Platform Operations Manager

We are growing the team at Dubai Founders HQ, Dubai's newly launched phygital platform supporting startups and scaleups. DFHQ - A joint initiative by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.

Job objective:

The Platform Operations Manager is responsible for building and operating the day execution engine of Dubai Founders HQ (DFHQ), Dubai's flagship startup platform under the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).

The role sits at the intersection of operations, execution, systems, founder experience and platform delivery. The successful candidate will ensure every element of DFHQ, from the physical campus and operational systems to founder onboarding, ecosystem activations, commercial operations and executive reporting, operates seamlessly and consistently delivers a world-class experience.

As DFHQ continues to scale, the Platform Operations Manager will design and implement the operational foundations required to support growth, improve efficiency and maintain service excellence The role combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution, requiring someone equally comfortable solving operational problems on the ground, improving internal systems, coordinating multiple stakeholders and preparing executive-ready updates for senior government leadership.

• The ideal candidate is a hands-on, execution-driven operator, with exceptional organizational capability, a strong bias for execution and experience building operational excellence within fast-paced, customer-centric organizations. They should thrive in ambiguity, bring structure to complex environments and be able to operate confidently with founders, investors, senior executives and government stakeholders.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Own the day-to-day operational delivery of Dubai Founders HQ across its physical campus, operational systems, member services and platform activities
• Build the operational infrastructure, processes and governance required to support DFHQ's continued growth
• Develop scalable operating models, playbooks and standard operating procedures across all platform activities
• Translate strategic priorities into structured implementation plans and drive execution across multiple workstreams
• Act as the operational integrator across DFHQ, ensuring alignment between partnerships, programs, community, marketing and campus operations
• Lead the day-to-day operations of the DFHQ physical campus, ensuring a high-quality experience for members, visitors, and stakeholders
• Manage startup onboarding, workspace allocation, meeting rooms, campus utilisation and visitor management
• Manage event space bookings and logistics, ensuring seamless coordination and delivery of on-campus programs, workshops, and partner activations
• Monitor and optimize campus revenue streams, including office rentals, event spaces, and retail partners, in coordination with the Partnerships Lead and other stakeholders
• Proactively identify and implement opportunities to enhance the physical environment, member experience, and operational systems

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Hospitality Management or a related field
• 8-10 years of experience in operations, platform management, business operations, program management, or operational leadership
• Experience scaling operations within startups, scaleups, innovation hubs, coworking platforms or other high-growth organizations is highly desirable
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing scalable operational processes and systems
• Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders, vendors, and on-ground operational teams
• Strong understanding of financial and operational performance tracking, including occupancy and revenue management

Due to the high volume of applications, our team will contact only those candidates who are shortlisted. Thank you for your time and interest.