Chief Operating Officer

As Chief Operating Officer (COO) you are directly responsible for the office & business operations team including IT, Sustainability, Office Operations, Health and Safety, the event operations functions and major procurement tasks for the company.

Responsible for ensuring the day-to-day operations are delivered effectively and efficiently, including the planning and prioritising of customer, employee and organisational requirements. It includes designing, operating and improving processes and systems that deliver the company’s products and services.

 Responsibilities:

• You will be responsible for developing and overseeing the company’s ongoing operations and procedures.

• Design and implement company’s business plan, strategic objectives and KPIs

• You will be responsible for the efficiency and the ongoing sustainability of the business and events.

• Optimize the business structure and lead in partnership development and other strategic discussions.

• Design and implement business strategies, plans and procedures.

• Oversee daily operations of the company, ensuring all departments are aligned.

• Evaluate performance by analyzing and interpreting data and metrics.

• Assist CEO in fundraising ventures, cost efficiencies, and participate in expansion activities.

• Manage relationships with partners, suppliers and vendors.

• Design and implement company’s business plan, strategic objectives and KPIs.

• Fostering a high performance culture, encouraging improvements in processes, efficiency and outputs.

• Drive collaboration across the whole of company.

• Act as a thought partner and advisor to the CEO.

• Promoting a positive company culture, vision and inclusive working environment.

Qualifications & skills

• Proven experience (8+ years) as COO or senior leader in the conferences and exhibitions trade, including experience managing a multi-disciplinary team.

• Bachelor’s degree, or international equivalent.

• Masters degree or MBA.

• Strong commercial mind, comfortable with numbers, ability to strategize and solve problems.

• Dynamic thinking/innovation mindset.

• Planning, problem-solving, decision making, and strategic thinking.

• Commercial experience at a senior level within an Events based business.

• Understanding of business functions such as Office operations, Procurement, Event Operations.

• Demonstrable competency in strategic planning and operations.

• An energetic and collaborative operator with a track record of building partnerships with a wide variety of stakeholders.

• Proven track record of managing complex budgets successfully.

• Outstanding organizational and leadership abilities.

• Exceptional interpersonal skills.

• Thrives on constant change.

• Senior level experience working in KSA and/or UAE is desirable.

• Experience in a start-up environment and/or scaling a new business is desirable.

• Good written and oral communication skills in both Arabic and English is desirable.