General Manager - Operations - Post-Market Entry & Incorporation

GM Operations - Post-Market Entry & Incorporation (UAE):

Responsible for scaling, stabilizing, and managing all corporate operations for international businesses transitioning from the initial market-entry phase to long-term operational sustainability in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) & GCC Market.

You will oversee corporate governance, local entity incorporation, visa/immigration framework management, office infrastructure establishment, and localization strategy (including Emiratisation compliance) across mainland and free zone jurisdictions.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Corporate Governance & Post-Incorporation Support:

• Direct the setup, structuring, and ongoing maintenance of legal entities across various UAE jurisdictions (Mainland/Department of Economy and Tourism, Free Zones like ADGM, DIFC, DMCC, JAFZA).
• Ensure seamless operational handover from business development/market-entry advisory teams to permanent local operational structures.
• Serve as the senior liaison with local government departments, regulatory bodies, and corporate registries.

2. Operational Excellence & Scale:

• Design, implement, and optimize scalable operational workflows, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and service level agreements (SLAs) for newly formed entities.
• Establish fully functional corporate infrastructure, including real estate acquisition, office fit-outs, IT network setup, and supply chain logistics.
• Manage operational budgets, corporate expenditures, and resource allocation to ensure a high return on investment (ROI).

3. Compliance, Regulatory, & Risk Management:

• Oversee comprehensive compliance programs encompassing Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) registries, Economic Substance Regulations (ESR), Anti-Money Laundering (AML) mandates, and corporate tax regulations.
• Mitigate corporate operational risks by aligning business practices with evolving UAE labor laws, commercial company frameworks, and data protection regulations.

4. Banking & Operational Enablement:

• Lead corporate bank account opening with UAE banks and fintech platforms.
• Support clients with:

1. Office / flexi-desk arrangements

2. Economic Substance and operational substance requirements

• Coordinate with auditors, tax advisors, and legal counsel as required.

5. Accounting, Corporate Tax & VAT Coordination:

• Coordinate accounting, bookkeeping, and financial reporting with internal teams or external accounting partners.
• Oversee Corporate Tax (CT) and VAT compliance coordination, including:

• 1. Registrations and deregistration's
• 2. Periodic filings and returns
• 3. Audit coordination and clarifications

• Work closely with CT, VAT, and Accounting SMEs to:

• 1. Ensure timely data collection from clients
• 2. Track filing deadlines and approvals
• 3. Resolve operational and client-level queries

• Ensure clear role separation between technical sign-off (SMEs) and operational ownership (Operations Manager).

6. Client, Team & Stakeholder Management:

• Build long-term client relationships and handle escalations.
• Identify cross-sell and upsell opportunities in coordination with BD teams.
• Manage and mentor operations executives and coordinators over the period of time both Onshore and Off-shore.
• Oversee PROs, vendors, accounting partners, and compliance service providers.

7. Human Capital Frameworks & Localization:

• Formulate local payroll, benefit, and immigration architectures to handle processing for international executive relocations and local hiring campaigns.
• Design and execute strategic recruitment pipelines that strictly adhere to MoHRE Emiratisation mandates and target ratios.
• Foster a high-performance corporate culture that respects, integrates, and thrives within the cultural nuances of the GCC region.

Qualification And Experience:

• 1. Master's degree in business administration (MBA), International Business, Corporate Law, or a highly related discipline with minimum of 8 years of progressive operations experience, with at least 5 years in a senior executive leadership capacity (VP, Director, or COO) specifically within the UAE/GCC ecosystem.
• 2. Deep, verified expertise in navigating UAE Free Zone and Mainland incorporation mechanics, regulatory compliance, commercial banking protocols, and corporate setups.
• 3. An active, established network of relationships with UAE government officials, free zone authorities, legal networks, and local strategic partners.
• 4. Complete professional fluency in English is mandatory. Working proficiency or fluency in Arabic is highly advantageous.
• 5. Proven track record of transforming high-level market entry strategies into tangible, functional corporate operations.
• 6. Ability to interpret and rapidly adapt corporate operations to fast-moving regulatory shifts in the UAE (e.g., changes to corporate tax, labor laws, or visa systems).
• 7. Exceptional communication skills with the capability to manage complex relationships across corporate boards, international client executives, and local regulatory authorities.

Remuneration:

An outstanding remuneration package that rewards professionalism and diligence will be on offer for the successful applicant as well as a well-defined career path. An excellent package will be on offer for the right candidate, including an above-mentioned industry base salary for the right person as well as the most complete employee benefit scheme. Don't miss out on this opportunity to join the market leader.

Contact Person Name, Address & Nos.:

• P.G. Ganesh
• Partner
• Perfect Placer
• Mobile: 8368469496