Operations Manager

About this opportunity

Operations Manager — Corporate Services GCC Group is a Dubai-headquartered corporate services, legal structuring and capital markets group operating as GCC Solutions, GCC Law, Gulf Equity Partners and Gulf Trust, with offices in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Kuwait. We are a small, senior team serving founders, family offices, fund managers and international companies entering the Gulf. The role The Operations Manager runs the delivery engine. Company formation, licence renewals, amendments, attestations, visa and Iqama processing, payroll support and ongoing corporate administration — across the UAE and Saudi Arabia — all move through this role. It is hands-on management, not oversight. You will run the team, own the processes, take the stuck cases personally, and carry accountability for deadlines that have statutory consequences when missed. In a firm this size, the person who holds the operational standard is the reason clients stay. Responsibilities Service delivery Own end-to-end delivery of client engagements: incorporations, licence renewals, amendments, attestations, visa and Iqama processing, payroll runs and ongoing corporate administration Maintain a live matter tracker across every client and jurisdiction, so that no licence expiry, visa expiry, filing date or payroll cutoff is ever missed Allocate work daily, set priorities, and step in personally on escalated or stuck cases Define, document and improve standard operating procedures for every recurring service line Set turnaround-time standards per service and report delivery performance monthly Government portals and regulatory processing Oversee UAE processing across DED, free zone portals, MOHRE, GDRFA and ICP, Amer and Tas-heel Oversee KSA processing across Qiwa, Muqeem, Mudad, GOSI, MISA, Saudi Business Center, ZATCA and Absher Maintain the register of client portal accesses, credential protocols and authorisation matrices, under strict access control Track regulatory change in both jurisdictions — fees, processes, Saudisation and Emiratisation rules, WPS requirements — and update procedures and client advice accordingly Manage relationships with PROs and third-party typing and processing centres in both markets Client management Act as the senior operational point of contact across the client portfolio: onboarding, kick-off, recurring deliverables, escalations and renewals Run structured client onboarding, including document collection, KYC and CDD file completion, and engagement setup Keep clients informed on matter status, and own the conversation about a delay before the client has to ask Monitor scope against engagement letters and flag out-of-scope work for commercial approval before it is done Compliance and risk Ensure client files meet KYC, AML and CDD requirements, and that periodic reviews and remediations complete on schedule Maintain data protection and confidentiality standards across client records and credentials Keep the firm's own licences, establishment cards, signatory authorities and registrations current in both jurisdictions Maintain an incident and escalation log, and run root-cause reviews when a deadline is missed or an error occurs Team leadership Manage, coach and develop the operations team across offices Set objectives, run performance reviews, and manage capacity and hiring needs Build cross-training so no service line depends on one person Hold the standard without micromanaging Systems and reporting Own operational use of the firm's systems — Zoho CRM and Books, Box, task tracking — and drive adoption and data discipline Ensure billing triggers are captured: work completed is invoiced promptly, disbursements recorded, work in progress visible Produce management reporting on delivery volumes, turnaround times, renewals pipeline, capacity and operational risk What we are looking for Essential Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Law, Management or a related field Six or more years in corporate services, PRO services, business setup or professional services operations, including at least three in a management role Deep working knowledge of UAE government processes across mainland and free zones Demonstrable exposure to KSA platforms — Qiwa, Muqeem, GOSI, MISA — with direct KSA delivery experience strongly preferred A track record running deadline-driven, multi-client delivery where lateness carries statutory consequences Experience with KYC and AML client file requirements in a regulated or professional services environment Exceptional organisation: able to hold a large volume of concurrent matters without dropping deadlines A process mindset — documents, standardises and improves rather than firefights Confident client-facing English, written and spoken Calm and decisive under pressure, particularly on government-deadline matters Currently in the UAE with a transferable visa or eligible for a new employment visa Preferred Arabic language skills Experience across UAE mainland and multiple free zones, and with RAK ICC or offshore structures Familiarity with payroll and WPS operations in the UAE or KSA Experience in a boutique or founder-led firm where the role spans strategy through execution Professional certification in compliance, company secretarial practice or project management