Director of Operations

LINKVIVA; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading experiential agency in the Middle East as an Operations Director, where you'll orchestrate a multi-zone public festival. This role demands a seasoned leader with over 10 years of experience in event operations, capable of managing large teams and complex logistics. Your leadership will directly influence guest experiences and event success, ensuring operational excellence in a high-pressure environment. If you're ready to take charge of a major festival and make a lasting impact, this is the opportunity for you.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in event operations, especially for large-scale public events.
• Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full operations lifecycle for a major public festival.
• Manage day-to-day coordination with clients and regulatory bodies.
• Oversee live event operations including security and crowd management.

Skills

Event Operations Management

Stakeholder Management

Budgeting

Team Leadership

Logistics Coordination

Crisis Management

Communication

Job description

Operations Director (Contract)- Mid May 2025- End of Jan 2026

Based in Dubai office until October

Must be able to go on site from October/November- Jan

Lead the Seamless Delivery of a World-Class Festival

About Us

At LINKVIVA, we don't just create eventswe craft unforgettable experiences that leave a lasting impact. As one of the Middle East's leading experiential agencies, we are renowned for delivering large-scale festivals, immersive activations, and landmark public events. Our legacy is built on precision, creativity, and operational excellence.

Why You Should Join Us

???? Be at the Helm of a Major Festival Lead the full operations lifecycle for one of the region's most anticipated events.

???? High-Level Leadership Drive coordination between teams, government stakeholders, and global vendors.

???? Make an Impact Your work will directly affect guest experience, public safety, and event success.

About the Role

As Operations Director, you will take ownership of all event operations, leading the end-to-end delivery of a multi-zone, month-long public festival. Reporting to the Project Director, you'll lead a large cross-functional team and be responsible for infrastructure, safety, guest services, logistics, and stakeholder alignment. Your role is crucial to ensuring smooth, compliant, and impactful operations in a remote and high-pressure environment.

What You'll Do

• Lead Operational Planning Own the full event operations lifecycle, from pitch through to post-event debrief.
• Government & Stakeholder Liaison Manage day-to-day coordination with clients, authorities, vendors, and regulatory bodies.
• Team & Contractor Management Recruit, train, and manage internal teams and external contractors across key functional areas.
• Oversee Live Delivery Lead real-time event operations including security, HSE, toilets, guest services, ticketing, crowd management, and vendor logistics.
• Run the MOC Oversee the Main Operations Centre during the event, acting as the decision-making hub for operational control.
• Manage Budgets & Procurement Own the operations budget, forecast accurately, and lead procurement cycles with a focus on value and efficiency.
• Implement HSE & Risk Protocols Collaborate with internal and external teams to ensure safety, compliance, and readiness for emergencies.
• Report & Improve Produce clear documentation, event reports, and learnings to feed into future projects and improve internal processes.

About You

? Senior Operations Leader 10+ years experience managing operations for large-scale, outdoor public events.

? Detail-Oriented Planner Skilled in developing systems, workflows, and scalable event plans.

? Confident Negotiator & Communicator Able to manage multiple stakeholders and align diverse partners.

? Resilient Under Pressure Capable of leading live operations in remote and high-pressure environments.

? Collaborative Leader Known for motivating teams, managing complexity, and leading by example.

What You Need to Apply

? Minimum 10 years of event operations experience.

? Experience with festivals, mass participation events, or city-wide activations.

? Proven ability to manage large teams, vendors, and logistics.

? Experience working in the Middle East.

? Advanced stakeholder management skills.

? Fluent in written and spoken English (Arabic highly desirable).

? Valid UAE driving license.

? Strong budgeting and procurement capabilities.