Event Operations Manager, MENA

Role overview

Responsibilities

• Own the MENA event roadmap and budget, reporting progress to the VP of Global Experiential Marketing.
• Identify and secure global conference and event brands for the Dubai Expo venue.
• Lead organizer deals from relationship-building through negotiation and account management.
• Manage venue availability, pricing, contracts, and organizer onboarding.
• Serve as primary account manager through event delivery.
• Manage and develop three event team roles: Event Operations Coordinator, Dubai Events Coordinator, and Dubai Events Community Manager.
• Deliver sponsorship packages and commitments for DFGC/Xsolla and other hosted events.
• Coordinate space planning, production, and event setup.
• Set budgets and track spending by currency and event.
• Oversee staff hotel and travel logistics; maintain event roadmap and organizer/sponsor information.
• Oversee Jira creative briefs and timely event assets.
• Lead post-event reporting, organizer feedback, budget reconciliation, and lessons learned; represent the Dubai hub in cross-functional planning.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of professional experience in event marketing or event operations.
• Validated experience in video games, technology, or software; B2B events or partnerships experience is ideal.
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Communications, or a related field.
• Proven management of complex, multi-stakeholder events from concept through on-site delivery.
• Proficiency with project management tools such as Atlassian Suite, Jira, Asana, Monday.com, and Google Workspace.

Preferred qualifications

• End-to-end event budget ownership, including sponsorship P&L.
• Experience managing and developing an events team.
• Experience negotiating complex vendor and venue contracts across multiple markets.
• Knowledge of the Dubai/MENA events market; Arabic language skills are beneficial.

Benefits

• Benefits include flexible time off, private health insurance, a personalized career roadmap, and professional development opportunities.

Additional role information