Language Manager, Arabic speaking (12-month contract)

About the role

This position serves as Canva’s Arabic language lead, responsible for setting the standard for high-quality Arabic localisation across all products, markets, and user-facing experiences. The role goes far beyond literal translation and requires a market-sensitive approach that reflects how people in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other Arabic-speaking regions actually communicate.

You will shape the Arabic language programme from end to end. That includes defining linguistic rules, creating and maintaining style guidance, reviewing and approving content, managing external translators, and working closely with product teams so localisation is built in early rather than added later. You will also act as the internal specialist people rely on for Arabic language decisions and for making the case for what excellent localisation should look like.

What you will do

• Take ownership of Arabic language quality across product, marketing, and educational content, from setting standards to reviewing and signing off localised materials.
• Create and keep updated Canva’s Arabic style guide and terminology glossary, including MSA guidance, dialect preferences by market, and tone direction for Arabic content.
• Prepare briefs for external Arabic translators and language vendors, manage their work, and provide detailed feedback based on linguistic and market understanding.
• Work with product managers, designers, and content teams to ensure Arabic localisation is considered during planning and development, not only at final handoff.
• Spot localisation gaps across Arabic-speaking markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and others, then advocate for the resources needed to address them.
• Act as the internal authority on Arabic language choices, including dialect selection, RTL considerations, and culturally appropriate adaptations.
• Help strengthen Canva’s wider localisation standards and processes by sharing learnings that can improve work across other languages and markets.

What we are looking for

The ideal candidate is a native Arabic speaker with strong command of Modern Standard Arabic as well as the regional dialects most relevant to Canva’s MENA audience, especially Gulf, Egyptian, and Levantine Arabic. You should understand that dialect choice depends on the product surface, audience, and market, and be able to explain your decisions clearly.

Previous experience in localisation, language, or content roles is expected, ideally within a technology or product environment. You should know the difference between true localisation and simple translation, and be comfortable creating frameworks and style systems from scratch while also getting cross-functional teams to follow them.

You should be confident challenging translations when they miss the mark, and credible enough to influence stakeholders. Strong ownership is important here: the role calls for someone who identifies gaps proactively and makes the case for improving them.

Preferred experience

• Prior experience as a Language Lead at a language service provider.
• Advanced use of CAT tools, with Smartling experience especially valued.
• Copywriting experience, such as maintaining a blog or working on localisation for a SaaS product.
• Good understanding of organic growth, including SEO and WordPress.
• Some background in design.
• Tertiary education in linguistics, literature, or localisation.
• Experience working as a Language Lead at a software company.

About the team

Canva supports more than 100 languages in addition to English, and every month over 200 million users create designs on the platform. The Localisation team is a small group of linguists, project managers, and engineers spread across the company, with a mission to make the experience feel truly local and welcoming for users around the world.

The team works on the full product experience, including UI text, templates, marketing pages, and educational content, so that Canva feels built for each market it serves. In MENA, Arabic is a strategically important language focus, and the role plays a key part in supporting that growth.

Additional information

Hiring decisions are based on experience, skills, passion, and the ability to contribute positively to Canva’s culture. Applicants are asked to share their pronouns and any reasonable adjustments needed during the interview process.

Canva values a wide range of skills and backgrounds, and encourages applications even from candidates who do not match every requirement listed.

More information about life at Canva is available through the company’s careers and culture resources.

Contract note

This is a 12-month contract position based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and the role is onsite.