Head of Operations Facilities Management

Guildhall is hiring for a large, established facilities management operator in Dubai with a multi-site hard and soft FM portfolio serving public and private sector clients. This Head of Operations will own P&L across the contract portfolio, lead a team of FM, PM and site managers, and sit directly across the table from senior clients. The business is growing its asset base, and needs a proven multi-site FM leader who can hold service standards and margin as the portfolio expands. It's a department-head seat reporting straight to the GM, with real scope to shape how operations run. The role • Own P&L across a multi-site hard and soft FM portfolio in Dubai. • Lead FM, PM and site managers, setting standards across all sites. • Hold senior client relationships, including QBRs and service reviews. • Approve budgets, drive margin improvement and control costs. • Govern HSE compliance, audits and risk reviews across sites. • Standardise SOPs, SLAs and KPIs, and push CAFM adoption. • Report portfolio performance and recommendations to senior leadership. What's on offer • Department-head seat reporting directly to the General Manager. • Full P&L ownership across a multi-site portfolio. • A business growing its asset base, with scope to grow the remit. • Direct line into senior leadership on portfolio strategy. Why apply through Guildhall • Boutique executive search firm in Dubai, established 2010. • 8x independent industry awards since 2020. • 4.9-star Google rating from 250+ reviews. • Direct access to the retained consultant running this search. Hiring a Head of Operations in Dubai UAE A Head of Operations in UAE facilities management typically reports to a General Manager and owns P&L across a portfolio of multi-site hard and soft FM contracts. The role sits above individual site and project managers, translating client SLAs and KPIs into consistent delivery across sites, while carrying direct accountability for margin, HSE compliance and senior client relationships. Demand for this seat tends to rise when an FM operator's serviced portfolio grows, since more sites and contracts increase the need for a single leader who can hold service standards and commercial performance together. Strong candidates usually come from an engineering background with UAE multi-site FM experience and a demonstrated record of turning around weaker-performing contracts. Common questions • Engineering degree, with 8-12+ years in facilities management. • Proven multi-site leadership and full P&L ownership. • Experience turning around an underperforming contract or portfolio. • Senior client-facing leadership and relationship management track record. • Expertise across both hard and soft FM services. • Fluent in English and Arabic. • TFM qualification, Master's degree or CAFM exposure a plus.