Overview
Head of Community Engagement Jobs in Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates at Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi)
Title: Head of Community Engagement
Company: Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi)
Location: Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates
We are currently looking for a Head of Community Engagement to support a key initiative within the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) on a 12-month freelance contract.
DCT Abu Dhabi is the government entity responsible for driving the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture, tourism and creative industries, playing a central role in positioning the emirate as a global hub.
The role owns the community and events pillar of a high-impact sector activation program. The successful candidate will design and build a thriving community through a year-round program of activities, local B2B and B2C events, and the attraction and hosting of global and local IPs.
Key Responsibilities
Community Strategy and Design
- Design the community-building strategy: target segments, engagement channels (physical venues, online platforms), flagship events, and a year-round activity calendar.
Community Programs and Grassroots Engagement
- Build and run recurring community programs: from concept definition to execution
- Grow and activate ecosystem around the sector’s programs and events.
B2B and B2C Event Portfolio
- Design the organic event portfolio: B2C events and B2B events (industry conferences, summits, showcases).
- Build the business case for each event: objectives, target audience, budget, revenue and sponsorship model, and expected community and sector impact.
- Oversee event delivery through operating partners, agencies, and venues; own quality, budget, and outcome accountability.
Global IP Attraction and Hosting
- Identify global IPs whose hosting in the UAE would accelerate community growth and sector positioning.
- Lead bids and negotiations to bring these IPs to the UAE, in B2B and B2C formats.
- Structure hosting arrangements: rights, obligations, delivery model, support requirements.
Performance and Reporting
- Define, own, and report the community and events KPI framework: community growth and engagement, event attendance and satisfaction, global IPs secured, sponsorship and partner revenue, and economic impact.
- Manage the community and events budget.
Candidate Requirements
Must Have
- Demonstrated track record of building event portfolios end-to-end: strategy, business case, partner selection, and delivery to measurable results.
- Track record of executional excellence of high-profile MICE events
- Experience negotiating and managing commercial partnerships or hosting agreements with stakeholders, including organizers, sponsors, and IP holders.
- Strong commercial and financial-assessment skills: comfortable building and defending business cases, owning budgets, and evaluating partnerships on strategic and financial merit.
Strongly Preferred
- Deep familiarity with the creative industries, media, interactive entertainment ecosystem.
- Established network among event organizers, content creators, and industry media.
- Arabic language ability is an asset; English fluency is required.
Contract Duration
12-month freelance contract
Location
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Interested candidates are welcome to apply or share their CV for consideration.
