Public Relations Specialist

About the role

The Public Relations Specialist will be responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships with media representatives to maximise the visibility of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) across local and international outlets. This role supports HBKU’s strategic communication goals and contributes to the university’s reputation in a multicultural environment.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement media relations strategies that align with HBKU’s short‑ and long‑term vision.
• Establish and nurture contacts with journalists, editors, and other media professionals.
• Draft, edit, and distribute press releases, news articles, and other communication materials.
• Monitor media coverage, analyse trends, and provide regular reports to senior management.
• Coordinate media activities for university events, conferences and research announcements.
• Identify opportunities for positive exposure in both local and international media.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or a related field.
• 2‑5 years of full‑time experience in public relations or media relations, preferably in an educational setting.
• Strong understanding of cultural, local and international best practices in PR.
• Familiarity with HBKU’s vision and the ability to translate it into communication actions.
• Excellent written English; Arabic proficiency is an advantage.
• Commitment to HBKU’s organisational objectives.

Required skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).