Managing Director : Short -Term Rental Company

Oia Properties; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A global rental management firm seeks a visionary Managing Director to oversee the performance and expansion of their short-term rental operations. Responsibilities include strategic direction, operations management, and financial health, requiring 10+ years of relevant leadership experience. The ideal candidate will possess strong negotiation skills and a deep understanding of the digital hospitality landscape. This full-time position is based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of senior leadership experience in short-term rentals, hospitality, or real estate.
• Proven experience scaling operations and leading cross-functional teams.
• Deep knowledge of Airbnb, Booking.com, and digital hospitality platforms.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction and long-term goals of the division.
• Build and lead a high-performance operational model.
• Ensure compliance with local laws and safety requirements.

Skills

Leadership in hospitality

Financial modelling

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Technology integration

Education

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a visionary and results-oriented Managing Director to take full ownership of the short-term rental company’s performance and expansion. This role is responsible for company-wide strategy, operations, team development, technology integration, financial health, and overall business growth. The ideal candidate will bring strong executive leadership in hospitality, real estate, or tech-driven property management, with deep knowledge of the short-term rental system.

Key Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction, mission, and long-term goals of the short-term rental division.
• Build and lead a scalable, high-performance operational model that supports aggressive growth.
• Represent the company to owners, investors, key stakeholders, and strategic partners.
• Lead the acquisition and onboarding of new properties.
• Build and maintain owner relationships and investor confidence.
• Oversee daily operations across all departments: guest services, tech, sales, revenue, listings, and owner relations.
• Implement systems and processes to support rapid scaling and exceptional operational performance.
• Report directly to the CEO with regular updates on financials, KPIs, risks, and performance.
• Develop budgets, set pricing and revenue strategies, and ensure healthy cash flow and profitability.
• Build models for cost optimization, revenue forecasting, and investor reporting.
• Lead adoption of property tech systems: PMS (Property Management System), CRM, smart locks, channel managers, automation tools.
• Champion a data-driven approach across revenue management, customer feedback, and workflow efficiency.
• Build the leadership team, define KPIs, and create a performance-driven culture.
• Oversee recruitment, staff development, and long-term organizational design.
• Foster innovation, ownership, and customer-first thinking at all levels.
• Define and enforce service standards and guest experience benchmarks across the portfolio.
• Lead crisis response and ensure brand integrity across digital platforms and guest interactions.
• Shape the company’s public image and brand positioning in competitive markets.
• Ensure all operations adhere to local short-term rental laws, licensing, insurance, and safety requirements.
• Oversee legal contracts, vendor agreements, and risk management policies.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of senior leadership experience in short-term rentals, hospitality, property tech, or real estate.
• Proven experience scaling operations and leading large, cross-functional teams.
• Strong with financial modelling, and strategic planning background.
• Deep knowledge of Airbnb, Booking.com, and digital hospitality platforms.
• Executive presence, negotiation skills, and stakeholder relationship management.
• MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Job Type: Full-time