Head of Marketing & Communications, UAE

Job description

- Head of Marketing & Communications, UAE - Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Department: Marketing & Communications - Reports to: CEO, ICEYE Middle East (UAE), with dotted line to the Chief Marketing Officer - Employment type: Permanent - Workplace model: Hybrid – Abu Dhabi office - Employment is subject to applicable security screening (incl. SUPO, where required) WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS Lead ICEYE's marketing and communications function across the United Arab Emirates, building the sovereign ISR brand and go-to-market presence with defense, government, and strategic partners across the UAE. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role: you will set the local strategy, build the team and agency network, and act as the primary marketing and communications voice for ICEYE's UAE business, working in close partnership with the UAE CEO, the global CMO, and the wider Marketing & Communications organization. WHO WE ARE ICEYE is the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space. We deliver persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth. ICEYE owns the world’s largest and most advanced SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite constellation. To our customers we provide intelligence with unmatched quality, latency and revisit times, in any weather, day or night. To governments who choose to operate their own constellation we provide this proven capability as a sovereign system. ICEYE-built constellations serve customers in defence and intelligence, environmental monitoring, insurance and emergency management. We enable fast decisions that contribute to a safer future. Founded and headquartered in Finland, ICEYE operates globally with over 1000 employees across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. YOUR DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITIES - Own and lead the marketing and communications strategy for ICEYE UAE, aligning campaigns, brand positioning, and stakeholder engagement with national defense, security, and government priorities across the UAE. - Build and lead the local marketing and communications function, managing agency and freelance partners today and mentoring team members as the function grows. - Design and execute high-impact campaigns across PR, events, digital, social media, and thought leadership content that position ICEYE as the sovereign ISR partner of choice for UAE defense and government decision-makers. - Localize global messaging for the UAE market, overseeing media relations, press office operations, executive communications, and local social media presence. - Lead the planning and execution of strategic events, trade shows (e.g. IDEX, Dubai Airshow, World Defense Show), customer workshops, and high-level engagement visits to ensure a strong brand presence. - Design a comprehensive communications strategy and build thought leadership positioning for ICEYE and its executives in the UAE. - Develop localized sales enablement materials, briefings, and tools tailored to UAE defense, government, and intelligence audiences to support pipeline progression. - Build and execute trade and channel co-marketing initiatives with local partners, integrators, and industry associations across in the UAE. - Own the regional marketing budget, KPI reporting, and CRM/dashboard discipline, reporting outcomes to the UAE CEO and the global CMO. - Coordinate cross-functionally with global marketing, regional sales, and external Public Affairs/Government Relations agencies to align communications with institutional engagement priorities. - Act as a trusted advisor to the UAE CEO on brand, reputation, and stakeholder communications, and to the global CMO on regional market intelligence and narrative consistency. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Must haves: - 10+ years of marketing and/or communications experience in a B2G environment, including senior or leadership experience, with campaigns in defense, government, or the public sector — ideally in the UAE or wider GCC. - Strong written and verbal communication skills, with fluency in business English; Arabic fluency strongly preferred. - Demonstrated experience building or leading a marketing/communications function, including managing budgets, agencies, and, where applicable, direct reports. - Track record of proactive, self-driven execution with measurable impact, strong conceptual skills, and comfort operating at both strategic and hands-on levels. - Experience in trade and channel co-marketing, with the ability to build credibility with senior defense, government, and policy audiences. - Proven ability to collaborate and influence across diverse stakeholders, including global marketing, regional sales, executive leadership, and external agency partners. - Flexible, positive attitude with an entrepreneurial, hands-on drive, thriving in a fast-paced, agile growth environment. Nice to haves: - Experience in marketing or PR engagement with UAE / GCC defense entities. - Existing network among UAE/GCC defense, aerospace, and policy media. - Experience working alongside Public Affairs or Government Relations agencies in the Gulf region. - Knowledge of New Space, Earth observation, or synthetic aperture radar (SAR). - Familiarity with UAE space-sector institutions (e.g. UAE Space Agency, MBRSC). APPLICATION PROCESS - TA Screening (30 min) - Hiring Manager Interview (60 min) - Local CEO Interview (60 min) - Task Presentation and discussion - Security vetting to be completed before start, in sync with the Security team. WORKING AT ICEYE At ICEYE, you'll join a diverse and highly engaged team united by the ambition to make the impossible possible. As a global scale-up, we combine speed and ambition with the opportunity to take real ownership from day one. Your growth, wellbeing, and success are a priority, with continuous professional development, training opportunities, and a culture where collaboration is how we win. HOW WE WORK (OUR VALUES) - Make impossible possible: We set ambitious goals and stay calm under pressure. We bring grit, optimism, and ownership when things get hard, and we keep moving until we find a way. - Be curious: Go deep, ask questions, listen carefully, and think critically. Understand the “why” behind decisions. - See the big picture: Stay close to what's happening across the company so you can make better decisions. Consider how your work affects others. - Drive effective teamwork: Create psychological safety, invite different perspectives, and build inclusive teams. There are no bad questions. - Act as one team: We win together. We match tasks to the right owner and stay agile as priorities shift. - Have fun: What we do matters — and it should be enjoyable. Celebrate progress, take pride in results, and share the wins. BENEFITS Our benefits are designed to support your health and wellbeing, at work and beyond. We keep improving them based on employee feedback, and offerings vary by location. Talent Acquisition will confirm what applies for this role and location during the process. Base salary range for this position is contingent on your experience and will be negotiated individually. OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION We want ICEYE to be a place where people can be themselves and do great work. Different backgrounds and perspectives make us stronger, which is why we work to create an environment where people feel included, respected, and able to speak up. Whatever your background, we want you to bring your authentic self to the table. We're committed to fair, inclusive hiring and equal opportunity. Everyone is welcome to apply. If you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, tell us — we'll do our best to help. Apply now to start your ICEYE journey, and help us continue to make the impossible possible together. Read more about ICEYE and working with us at iceye.com http://iceye.com.