Manager - Housekeeping Operations

The Manager for Housekeeping Operations is a senior operational leader responsible for overseeing all housekeeping and soft services within the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC). This includes ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and presentation across exhibition halls, meeting rooms, public areas, offices, and external surroundings. As DWTC embarks on a significant expansion of the DEC, the role demands a forward-thinking professional who can scale operations, lead large teams, manage complex vendor networks, and implement digital systems such as CAFM. The candidate will be responsible for driving operational excellence, integrating sustainability practices, and ensuring seamless service delivery before, during, and after major events and exhibitions. This is a hands-on leadership role that blends strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, innovation, and real-time problem-solving to ensure that DEC remains a world-class venue aligned with DWTC’s quality and sustainability standards.

Core Duties & Responsibilities
- Provide overall strategic direction and leadership for all housekeeping operations within DEC, ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness, visual appeal, hygiene, and operational efficiency are consistently achieved across exhibition halls, meeting rooms, VIP zones, back-of-house service corridors, and all public-facing areas
- Develop and execute an end-to-end operational strategy that anticipates the dynamic demands of large-scale exhibitions and events, with tailored cleaning programs for pre-event build-up, live event management, and post-event restoration
- Take full ownership of the housekeeping master plan for the DEC expansion (2024–2025), including the onboarding of new zones, integration of additional assets, procurement of new equipment, and recruitment or reallocation of workforce to match evolving space and event requirements
- Lead the design and implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and emergency cleaning protocols, ensuring they are updated regularly and aligned with international best practices, regulatory requirements, and DEC service promise.
- Establish clear performance measurement systems through key performance indicators (KPIs), service-level agreements (SLAs), and productivity benchmarks for all housekeeping zones and teams
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement and operational innovation by reviewing past performance reports, client feedback, and on-ground learnings to implement service enhancements, automation opportunities, and new technologies.
- Maintain close coordination with internal departments such as Event Operations, Engineering, Sustainability, HSE, and Security to ensure seamless operational alignment, with daily briefings, planning reviews, and risk mitigation strategies in place
Formal Education
Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Hospitality, Hotel Management, or related field
Work Experience
- Minimum 3-5 years of experience in a similar position from relevant organization
- Demonstrated experience managing teams of 150+ and multi-vendor service operation
- Experience in setting up or scaling housekeeping operations for newly built or expanding venues
Skills & Knowledge
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Proficiency in MS Office, housekeeping systems (e.g., MICROS, Oracle, CAFM), and reporting tools
- Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills across multicultural teams
- Proven experience in cost control, and supplier management
- Knowledge of sustainability initiatives, waste management, and environmental compliance is preferred
- Conflict Resolution & Communication Skills Training – To manage multicultural teams and ensure smooth operational alignment.
- Project Management Basics – Understanding timelines, vendor coordination, and resource planning for expansion or high-capacity events
Training
- Leadership and Supervisory Training
- BICSCs (The British Institute of Cleaning Science)
- Client-Focused Service Mindset
- Continuous Improvement and Innovation Drive