Director of Operations

Full-Time

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Company: ember Lifestyle - Luxury Travel & Experiential Design

Role Overview

ember is seeking an accomplished Director of Operations to lead and integrate the company’s internal operational framework, ensuring excellence, efficiency, and consistency across all functions. This role is central to the business and is designed to strengthen operational foundations, optimize performance, and ease the day-to-day operational load of the CEO.

The Head of Operations will focus on process design, governance, execution quality, and outcomes, ensuring that teams, systems, and partners operate cohesively in support of ember’s growth and service standards. In addition to operational leadership, the role will play a meaningful part in supporting business development and revenue growth initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership & Governance
• Oversee and continuously improve company-wide operational workflows, ensuring clarity, efficiency, and accountability across departments.
• Establish and maintain robust operational frameworks, SOPs, and governance structures aligned with ember’s brand and scale.
• Act as a central integrator across teams, ensuring smooth coordination and execution.
• Ensure operational readiness and service excellence across all client engagements and projects.
• Process, Performance & Outcomes
• Ensure that financial, legal, HR, and administrative processes function efficiently, compliantly, and in line with leadership expectations.
• Monitor outcomes, risks, and performance indicators, addressing gaps proactively.
• Implement approval structures, reporting mechanisms, and internal controls to support decision-making.
• Ensure documentation discipline, accuracy, and operational transparency.
• People & Organizational Effectiveness
• Support leadership in maintaining a high-performing, structured, and accountable organization.
• Oversee operational aspects of recruitment, onboarding, contracts, and performance processes.
• Ensure internal policies and procedures are implemented consistently and professionally.
• Foster a culture of ownership, discretion, and service excellence.
• Legal, Compliance & Risk Oversight
• Ensure contractual, regulatory, and compliance processes are managed effectively through internal coordination and external advisors.
• Maintain oversight of agreements, documentation, and regulatory obligations.
• Identify operational and commercial risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Business Development & Revenue Enablement
• Support business development initiatives through operational planning, pricing structures, and execution readiness.
• Ensure operational capabilities align with growth ambitions and new opportunities.
• Collaborate with leadership to improve efficiency, margins, and scalability.
• Contribute to the refinement of service offerings, partnerships, and commercial processes.
  
  

• 8+ years of experience in senior operations, general management, or similar leadership roles.
• Strong background in luxury travel, hospitality, private client services, or high-end experiential environments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-functional operations with discretion and precision.
• Solid understanding of the UAE business and regulatory environment.
• Bachelor’s degree required; postgraduate qualifications are advantageous.