Content Curator. Communications Expert.
A brief about me
With a well-worn pen and a knack for crafting sharp narratives, I’ve built a solid
foundation in editing, publishing, and media across many roles. From whipping up
polished manuscripts to guiding editorial teams, I’ve honed my skills through almost
every phase of the editorial process.
Starting out as an academic/scientific editor in Mumbai, I helped researchers in Southeast
Asia polish their engineering and science papers to perfection, boosting their
chances of publication in prestigious journals. Later, I took on a managerial role,
handling the daily workflow for a global editing team. Picture this: matching the
right editor to the right project, juggling multiple deadlines, and stepping in to edit
when the going got tough. I even got to use my science contacts to help the
Global Talent Acquisition team find top editorial talent.
Since moving to Dubai, I’ve written and edited for leading media houses, including
CPI Industry and ITP Media Group, where I covered B2B trade publications in the
Middle East. I’ve also freelanced for the Dubai government, B2B magazines, news agencies, and corporate clients.
Today, I’m a content powerhouse, managing an array of client needs, from corporate profiles and targeted content campaigns to social media management. I’m adept at editing documents to meet exacting guidelines and delivering quality content that resonates.
Additionally, I co-founded BuiltEnvironmentGlobal.com, a B2B news platform dedicated to delivering in-depth coverage on architecture, urban planning, sustainable design, and construction innovations.
With this diverse experience under my belt, I’ve become an all-rounded content curator and communications expert, seamlessly blending creativity, strategy, and precision to deliver impactful narratives and solutions. Whether it’s crafting compelling corporate profiles, running targeted campaigns, managing social media accounts, or fine-tuning documents to perfection, I bring a unique flair to every project, ensuring it hits the mark every time.
What I bring to the table
- B2B news, business and feature writing
- Editing and proofreading
- Team management
- Optimizing website content for SEO and social media
- Research and fact checking
- Interviewing and reporting
- Video interviewing and video editing
- Process management
- Product management
- Knowledge of Adobe InDesign and Adobe PremierPro (certification course)
My Career Chronology
Built Environment Global (02.2025 – present)
Freelancer/Editor and Co-Founder
BuiltEnvironmentGlobal.com is a news platform I co-founded with the aim to elevate conversations around the planning, execution, and management of built environment projects while exploring overarching themes such as sustainability, livability, and mobility.
ITP Media Group, Dubai
Editor, MEP Middle East magazine (02.2017 – 06.2019)/FM Middle East (07.2019-01.2025)
- Independently writing and editing articles related to the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) and facilities management (FM) sector in the Middle East region.
- Providing complete, accurate and compelling coverage of both anticipated and spontaneous news for print and online media.
- Developing and publishing content for social media and website on a daily basis; managing daily newsletters
- Reporting and publishing interviews of industry leaders in the magazine.
- Conducting video interviews; editing videos and posting them online on various company channels (website, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin etc.)
- Instructing photographers on taking photographs and collaborating with designers for layouts
- Developing working relationship with advertisers and improving sales
- Moderating conferences, seminars, roundtables and awards events, as and when required.
- Working with the marketing team and planning events and other promotional strategies
- Planning editorial calendar for online and print publishing.
- Ensuring the magazine is ready for print and distribution on time.
CPI Industry, Dubai
Features Writer, Climate Control Middle East
02.2015 – 04.2016
- Writing features and cover stories for a Dubai-based HVACR (air conditioning) magazine.
- Writing press releases, brochures and advertorials.
- Reporting and writing on various project reports, product reports, country reports etc.
- Taking on editing assignments, as and when required.
Cactus Communications Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai
Project/Product Manager (Technology)
11.2013 – 07.2014
- Establishing short- and long-term product goals (mostly for WhiteBoard: an editor allocation interface) and strategies.
- Building and managing a product roadmap to support the organization’s goals.
- Tracking product development and developing product launch plans and ensuring they are launched on time and on task.
- Driving product discovery meetings with users, i.e., understand their requirements, guide users in framing their requirements by ensuring extensive collaboration between development team and users.
- Steer discussions, aid decision making, resolve conflicts, ensure that user requirements are well understood by technology and fill in gaps as needed.
Cactus Communications Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai
Managing Editor/Process Coordinator
01.2010 – 11.2013
- Managing a team that catered to the editing requirements of clients; a team that comprised 20 in-house members and up to 100+ freelance editors globally.
- Assisting the Global Talent Acquisition team in sourcing in-house editorial positions by leveraging my knowledge and contacts in the physical sciences domain.
- Responsible for the quality and productivity of the team.
- Responsible for identifying training needs, supplying them, and coordinating skill development.
- Handling specific client requirements such as case reports, drug control jobs, brochures, posters, and presentations.
- Interacting and coordinating with the client-servicing team, allocating, managing jobs and deadlines, and performing the allocation-cum-job management responsibilities along with the above-mentioned responsibilities.
Cactus Communications Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai
Associate Editor
10.2008 – 01.2010
- Independently editing engineering and physical sciences research papers written mostly by Southeast Asian countries’ Ph.D. scholars.
- Editing and formatting at very high TATs (Turnaround Time) and with
good quality. - Ensuring that the manuscript is impeccable and ready to be published in scientific journals.
- Ensuring that the manuscript is compliant as per the author-requested
style guide.
Cactus Communications Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai
Subeditor
08.2007 – 10.2008
- Editing, proofreading, and formatting academic research documents to check for native English, advanced levels of grammar, and consistency under the guidance of a Senior Associate Editor.
eClerx, Mumbai
Content Writer
02.2007 – 08.2007
- Developing online marketing content for Dell USA website.
- Authoring several newly launched Dell products.
- Responsible for the proper presentation and layout of the products featured on the website.
Let’s Start Working Together!
Mobile: +971 52 2512735
Email: pillai.rajiv@gmail.com
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Rajiv Pillai 