Operations Manager

Job Description/Specification:

An Operations Manager in facility management is responsible for keeping complex properties safe, compliant, functional, and consistently aligned with contractual requirements. This senior role focuses on operational leadership, civil and architectural maintenance, team management, client coordination, and service performance across a large-scale FM portfolio.

For experienced professionals in Facility Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, and GCC operations, this position offers an opportunity to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage demanding service environments in Qatar.

💼 Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily facility management operations and ensure contractual SLAs and KPIs are consistently achieved.

• Manage FM teams, engineers, supervisors, subcontractors, and specialist service providers.

• Oversee civil, architectural, and general building maintenance activities across the assigned portfolio.

• Monitor service quality, operational performance, resources, and corrective actions.

• Ensure compliance with Qatar regulations, HSE requirements, quality standards, and client procedures.

• Maintain effective communication with clients and key stakeholders.

• Investigate operational issues and coordinate timely corrective measures.

• Prepare and review operational reports, performance information, and risk-related updates.

• Identify opportunities to improve processes, efficiency, service quality, and resource utilization.

• Maintain a strong focus on safety, customer satisfaction, and contractual compliance.

🎯 Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture Engineering, or an equivalent discipline.

• At least 15 years of total professional experience.

• Minimum 7 years of experience in Facility Management.

• Previous GCC experience managing large-scale FM projects.

• Strong knowledge of civil, architectural, and building systems.

• Experience working in schools, kindergartens, or educational facilities is highly preferred.

• Strong leadership and people-management capabilities.

• Excellent planning, communication, coordination, and problem-solving skills.

• Fluent Arabic and English communication skills are mandatory.

• MMUP/UPDA certification is preferred.

🚀 Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• The position offers senior-level responsibility across a large-scale facility management portfolio.

• It provides exposure to multidisciplinary FM operations and complex building environments.

• The role combines technical oversight with leadership, client management, and operational planning.

• Professionals with GCC experience can apply their regional FM knowledge in a demanding Qatar-based environment.

• Experience in educational facilities can be particularly relevant to the operational requirements of the position.

👤 Who Should Apply?

This role is designed for an experienced Facility Management Operations Manager, Senior FM Manager, Facilities Manager, Civil Engineering Manager, or similar senior professional with a substantial track record in building operations.

The strongest profile will combine technical knowledge with the ability to manage people, contractors, budgets/resources, risks, service performance, and client expectations. Candidates should be comfortable making operational decisions, addressing service failures, and maintaining performance across multiple facilities or a sizeable property portfolio.

Experience with schools, kindergartens, campuses, or other educational environments is especially relevant.

⭐ Skills That Will Help You Succeed

A successful Operations Manager will need both technical and leadership capabilities, including:

• Facility management operations

• Civil and architectural maintenance

• SLA and KPI management

• Contractual compliance

• HSE and quality management

• Team and subcontractor supervision

• Client and stakeholder management

• Risk identification and corrective-action planning

• Operational reporting

• Resource and workforce planning

• Problem-solving and decision-making

• Continuous improvement

The ability to translate technical problems into practical operational solutions is particularly important at management level.

💡 How to Stand Out

Your CV should demonstrate scale, responsibility, and measurable operational results rather than simply listing FM duties.

Highlight the size of the portfolio you managed, number of facilities or sites covered, team size, types of buildings, subcontractors supervised, and major client accounts handled.

Where possible, include measurable achievements such as improved SLA compliance, reduced recurring maintenance issues, improved response times, successful audits, safety improvements, or cost/resource efficiencies.

Make your GCC experience, FM years, educational-facility exposure, MMUP/UPDA status, and Arabic/English language skills easy for recruiters to identify.

🎤 Interview Preparation

Expect the interview to assess both technical FM knowledge and leadership ability.

Prepare for questions such as:

• How do you manage FM operations across multiple facilities?

• How do you ensure contractual SLAs and KPIs are achieved?

• How would you respond to repeated maintenance failures?

• How do you manage underperforming subcontractors?

• What is your approach to HSE compliance?

• How do you prioritize urgent civil or architectural maintenance issues?

• How do you handle client complaints and service escalations?

• Describe a major FM challenge you resolved.

• How do you manage teams during periods of high operational pressure?

Use specific examples that demonstrate your decision-making, leadership, technical understanding, and measurable results.

📈 Career Growth

This level of experience can support progression toward positions such as Senior Operations Manager, Regional FM Manager, Facilities Director, Head of Facilities, or FM Operations Director, depending on organizational structure and professional development.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How much experience is required?
The position requires at least 15 years of total experience, including a minimum of seven years in Facility Management.

Is GCC experience required?
Yes. The requirements specifically call for GCC experience on large-scale FM projects.

Is educational-facility experience mandatory?
It is described as highly preferred rather than an absolute requirement. Experience in schools, kindergartens, or similar facilities can strengthen a candidate's profile.

Which engineering backgrounds are suitable?
A bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture Engineering, or an equivalent discipline is specified.

Are language skills important?
Yes. Fluency in both Arabic and English is mandatory for this position.

Is MMUP/UPDA certification required?
The certification is listed as preferred.