Head of Administration (UAEN)

Confidential; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading service organization in Dubai is seeking a seasoned director to lead workplace operations across multiple facilities. The role focuses on delivering high-quality services, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and overseeing vendor management. Candidates should have 7-10 years of experience in operations and a bachelor's degree in business administration. Strong leadership and analytical skills are essential for success in this strategic role.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of experience in workplace operations, soft facilities management, or administration services.
• Proven experience managing third-party service providers and operational contracts.
• Working knowledge of UAE regulations related to facilities, safety, and administration.

Responsibilities

• Lead and implement comprehensive workplace services including soft facilities.
• Direct security strategy and operations including access control systems.
• Oversee internal administrative functions and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Operational management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field

Job description

We are seeking a seasoned leader to drive workplace operations and administration across multiple facilities. This strategic role will focus on delivering high-quality, cost-effective services with minimal disruption to core business functions, while ensuring full compliance with regulatory standards and contractual obligations.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Operations & Governance

• Lead and implement comprehensive workplace services including soft facilities (cleaning, pest control, landscaping, waste management, and security) across all sites.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and operational strategies that support organizational growth and long-term sustainability.
• Ensure alignment of services with government regulations, health and safety standards, and internal compliance requirements.
• Oversee end-to-end vendor lifecycle from scope definition and RFP evaluation to contract execution and performance monitoring.
• Ensure delivery of all third-party services according to SLAs and KPIs, with a strong emphasis on quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
• Coordinate across internal departments and external providers to ensure seamless service integration and problem resolution.

Security & Access Control Oversight

• Direct security strategy and operations, including access control systems, visitor management, and CCTV monitoring.
• Ensure enforcement of policies governing staff and visitor access rights, data retrieval, and asset protection protocols.

Administrative Functions

• Oversee internal administrative functions such as office archiving, document control, workspace movement coordination, and centralized office printing.
• Drive continuous improvement in service delivery, proactively resolving bottlenecks to maintain smooth daily operations.
• Lead a diverse team by setting performance objectives, conducting appraisals, managing training and development, and ensuring alignment with organizational values.
• Foster a culture of service excellence, ethics, and accountability across all administrative and operational support teams.

Other Responsibilities

• Take on additional tasks and strategic initiatives as assigned by executive leadership to support evolving organizational needs.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field.
• 7–10 years of experience in workplace operations, soft facilities management, or administration services, preferably within large-scale or government-affiliated organizations.
• Proven experience managing third-party service providers and operational contracts.
• Strong leadership, analytical, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Working knowledge of UAE regulations related to facilities, safety, and administration is highly desirable.

Seniority level

Director

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Administrative

Industries

Administrative and Support Services