Group Business Operations & Administration Manager

We are seeking a proactive, versatile and highly organised Group Business Operations & Administration Manager to help run the operational backbone of our growing portfolio of businesses. This hands-on role brings together legal and regulatory coordination, business administration, accounting support, human resources and executive assistance. Working closely with the Founder and leadership team, you will take ownership of recurring operational responsibilities, coordinate with external specialists where needed, and build reliable systems that allow the businesses to scale. You should be equally comfortable preparing an authority application, reconciling invoices, following up on a contract, organising onboarding or managing an executive priority.

Key responsibilities

Legal affairs & corporate governance

• Prepare and administer routine NDAs, MOUs, service agreements, employment documents and other contracts using approved templates.

• Coordinate reviews and specialist matters with external legal counsel; maintain complete records of contracts, corporate documents and signatures.

• Track contractual obligations, legal deadlines, renewals and corporate governance requirements.

• Assist with company formation, corporate amendments and documentation for multiple group entities.

Regulatory approvals, licensing & compliance

• Prepare, submit and track licence applications, registrations, permits, renewals and regulatory approvals.

• Liaise with UAE mainland, free-zone and government authorities, PRO providers and external advisers.

• Support education and training approvals, including KHDA-related processes when applicable.

• Maintain a central compliance calendar and ensure documents, approvals and deadlines are properly tracked.

• Assist with UK corporate filings and administrative requirements when relevant, working with UK advisers.

General operations & administration

• Own day-to-day office and business administration, vendors, procurement, insurance, subscriptions and
  facilities coordination.

• Create and maintain standard operating procedures, organised document repositories and approval workflows.

• Coordinate administrative activities across multiple companies, teams, business locations and service
  providers.

• Identify inefficiencies and implement practical automation, digital tools and process improvements.

Accounting & financial administration

• Manage invoicing, expense tracking, accounts payable and receivable, collections and payment follow-ups.

• Maintain accurate records, supporting documents, basic reconciliations and recurring financial reporting.

• Coordinate bookkeeping, payroll inputs, budgets and cash-flow visibility with management and external
  accountants.

• Support UAE VAT, Corporate Tax and other statutory filings through appropriately qualified providers.

• Track financial deadlines and contribute to cost control and procurement discipline.
  

Human resources & people administration

• Coordinate recruitment administration, interview scheduling, offer letters, onboarding and offboarding.

• Manage employee records, leave and attendance trackers, policies, benefits and HR documentation.

• Coordinate employment visa, residency, permit and medical insurance processes with approved providers.

• Support payroll administration, performance review logistics and compliance with applicable employment
  rules.

Executive assistance & leadership support

• Manage calendars, meeting schedules, travel, itineraries and sensitive correspondence for the Founder/CEO.

• Prepare agendas, presentations, reports, meeting notes and follow-up action trackers.

• Coordinate communication with stakeholders and help ensure management priorities are executed on time.

• Handle confidential information with sound judgement and anticipate operational needs before they become bottlenecks.

Candidate profile

Essential requirements

• At least 3 years of relevant experience in operations, administration, executive support, finance
  administration, compliance or a similar multi-functional role.

• Strong organisational skills, detail orientation, independent execution and confidence managing multiple
  deadlines.

• Working understanding of contracts, licensing/application processes, basic accounting, HR administration and office operations.

• Excellent written and spoken English; proficiency with spreadsheets, office productivity tools and digital workflows.

• High integrity, confidentiality, initiative and the ability to follow tasks through from start to finish.
  

Preferred qualifications

• Professional experience in the UK and/or UAE, ideally with exposure to local business administration and
  regulatory processes.

• Arabic language skills are highly desirable; English remains essential.

• Experience in startups, SMEs, education/training businesses, multi-company groups or founder-led
  organisations.

• Familiarity with UAE mainland/free-zone administration, KHDA-related applications and UK Companies House processes.

• Experience with Zoho Books, Xero, QuickBooks, HR systems, CRMs or task-management software.

• Relevant degree in business, law, accounting, finance, HR or related field is an advantage.

What success looks like

• Establish a single tracker for legal, licensing, financial, HR and administrative obligations.

• Centralise key company records, contracts, financial documents and employee files.

• Introduce clear repeatable workflows for payments, approvals, renewals, onboarding and leadership
  follow-ups.

• Identify urgent gaps, resolve outstanding administrative items and improve visibility across the group.

How performance will be assessed

On-time regulatory renewals and filings; organised and accurate records; reliable invoicing and financial
administration; timely HR processes; effective executive follow-through; reduction of administrative errors; and measurable improvements in operational efficiency.

Working style & opportunity

This is a high-trust, execution-focused role with broad exposure across a growing entrepreneurial group. We
value ownership, adaptability, resourcefulness, professional discretion and a practical get-things-done mindset.