Operations Director

Sound Star Events LLC; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Sound Star Events LLC in Abu Dhabi is seeking an Operations Director/COO to lead day-to-day delivery across production, warehouse, and crew. You will own the operational rhythm from contract signature to final invoice and ensure events ship on time, on budget, and safely.

You will line-manage all HODs and the Warehouse Manager, drive safety/compliance, and optimize KPIs like on-time delivery, margin, and crew utilisation across multiple concurrent events.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in AVL/live events operations, with 3+ in a management role.
• Deep knowledge of at least one technical discipline (audio, lighting, or video) and broad literacy in others.
• Proven track record running multiple concurrent events with budgets up to seven figures.
• Hands-on with a major rental management platform.
• Familiar with UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law 33/2021) and MOHRE compliance.
• Calm under fire; COO makes things right when events go wrong.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end operational workflow from sales handoff through post-event debrief.
• Line-manage all HODs and the Warehouse Manager.
• Resolve cross-departmental conflicts — especially sales/warehouse interface.
• Approve all sub-rentals and freelance bookings above defined thresholds.
• Own health and safety: ensure gear compliance and completed risk assessments.
• Approve overtime above 3 hours per shift; review weekly OT reports.
• Run weekly production meetings; review pipeline 4-8 weeks ahead.
• Own the rental management software as system of record.
• Drive operational KPIs: on-time delivery, gear damage rate, freelance spend, crew utilisation.
• Approve weekly roster published by Logistics Coordinator.

Skills

Leadership

AVL / live events operations

Budget management

Safety compliance

Tools

RMS / Rentman / Flex

Job description

Job Description:

OperationsDirector / COO

LEADERSHIP

Reports to CEO

Department Operations

Direct reports All HODs (Audio, Lighting,Video/LED, Rigging), Warehouse Manager, Sr Project Managers, CAD/DesignSpecialist

Location Al Khatim, Abu Dhabi (withregular site visits)

Role summary

Runs day-to-day delivery acrossproduction, warehouse, and crew. The single point of accountability foreverything between contract signature and final invoice. Owns the operationalrhythm that makes events ship on time, on budget, and safely.

Key responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end operationalworkflow from sales handoff through post-event debrief.
• Line-manage all HODs and theWarehouse Manager.
• Resolve cross-departmentalconflicts — particularly the sales / warehouse interface.
• Approve all sub-rentals andfreelance bookings above defined thresholds.
• Own health and safety: all crewcertified that gear compliant, risk assessments completed.
• Approve overtime above 3 hours pershift; review weekly OT reports.
• Run weekly production meeting;review pipeline against capacity 4-8 weeks ahead.
• Own the rental management software(Current RMS / Rentman / Flex) as system of record.
• Drive operational KPIs: on-timedelivery, gear damage rate, freelance spend, crew utilisation.
• Approve weekly roster published byLogistics Coordinator every Thursday.

Qualifications & experience

• 8+ years in AVL / live eventsoperations, with 3+ in a management role.
• Deep knowledge of at least onetechnical discipline (audio, lighting, or video) plus broad literacy in others.
• Proven track record runningmultiple concurrent events with budgets up to seven figures.
• Hands-on with a major rentalmanagement platform.
• Familiar with UAE Labour Law(Federal Decree-Law 33/2021) and MOHRE compliance.
• Calm under fire; events go wrong,and the COO is who makes them right.

KPIs

• On-time delivery rate (% jobsshipped without escalation)
• Gross margin per job
• Equipment damage / loss rate
• Freelances spend vs budget
• Sub-rental spend % of revenue
• OT cost as % of base salary(target: <10%)
• Zero notifiable safety incidents

Requirements: