Operations Lead

Role Overview

The Operations Lead is tasked with managing all operational, regulatory, and facility-related activities for Forbes Middle East. This position guarantees strict adherence to licensing and regulatory mandates, maintains top-tier facility upkeep and asset control, liaises effectively with external entities, and proactively addresses crisis and risk challenges to sustain business continuity and growth.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the chief contact point for communications with government authorities, regulators, and free zones to facilitate smooth processing and timely approvals, coordinating closely with Legal, Finance, and Senior Leadership.
• Oversee licensing, permits, renewals, and regulatory authorizations to ensure uninterrupted operations, collaborating with Legal, Finance, and external agencies.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and operational protocols to mitigate legal and operational risks, in partnership with Legal, HR, and Finance teams.
• Maintain accurate, protected records of licenses, permits, and regulatory documentation to be audit-ready, working alongside Legal, Finance, and IT departments.
• Manage all company facilities to uphold high standards that foster employee productivity and reinforce brand image, cooperating with Operations Director, HR, and Marketing.
• Lead initiatives involving facility expansions, refurbishments, and opening of new offices to support organizational growth, collaborating with Management, Finance, IT, Procurement, and contractors.
• Promptly resolve urgent facility matters to reduce operational disruptions while safeguarding the Forbes Middle East brand identity, working with Marketing.
• Develop and oversee preventative maintenance plans across all facilities to ensure safety, satisfaction, and operational steadiness, coordinating with HR and external service providers.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations to protect staff and assets, liaising with relevant authorities.
• Support fleet management and upkeep of company vehicles to guarantee availability and reliability, collaborating with Administration, Finance, and vendors.
• Ensure fleet adheres to all insurance, licensing, and safety standards in partnership with Finance, Legal, and insurers.
• Monitor vehicle utilization, maintenance expenditures, and efficiency to optimize costs and performance, aligned with Finance and Administration.
• Coordinate with landlords, venue operators, suppliers, and service providers to ensure smooth facility operations and service delivery, in alignment with purchasing.
• Ensure facility readiness and functionality aligned with business needs to support daily operations, collaborating with IT, HR, and department leaders.
• Manage service-level agreements and vendor performance to guarantee quality, cost-effectiveness, and compliance, working with Procurement, Finance, and Legal teams.
• Assist in negotiating and renewing operational contracts to secure favorable terms and service continuity, coordinating with Finance, Procurement, and Senior Management.
• Identify risks within operations and suggest mitigation measures to reduce potential disruptions and exposures, liaising with Management, Legal, and Finance.
• Contribute to business continuity and emergency response planning to ensure preparedness across departments, working with HR, IT, and Finance.
• Coordinate readiness and response during incidents or disruptions to maintain uninterrupted business functions, involving relevant internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or related areas. Certifications in Facilities Management, Operations, or Risk Management are a plus.
• 12 to 14 years of extensive experience in operations, facility, or administrative management, including interaction with UAE government bodies, regulators, and licensing authorities.
• Demonstrated handling of multi-site facility and asset management, vendor relationships, and compliance with UAE facilities and health, safety, and environment laws.
• Proficient in MS Office, project management, and scheduling applications.
• Advanced communication skills in English; Arabic language proficiency is highly preferred.
• Deep understanding of regulatory and compliance frameworks.
• Strong organizational, multitasking, negotiation, vendor management, crisis management, problem-solving, and stakeholder communication skills.