ability to translate global or international strategies and materials into locally relevant communications.
• Strong project-management skills, including experience managing multiple projects, agencies, timelines, budgets, and competing priorities.
• Ability to operate independently, exercise sound judgement, and deliver high-quality work with limited direction.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration, influencing, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Confidence working with senior leaders, external experts, agencies, media, and other high-profile stakeholders.
• Excellent strategic thinking combined with a practical, hands-on, and execution-focused approach.
• Demonstrated knowledge of relevant communications compliance requirements and principles within a regulated pharmaceutical or biotechnology environment.

Education and Language Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience in communications, public relations, business, science, liberal arts, or a related discipline.
• In-house communications experience in pharmaceuticals or biotechnology.
• Alternatively, substantial experience in a healthcare communications agency.
• Fluency in Arabic and English, both written and spoken.
• Strong cultural awareness and the ability to work effectively across local, regional, and international teams.

Vertex is partnering with Talent Works to manage their international temporary job openings. If you are successful in your application, you will be employed by Talent Works to work on a temporary assignment at Vertex