&nbsp; <div> <div>We&rsquo;re partnering with a leading global strategic advisory firm to appoint a Research &amp; Insights Director &mdash; a critical leadership role acting as the right hand to the Head of Research. This is an opportunity to sit at the intersection of data, strategy, and client advisory, shaping how research translates into real commercial and reputational impact. &nbsp;&nbsp; The Role As a senior operator, you will lead end-to-end research programs, from methodology design through to insight delivery. You&rsquo;ll work closely with senior stakeholders, advising on the best research approaches while ensuring outputs are sharp, actionable, and commercially grounded. This role requires someone who is equally comfortable designing research frameworks, managing delivery, and presenting to clients at a senior level. &nbsp;&nbsp; Key Responsibilities <ul> <li>Lead full-cycle research projects (quantitative &amp; qualitative) from design to delivery</li> <li>Advise clients on research methodologies aligned to business and strategic objectives</li> <li>Translate complex datasets into clear, compelling, and commercially relevant insights</li> <li>Manage and oversee external research agencies and partners</li> <li>Ensure quality, rigor, and consistency across all research outputs</li> <li>Support the Head of Research in driving team performance and capability building</li> <li>Present findings and recommendations to senior client stakeholders</li> </ul> &nbsp;&nbsp; What We&rsquo;re Looking For <ul> <li>Strong experience in primary research (agency or in-house)</li> <li>Proven ability to run end-to-end research programs independently</li> <li>Experience managing external vendors / research agencies</li> <li>Highly client-facing with strong stakeholder management skills</li> <li>Ability to connect insights to commercial, strategic, or reputational outcomes</li> <li>Excellent storytelling and presentation skills</li> <li>Experience within consulting, advisory, communications, or insights-led environments is a plus</li> </ul> </div> </div> &nbsp; Please note that MCG Talent can only respond to those candidates that we feel meet the criteria laid out by our client.

Research and Insights Director

A leading global advisory firm is seeking a high-caliber Managing Director to lead and grow its Strategic and Government Communications offering across the region. This is a senior leadership role suited to a commercially driven, hands-on operator with the gravitas to advise CEOs, ministers, and senior policymakers. &nbsp;&nbsp; You will play a pivotal role in shaping complex narratives, advising on high-stakes situations, and driving business growth across key markets. &nbsp;&nbsp; Key Responsibilities <ul> <li>Lead and expand strategic and government communications mandates across the region</li> <li>Act as a trusted advisor to C-suite executives, ministers, and senior government stakeholders</li> <li>Provide counsel on reputation management, public affairs, policy communications, and crisis situations</li> <li>Drive new business development, contributing directly to revenue growth and market expansion</li> <li>Build, mentor, and lead high-performing teams across multiple markets</li> <li>Develop integrated communication strategies aligned with political, regulatory, and economic landscapes</li> <li>Stay ahead of regional geopolitical dynamics and translate them into actionable client strategies</li> </ul> &nbsp;&nbsp; Key Requirements <ul> <li>Senior communications leader with extensive experience in strategic communications and/or government advisory</li> <li>Proven track record operating across the Middle East or comparable international markets</li> <li>Demonstrated ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders (CEO, Board, Ministerial level)</li> <li>Strong commercial acumen with a hunter mindset&mdash;driven, ambitious, and growth-oriented</li> <li>Hands-on leadership style&mdash;willing to roll up sleeves while maintaining strategic oversight</li> <li>Experienced team leader with a passion for developing talent and building culture</li> <li>Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and crisis handling skills</li> </ul> &nbsp; <div> <div>Please note that MCG Talent can only respond to those candidates that we feel meet the criteria laid out by our client.</div> </div>

Managing Director - Strategic & Government Communications

We are seeking a Lead Houdini Artist to join a high-performing, agile creative team in the UAE. This role is positioned as a senior, hands-on specialist, focused on delivering exceptional Houdini-based work across motion design, VFX, and real-time pipelines. &nbsp;&nbsp; This is not a traditional team management role. Instead, the Lead will act as a right hand to leadership, bringing strong ownership, technical depth, and the ability to drive projects end-to-end. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable working directly with clients, guiding internal teams, and executing complex Houdini work themselves. &nbsp;&nbsp; Key Responsibilities Creative &amp; Technical Execution <ul> <li>Lead the creation of high-quality Houdini-based simulations, procedural systems, and visual effects</li> <li>Deliver hands-on work across motion design, VFX, and real-time environments</li> <li>Ensure creative output aligns with client expectations and project briefs</li> <li>Troubleshoot and optimize complex scenes, simulations, and workflows</li> </ul> Project Ownership &amp; Delivery <ul> <li>Take full ownership of projects from brief through to final delivery</li> <li>Manage feedback loops between clients and internal teams, ensuring clarity and efficiency</li> <li>Oversee project flow using task management systems and production pipelines</li> <li>Ensure deadlines, quality standards, and deliverables are consistently met</li> </ul> Client &amp; Stakeholder Engagement <ul> <li>Act as a confident, client-facing representative during key stages of delivery</li> <li>Translate client requirements into actionable creative and technical direction</li> <li>Bridge the gap between creative output and client expectations</li> </ul> Team Collaboration &amp; Guidance <ul> <li>Brief, guide, and support team members to ensure strong execution</li> <li>Provide mentorship and technical input without formal line management responsibility</li> <li>Step in to support operational delivery when needed, ensuring continuity across projects</li> </ul> Target Background / Ideal Experience We are particularly interested in candidates coming from: <ul> <li>Motion design studios with strong use of Houdini in their pipelines</li> <li>VFX houses, particularly within commercial and advertising environments</li> <li>Select game development studios where Houdini is embedded in the production pipeline</li> <li>Candidates should be experienced in fast-paced, client-driven environments with a strong balance of creativity and technical skill.</li> </ul> Key Requirements <ul> <li>5+ years of experience working with Houdini in motion design, VFX, or related fields</li> <li>Strong portfolio demonstrating procedural workflows, simulations, and high-end visual output</li> <li>Proven ability to work in client-facing roles and manage feedback effectively</li> <li>Experience with production pipelines, task management systems, and collaborative workflows</li> <li>Strong understanding of rendering workflows (Redshift, Arnold, Karma, or similar)</li> </ul> Please note that MCG Talent can only respond to those candidates that we feel meet the criteria laid out by our client.

Lead Artist (Houdini)

Applied AEO Lead &ndash; Generative Search &amp; AI Discovery Our client is creating a new, high-accountability role to build and prove Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) as a real inbound growth channel. This role will design and implement an AEO strategy that materially increases qualified inbound enquiries generated via AI answer engines. What You&rsquo;ll Do <ul> <li>Design an end-to-end AEO strategy aligned to how modern LLMs ingest, interpret, and surface answers</li> <li>Diagnose why strong SEO visibility isn&rsquo;t translating into AI recommendations &mdash; and fix it</li> <li>Audit and implement hands-on technical changes across:</li> <li>Structured data &amp; schema</li> <li>Entity optimisation &amp; knowledge graphs</li> <li>Machine-readable FAQs and credibility signals</li> <li>Define AEO-specific metrics and attribution models</li> <li>Prove impact through measurable AI-originated inbound leads</li> </ul> This is hands-on, technical work &mdash; not slide decks or content calendars. &nbsp;&nbsp; Who This Is For <ul> <li>5&ndash;10 years&rsquo; experience in technical SEO, search architecture, applied AI, data engineering, or similar</li> <li>Deep understanding of how AI models source, weight, and recommend information</li> <li>Strong technical literacy (schemas, entities, APIs, machine-readable content)</li> <li>Commercial, outcome-driven mindset</li> <li>Comfortable operating under pressure with clear performance expectations</li> </ul> Please note that MCG Talent can only respond to those candidates that we feel meet the criteria laid out by our client.

AI Search Optimisation (AEO) Lead

Our client is a prominent player in the retail space, currently scaling operations across key Middle East markets.They seek an Assistant Finance Manager to handle core financial operations on the ground, from budgeting and reporting to stakeholder coordination. &nbsp;&nbsp; This role demands strong analytical skills and regional experience, with Mandarin or Cantonese fluency highly valued for cross-team collaboration. &nbsp;&nbsp; Key Responsibilities: <ul> <li>Assist in preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and reports.</li> <li>Manage budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis for operational units.</li> <li>Oversee accounts payable/receivable, cash flow management, and bank reconciliations.</li> <li>Support audits, tax compliance, and regulatory filings in the UAE.</li> <li>Collaborate with regional teams on cost control, expense tracking, and financial planning.</li> <li>Analyze financial data to provide insights and recommendations for business growth.</li> <li>Handle vendor payments, payroll coordination, and intercompany transactions.</li> </ul> &nbsp;&nbsp; Requirements: <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field (ACA/ACCA/CPA preferred).</li> <li>3-5 years of experience in finance roles, ideally in retail/luxury or Middle East markets.</li> <li>Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and advanced Excel.</li> <li>Fluency in English required; Mandarin/Cantonese a significant advantage.</li> </ul> &nbsp; <div> <div>Please note that MCG Talent can only respond to those candidates that we feel meet the criteria laid out by our client.</div> </div>

Assistant Manager Finance

We are looking for a hands-on Animator with strong Houdini expertise to support the creation of high-quality motion, animation, and show builds across live projects and pitches. This role is highly execution-focused, requiring someone who can assemble scenes, implement client feedback efficiently, and work within internal tools and pipelines. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, technically strong in Houdini, and comfortable working in fast-paced, client-driven environments. &nbsp;&nbsp; Key Responsibilities Animation &amp; Build <ul> <li>Create and assemble static builds, animations, and show sequences using Houdini</li> <li>Work within internal tools and pipelines to construct scenes and deliver assets efficiently</li> <li>Support both live projects and pitch work, adapting quickly to changing requirements</li> </ul> Houdini Execution <ul> <li>Develop and refine procedural setups, simulations, and animation systems in Houdini</li> <li>Ensure all work is optimized for performance and aligned with production standards</li> <li>Troubleshoot and resolve technical challenges within Houdini workflows</li> </ul> Feedback &amp; Iteration <ul> <li>Implement client and internal feedback quickly and accurately</li> <li>Collaborate closely with creative and production teams to refine output</li> <li>Maintain consistency and quality across iterations</li> </ul> Collaboration <ul> <li>Work closely with artists, designers, and technical teams to deliver cohesive outputs</li> <li>Support the team in meeting tight deadlines and high-quality expectations</li> </ul> &nbsp;&nbsp; Key Requirement (Critical) <ul> <li>Strong, hands-on experience with Houdini is essential</li> <li>Candidates without solid Houdini experience will not be considered due to onboarding complexity and pipeline dependency</li> </ul> Target Background / Ideal Experience We are particularly interested in candidates from: <ul> <li>Motion design studios with strong Houdini integration</li> <li>VFX houses, ideally within commercial/advertising environments</li> <li>Game development studios where Houdini is embedded in the production pipeline</li> </ul> Key Requirements <ul> <li>3&ndash;6+ years of experience in animation, motion design, or VFX</li> <li>Proven experience working extensively in Houdini</li> <li>Strong understanding of animation principles, timing, and composition</li> <li>Experience working within structured pipelines and production workflows</li> <li>Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple iterations</li> </ul> &nbsp; <div>Please note that MCG Talent can only respond to those candidates that we feel meet the criteria laid out by our client.</div>

Animator (Houdini Specialist)

We are currently hiring for a Social Media Manager to work for a client in Dubai that designs and manufactures elegant, high-quality watches, jewelry, handbags, perfumes, and leather goods designed to enhance personal style. &nbsp;&nbsp; The Role As Social Media Marketing Manager, you will take a hands-on role in executing our marketing vision. You will be responsible for driving integrated campaigns across digital, social media, and influencer marketing, ensuring alignment with the brand&rsquo;s identity. This includes both strategic and operational responsibilities- from ideation and planning to execution and performance analysis. &nbsp;&nbsp; Responsibilities <ul> <li>Plan and create strategies focusing on awareness, engagement, and conversion.</li> <li>Manage the day-to-day operations of social media channels (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook), including content planning, scheduling, publishing, and community engagement, running Google &amp; Meta ads.</li> <li>Contribute creatively to campaign ideation, brand storytelling, and audience engagement strategies.</li> <li>Drive marketing initiatives, product launches, and seasonal campaigns through strategic planning, execution, and timely content delivery.</li> <li>Create and manage a content calendar, tag &amp; organize relevant assets by creating an asset library, manage hashtags, &amp; identify relevant occasions and opportunities for sales and special offers.</li> <li>Identify and manage influencer partnerships to amplify brand presence and drive product interest.</li> <li>Copywrite social media content and eMail blasts. Plan, send, measure, and optimize eMail blasts.</li> <li>Track, analyze, and report on campaign performance metrics (social media, email, influencer) and suggest optimizations based on insights.</li> <li>Stay informed on industry trends, competitive activity, and customer behavior to help inform marketing decisions and identify growth opportunities.</li> </ul> &nbsp;&nbsp; Qualifications <ul> <li>2&ndash;5 years of experience in a social media, content, or brand/marketing role in the UAE, ideally in fashion, lifestyle, or eCommerce.</li> <li>Experience managing social platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook) and executing content/marketing calendars.</li> <li>Familiarity with influencer marketing and content collaborations.</li> <li>Hands-on experience with Klaviyo, G-Suite, and social media scheduling tools (e.g. Hootsuite).</li> <li>Experience with Adobe Suite, or other creative tools.</li> <li>Strong English communication skills (written &amp; spoken); Arabic language skills are a strong plus.</li> <li>Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field preferred.</li> </ul> Please note that MCG Talent can only respond to those candidates that we feel meet the criteria laid out by our client.

Social Media Marketing Manager

A fast-growing, performance-driven agency is looking to appoint a Head of Performance to lead and scale its performance marketing function across key regional and international accounts. This is a senior, high-impact role for someone who combines strategic vision with hands-on expertise, and who thrives in building teams, frameworks, and measurable growth engines. &nbsp;&nbsp; The Role As Head of Performance, you will: <ul> <li>Own the overall performance strategy across paid media, growth, and conversion</li> <li>Lead, mentor, and scale a high-performing team</li> <li>Set performance frameworks, KPIs, and best practices across clients</li> <li>Partner closely with leadership, strategy, and creative teams to drive results</li> <li>Act as a trusted advisor to senior clients, translating data into actionable insights</li> <li>Stay ahead of performance trends, platforms, and emerging technologies</li> </ul> &nbsp;&nbsp; What We&rsquo;re Looking For <ul> <li>Proven experience leading performance marketing at agency or high-growth environments</li> <li>Strong background across paid media, growth, analytics, and optimization</li> <li>Experience managing teams and senior stakeholders</li> <li>Commercial mindset with a focus on impact and accountability</li> <li>Comfortable operating at both strategic and executional levels</li> </ul> Please note that MCG Talent can only respond to those candidates that we feel meet the criteria laid out by our client.

Performance Director

This is a full-time, on-site role based in Dubai. The Media Consultancy Manager will lead client relationships, manage and develop a team, and take ownership of media and digital strategy, performance, and optimisation across assigned accounts. &nbsp;&nbsp; Key Responsibilities: <ul> <li>Own senior client relationships and act as the lead strategic partner across accounts</li> <li>Lead, mentor, and coach team members to ensure high performance and development</li> <li>Review media and digital campaign performance, identifying optimisation and improvement opportunities</li> <li>Develop media and digital strategies, including planning, optimisation, and performance enhancement</li> <li>Build strong relationships with clients and internal and external stakeholders</li> <li>Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the media and digital landscape, tools, platforms, and data</li> <li>Make confident, commercially sound decisions to deliver against agreed KPIs</li> </ul> &nbsp;&nbsp; Requirements: <ul> <li>Bachelor&rsquo;s degree</li> <li>Minimum 4 years&rsquo; experience in media planning and digital, within a leading media or digital agency</li> <li>Strong analytical capability with the ability to translate data into insights and actions</li> <li>Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills</li> <li>Hands-on experience managing and optimising media and digital campaigns</li> <li>High attention to detail, accountability, and strong team collaboration</li> </ul> Please note that MCG Talent can only respond to those candidates that we feel meet the criteria laid out by our client.

Media Manager

An exciting opportunity has opened up for an experienced Account Director to join a leading global communications agency&rsquo;s Destination Marketing practice in Dubai. This role is ideal for a senior communications professional with strong B2B / corporate real estate experience who thrives in fast-paced, high-impact environments and enjoys shaping reputation-led strategies for major destinations and developments across the region. Key Responsibilities: <ul> <li>Leading and managing key accounts within destination marketing, with a focus on B2B / corporate real estate clients</li> <li>Designing and delivering integrated corporate and consumer communication strategies</li> <li>Driving B2B and corporate media relations, building trusted relationships with business, real estate, and trade media</li> <li>Overseeing press office activity, identifying proactive story angles and managing reactive media enquiries</li> <li>Acting as a trusted strategic advisor to senior clients on complex communications challenges</li> <li>Developing high-quality content including thought leadership, press materials, presentations, and narratives for B2B audiences</li> <li>Mentoring and managing junior team members to ensure excellence in delivery&nbsp;&nbsp;</li> </ul> Qualifications: <ul> <li>Proven experience at Account Director level (or equivalent) within an agency or in-house environment</li> <li>Strong background in B2B / corporate real estate communications</li> <li>Demonstrated ability to bridge corporate and consumer communications</li> <li>Excellent media relations credentials within business, real estate, or trade media</li> <li>Solid experience in destination marketing and/or real estate communications</li> <li>Strategic mindset with the ability to lead complex, integrated campaigns</li> <li>Confident client leader and trusted advisor at senior stakeholder level</li> <li>Arabic &amp; English bilingual skills are highly desirable</li> <li>Dubai-based (or ready to relocate)</li> </ul> Please note that MCG Talent can only respond to those candidates that we feel meet the criteria laid out by our client.

Communications Manager (Destination/Real Estate)

Even experienced professionals can get jittery before interviews, but there&rsquo;s a simple way to calm those nerves: preparation. No matter how many interviews you've been through, personalising your approach for each one increases your chances of landing the job. The journey to interview success doesn't start in the interview room or in a virtual call; it begins way before that. Here are some straightforward tips to help you get ready.
Research the company:&nbsp;Before your interview do a deep dive into the company. Having a comprehensive understanding of the company not only boosts your confidence in answering questions about your interest in the role, but also positions you as a well-prepared candidate. Social media channels are a great way to get insights on the most current projects the company are working on, also check out the company&rsquo;s website or do a Google search to see if they have recently featured in any news articles.
Align your CV with the job description:&nbsp;Looking for ways your CV aligns with the job description is a strategic move that will help you feel prepared going into your interview. Demonstrating this alignment through specific examples not only bolsters your credibility but also presents a strong case for your suitability for the role. If, for instance, the job description shows that budget management is a key responsibility, be ready to provide an example of how you have successfully overseen budgets in previous roles. These type of tangible demonstrations of your capabilities showcases your ability to fulfill the role's requirements
Prepare some questions:&nbsp;This one is really crucial, you should aim to prepare 5-10 questions to ask at your interview. To account for the possibility of your prepared questions being addressed during the interview, it's wise to have a diverse selection of questions at the ready. The quality and depth of the questions you ask serve as a direct reflection of your enthusiasm, eagerness, and perceptiveness, so take some time to prepare some thoughtful questions.
Research the interviewer:&nbsp;Attempt to find out who your interviewers are in advance. The interview invitation email might contain this detail. Use LinkedIn and the 'About Us' section on the company's website to delve into their professional backgrounds. This can help you to establish a connection with the interviewers.
Have your answers ready for the common questions:&nbsp;Some of the most common questions you get asked at an interview are sometimes the most difficult to answer. You should prepare in advance to answer questions like &ndash; &lsquo;why do you want to work for this company?&rsquo;, &lsquo;what are your salary expectations?&rsquo; and &lsquo;why are you looking for a new role?&rsquo; Preparing for common interview questions will help you feel more ready to showcase your best self. &nbsp;
Plan for your interview environment:&nbsp;For virtual interviews, ensure familiarity with the required technology and pre-download any necessary tools, find a quiet and comfortable place to do the interview from. For in-person meetings, plan your route and navigation to evade unnecessary stress on the interview day. Though seemingly straightforward, neglecting these preparations can lead to an anxious interview experience.
Remember, even pros can feel nervous before interviews. But you can turn that around with preparation. Tailor your approach for each interview to give yourself the best chance of success. The journey to success starts before the interview&mdash;try these six tips for your best shot. You've got this!

6 tips to help you prepare for your next interview

<h2 class="zm-form-item__header">APAC Talent Market: Mid-Year Update</h2>
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As we enter the second half of the year, Adam Michael Toctan, Co-Founder of MCG Talent, and Dean Stallard, Head of Talent at MANTRA &amp; Founding Partner of Dean James Rec2Rec explore the key developments in the Asian talent landscape so far and what to expect for the rest of the year.
This webinar digs into which jobs are most in demand, what&rsquo;s influencing job markets in different markets and industries, and is targeted to HR professionals, recruitment specialists, business leaders, or even candidates looking to get a feel of recruitment across the APAC market.
&nbsp;
<hr>
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<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bd-Md-E3mTM?si=7Mv1y9yYHPoAb17H" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"></iframe>
<hr>
The key topics include:
- How job flow has been like so far this year, and our predictions for the rest of 2024
- How to stand out as a business/candidate and what candidates/businesses are looking for.
- Success stories and lessons learned from real-world recruitment experiences.
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00:00 - 3:32 - Intro
3:32 - 24:35 - Market Overview
24:35 - 31:05 - Standing Out as a Business
31:06 - 49:24 - Candidate Tips
49:26 - 50:26 - Summary
50:27 - 1:21:37 - Q&amp;A
<hr>
If you would like to discuss how MCG Talent can help you find the best talent, <a href="https://www.mcgtalent.io/contact/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contact us today!</a>
</div>

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6 tips to help you prepare for your next interview

APAC Talent Market Mid Year Update