Brand Development Manager

Key responsibilities

Brand equity growth

1. Build and own brand development strategies that expand the equity of each Asharq brand, from positioning and architecture to tone of voice.
2. Generate, pitch and implement ideas that raise awareness, recall and preference among B2C, B2B and B2G audiences: brand campaigns, partnerships, activations, events and owned-platform initiatives.
3. Track brand health through research, audience data and competitor benchmarking, and turn findings into clear recommendations.
4. Find new ways for the brands to show up, including emerging platforms, formats and AIand virtual-driven experiences. Brand consistency
5. Act as guardian of the Asharq brand identities across every internal touchpoint (on-air, digital, social, print, events, merchandise, office spaces, internal communications) and every external one, including Shahid, Etisalat, Nabd, Flipboard, OSN, STC, Gobox and Sling.
6. Create, maintain and roll out brand guidelines, templates and toolkits, including presentation and document templates for company-wide use.
7. Review and approve brand use by internal teams, partners and vendors, and correct deviations quickly.
8. Keep co-branded properties aligned with partner brand standards (Bloomberg, Warner Bros. Discovery) while protecting Asharq’s own identity.
9. Train and onboard teams on the brand so consistency becomes habit, not policing.
10. Audit touchpoints regularly and report on consistency, closing gaps that weaken recall. Hard skills

• Brand strategy: positioning, brand architecture, multi-brand portfolio management and brand equity measurement
• Brand governance: writing and enforcing brand guidelines, design systems and asset libraries
• AI tools: hands-on use of generative AI for ideation, image creation, copy and workflow speed with sound judgement on brand safety and rights
• Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator: strong working proficiency for layouts, brand assets and visual direction
• Adobe In. Design: guidelines, brand books and print collateral
• PowerPoint and Keynote: expert-level decks for pitches, strategy and leadership presentations, plus building master templates
• Research and analytics: brand tracking, audience insights and campaign performance reporting
• Project management: briefing, scheduling and managing agencies and vendors
• Languages: fluent English; Arabic strongly preferred Soft skills
• Strategic and creative thinking: connects business goals to brand ideas, and ideas to execution
• Eye for detail: spots inconsistencies others miss, in Arabic and English
• Self-motivated: works independently, and collaborates with and leads others when needed.
• Collaboration: works smoothly across departments, cities and partner organisations
• Influence without authority: gets teams, partners and senior stakeholders to follow the brand, diplomatically and firmly
• Clear communication: presents and writes with clarity and conviction, from boardroom to studio floor
• Ownership and drive: takes ideas from concept to launch without waiting to be asked
• Curiosity: keeps up with media, design and AI trends and brings them into the work
• Adaptability: stays calm and effective in a fast-moving, deadline-driven newsroom environment Qualifications and experience
• 7+ years in brand management or brand development, ideally in media, broadcast or a multi-brand organisation
• Proven record of growing brand equity, with measurable results
• Experience managing brand guidelines and co-branded or partner brands
• A portfolio showing brand strategy and executed work
• Experience in the GCC media market preferred
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Design, Business or a related field is a plus.