Operations Manager – Event Rentals
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About the Role
Desert River Event Rentals is one of the UAE's leading event rental companies, supplying premium furniture, lighting and décor to exhibitions, conferences, corporate events, hospitality venues and brand experiences across the region.
Key Skills for This Role
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Overview
Desert River Event Rentals is one of the UAE's leading event rental companies, supplying premium furniture, lighting and décor to exhibitions, conferences, corporate events, hospitality venues and brand experiences across the region.
Our reputation is built on reliability, attention to detail and exceptional service.
Behind every successful event is a strong operations team, and we are looking for an experienced Operations Manager to lead, develop and continuously improve ours.
This role reports directly to the Head of Event Rentals and plays a critical role in ensuring the smooth delivery of projects across warehouse operations, logistics, transportation and on-site event execution.
Operational Leadership
- Lead, coach and develop the operations team across warehouse, logistics and event delivery
- Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, professionalism and continuous improvement
- Set clear expectations, monitor performance and support team development
- Recruit, train and onboard operational team members as the business grows
Event Delivery & Logistics
- Plan and oversee the successful delivery, installation and collection of rental equipment across multiple projects and venues
- Coordinate staff schedules, vehicle allocation and operational resources to ensure efficient execution
- Manage on-site operations and provide leadership during installations, event periods and dismantles
- Act as the primary operational decision-maker when challenges arise and ensure issues are resolved quickly and professionally
Warehouse & Inventory Management
- Oversee warehouse operations, inventory accuracy, maintenance processes and quality control standards
- Ensure rental assets are maintained, repaired and presented to the highest standard
- Continuously improve operational workflows, systems and procedures to increase efficiency and scalability
- Work closely with procurement, suppliers and transport partners to ensure reliable operational support
Health, Safety & Compliance
- Ensure all operations are conducted in accordance with company policies, venue requirements and industry best practices
- Maintain strong standards around health and safety, risk management, security procedures and operational compliance
- Ensure teams are properly briefed and equipped to work safely and professionally at all times
- Maintain awareness of venue regulations, access requirements and event-specific operational procedures
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with the Sales team to ensure client expectations are translated into successful operational delivery
- Build strong working relationships with clients, venues, contractors and suppliers
- Contribute operational insight and recommendations that improve both customer experience and business performance
About You
- You are a confident and approachable operational leader who enjoys working alongside your team and takes pride in delivering outstanding results.
- You combine strong organisational skills with practical problem-solving ability and remain calm and decisive in fast-paced environments.
- You will ideally have:
- A minimum of 3–5 years' experience in an operational leadership or management role within event rentals, event production, exhibitions, logistics or a related industry
- Proven experience leading, developing and managing operational teams
- Strong knowledge of warehouse operations, logistics planning and project execution
- Practical understanding of event operations, venue requirements, health and safety procedures, security protocols and risk management
- Experience coordinating multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining high operational standards
- Excellent organisational, communication and leadership skills
- A proactive, solutions-oriented approach with strong attention to detail
- The ability to build trust and credibility with colleagues, clients and partners
- A collaborative working style and the ability to work effectively within multicultural teams
- Commercial awareness and an understanding of the importance of customer satisfaction, efficiency and profitability
Requirements
- Based in the UAE
- Valid UAE manual driving licence
- Fluent in English, both written and spoken
- Flexible regarding working hours and event schedules
- Strong Microsoft Office skills
- Event industry experience strongly preferred
Our Culture
At Desert River, we believe exceptional events are created by exceptional people working together.
We value teamwork, integrity, initiative, respect and continuous improvement.
We support each other, take ownership of our responsibilities and celebrate success as a team.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where people from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives can thrive.
What We Offer
- We offer the opportunity to play a key role in one of the UAE's leading event rental businesses, working on a diverse range of projects for some of the region's most recognised brands, venues and events.
- In addition, we offer:
- Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses
- Five-day working week
- UAE employment visa sponsorship
- Annual flight allowance
- Opportunities for professional growth and career development
- A collaborative, creative and supportive working environment
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