Technical & Operations Event Manager

Black Pearl; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Black Pearl Consult is seeking an experienced Technical & Operations Event Manager in Abu Dhabi. You will lead technical production, operations, and logistics across year-round cultural programmes and major live events, ensuring safety and audience experience.

The role demands 8+ years in technical production or large-scale events, strong leadership, and expertise in AV, staging, lighting, and sound. International events experience is a plus, with a focus on operational excellence and risk

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Arts, Education, Cultural Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in leadership roles within arts education, cultural management, or community engagement.
• Successful implementation of the strategic plan with measurable outcomes.
• Effective financial management and resource optimization.
• Strategic planning and policy integration.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management.
• Proven financial and operational management skills.
• Experience in developing cross-sector collaborations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee technical and operational requirements for concerts, exhibitions, installations, and large-scale productions.
• Manage venue readiness, including staging, lighting, sound, AV, backline, backstage facilities, and audience areas.
• Supervise event setup, rehearsals, live operations, show calls, breakdown, and venue handover.
• Oversee daily operational activities, including facilities, office operations, equipment, logistics, procurement, inventory, and storage.
• Develop and implement operational procedures, production protocols, and health & safety standards.
• Monitor operational budgets, control expenditure, and optimise resources.
• Coordinate logistical arrangements for artists, performers, technical crews, VIPs, and international guests.
• Conduct post-event reviews and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Lead operational planning and delivery for major productions, cultural programmes, hospitality events, and international delegations.
• Develop project timelines, resource plans, and risk management strategies.
• Work closely with programming and internal departments to translate creative concepts and technical riders into practical operational plans.
• Oversee ticketing platforms, access control, seating configurations, box office operations, and guest check-in.
• Coordinate with marketing and audience development teams to ensure smooth ticketing and audience management.
• Monitor ticketing data, attendance trends, and venue capacity.
• Coordinate with government entities, venue operators, cultural partners, international institutions, and production companies.
• Manage vendor sourcing, contracts, tenders, and service delivery.
• Maintain strong relationships with technical suppliers, touring companies, and event partners.
• Supervise technical and operations teams, contractors, and external event staff.
• Identify staffing requirements and oversee recruitment, onboarding, and training of event personnel.
• Monitor team performance, workload, and compliance with operational and safety procedures.
• Ensure compliance with UAE regulations, venue requirements, and organisational policies.
• Conduct event and venue risk assessments and implement appropriate mitigation measures.
• Maintain health and safety standards for employees, artists, contractors, and audiences.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Financial management

Cross-sector collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related

Master's degree advantage

Job description

Job description

Black Pearl Consult is hiring for a Technical & Operations Event Manager in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This opportunity suits an experienced events professional with expertise in technical production, operations and logistics across year-round cultural programmes and major live events. The role supports the delivery of large-scale productions, concerts, exhibitions and cultural initiatives, with a strong focus on operational excellence, safety and audience experience.

Key Responsibilities

Technical & Operations Management: Oversee technical and operational requirements for concerts, exhibitions, installations, special commissions, and large-scale productions.

Technical & Operations Management: Manage venue readiness, including staging, lighting, sound, AV, backline, backstage facilities, and audience areas.

Technical & Operations Management: Supervise event setup, rehearsals, live operations, show calls, breakdown, and venue handover.

Technical & Operations Management: Oversee daily operational activities, including facilities, office operations, equipment, logistics, procurement, inventory, and storage.

Technical & Operations Management: Develop and implement operational procedures, production protocols, and health & safety standards.

Technical & Operations Management: Monitor operational budgets, control expenditure, and optimise resources.

Technical & Operations Management: Coordinate logistical arrangements for artists, performers, technical crews, VIPs, and international guests.

Technical & Operations Management: Conduct post-event reviews and identify opportunities for improvement.

Project & Event Operations: Lead operational planning and delivery for major productions, cultural programmes, hospitality events, and international delegations.

Project & Event Operations: Develop project timelines, resource plans, and risk management strategies.

Project & Event Operations: Work closely with programming and internal departments to translate creative concepts and technical riders into practical operational plans.

Ticketing & Access Management: Oversee ticketing platforms, access control, seating configurations, box office operations, and guest check-in.

Ticketing & Access Management: Coordinate with marketing and audience development teams to ensure smooth ticketing and audience management.

Ticketing & Access Management: Monitor ticketing data, attendance trends, and venue capacity.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management: Coordinate with government entities, venue operators, cultural partners, international institutions, and production companies.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management: Manage vendor sourcing, contracts, tenders, and service delivery.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management: Maintain strong relationships with technical suppliers, touring companies, and event partners.

Team Leadership: Supervise technical and operations teams, contractors, and external event staff.

Team Leadership: Identify staffing requirements and oversee recruitment, onboarding, and training of event personnel.

Team Leadership: Monitor team performance, workload, and compliance with operational and safety procedures.

Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure compliance with UAE regulations, venue requirements, and organisational policies.

Compliance & Risk Management: Conduct event and venue risk assessments and implement appropriate mitigation measures.

Compliance & Risk Management: Maintain health and safety standards for employees, artists, contractors, and audiences.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Technical Production, Event Operations, or a related discipline.

Master's degree or Arts Management qualification is an advantage.

Minimum 8 years of experience in technical production, event operations, or large-scale project management, preferably within the arts, culture, or live entertainment sectors.

Proven experience delivering large-scale cultural productions or high-profile live events; international experience is an advantage.

Strong technical knowledge of AV, staging, lighting, and sound.

Demonstrated leadership and experience managing multidisciplinary teams and complex event operations.

Strong project management, budgeting, procurement, and vendor management skills.

Excellent communication, coordination,

Skills

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Arts, Education, Cultural Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in leadership roles within arts education, cultural management, or community engagement.
• Successful implementation of the strategic plan with measurable outcomes.
• Effective financial management and resource optimization
• Strategic planning and policy integration.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management.
• Proven financial and operational management skills.
• Experience in developing cross-sector collaborations.

Only candidates currently residing in the UAE will be considered for this role.