EVENTS & OPERATIONS MANAGER

*EVENTS & OPERATIONS MANAGER* *Larustic | Abu Dhabi, UAE* *About Larustic* Rooted in the cultural character of the United Arab Emirates, Larustic creates fragrances, home ambiance and curated gifts through a contemporary luxury lens. Our events and retail experiences bring this identity to life, and every detail matters. *The Role* We are looking for a decisive, commercially minded Events & Operations Manager to take full ownership of event delivery and operational performance. You will lead exhibitions, pop-ups, brand activations and daily operational coordination, ensuring that people, products, suppliers and systems are ready to deliver. Success means events open on time, teams perform confidently, stock remains accountable, costs stay controlled and customers receive a consistently refined experience. This is a hands-on leadership position requiring strong planning, clear delegation and visible presence on the ground. *Key Responsibilities* *Event Planning & Delivery* * Own the complete event cycle: planning, budgeting, venue coordination, setup, live operations, dismantling and closeout. * Translate management objectives into detailed execution plans with clear deadlines, responsibilities and deliverables. * Manage organizer requirements, permits, access arrangements, contractor schedules and venue compliance. * Ensure booths, displays, lighting, packaging and customer-facing materials meet Larustic’s standards before opening. * Anticipate operational risks and prepare contingency plans for staffing gaps, delayed deliveries, equipment failures and stock shortages. *Operational Management* * Coordinate procurement, warehousing, logistics, sales and finance to ensure timely execution. * Oversee product readiness, stock allocation, replenishment, transfers, returns and post-event reconciliation. * Maintain accurate records of inventory movements, company assets and event materials. * Establish practical SOPs, checklists and reporting routines that improve consistency and accountability. * Resolve operational issues promptly, escalating matters with clear recommendations when management decisions are required. *Team Leadership & Customer Experience* * Lead sales staff, brand ambassadors, ushers and operational support teams. * Set staffing requirements, assign responsibilities and manage rosters, attendance and shift coverage. * Conduct briefings covering sales targets, product knowledge, service expectations and operational procedures. * Enforce grooming, uniform, conduct and presentation standards throughout each event. * Address performance gaps directly and handle escalated customer concerns professionally. *Commercial & Financial Accountability* * Prepare event budgets, track spending and obtain approvals before committing costs. * Evaluate supplier quotations, negotiate commercial terms and monitor delivery against agreed commitments. * Monitor daily sales against targets and coordinate actions to improve conversion, average transaction value and customer engagement. * Work with finance to reconcile sales, payments, supplier charges and operational expenses. * Assess event performance against revenue, cost and customer experience objectives. *Reporting & Continuous Improvement* * Provide management with concise updates on readiness, risks, sales, staffing and operational performance. * Deliver post-event reports covering results, budget variances, stock discrepancies, supplier performance and corrective actions. * Maintain an event calendar and track preparation milestones across overlapping projects. * Turn recurring issues into documented process improvements with clear owners and deadlines. *Required Experience & Skills* * Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in events, retail operations or brand activations, including at least 2 years leading teams. * Demonstrated success delivering exhibitions or commercial events in the UAE. * Experience in luxury retail, fragrances, beauty, gifting or lifestyle brands is strongly preferred. * Proven ability to manage budgets, suppliers, logistics, inventory and on-site teams simultaneously. * Strong commercial judgment and confidence interpreting sales and operational reports. * Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience using project management, POS or inventory systems. * Excellent English communication skills; Arabic is an advantage. * Availability to work on-site, travel within the UAE and support evening or weekend schedules during events. * UAE driving licence preferred. *What We Expect* We need someone who takes ownership, follows through and keeps standards high under pressure. You should be comfortable directing teams, challenging missed deadlines, managing difficult supplier conversations and making practical decisions without losing sight of the customer experience. *How Success Will Be Measured* * Events delivered on time and within approved budgets. * Sales performance against agreed targets. * Accurate stock records and timely reconciliation. * Effective staffing, service quality and brand presentation. * Reliable supplier delivery and prompt issue resolution. * Clear reporting and measurable operational improvements. Show more Show less

Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in events, retail operations or brand activations, including at least 2 years leading teams. Demonstrated success delivering exhibitions or commercial events in the UAE. Experience in luxury retail, fragrances, beauty, gifting or lifestyle brands is strongly preferred. Proven ability to manage budgets, suppliers, logistics, inventory and on-site teams simultaneously. Strong commercial judgment and confidence interpreting sales and operational reports. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience using project management, POS or inventory systems. Excellent English communication skills; Arabic is an advantage. Availability to work on-site, travel within the UAE and support evening or weekend schedules during events. UAE driving licence preferred.

Event Planning & Delivery: Own the complete event cycle: planning, budgeting, venue coordination, setup, live operations, dismantling and closeout. Translate management objectives into detailed execution plans with clear deadlines, responsibilities and deliverables. Manage organizer requirements, permits, access arrangements, contractor schedules and venue compliance. Ensure booths, displays, lighting, packaging and customer-facing materials meet Larustic’s standards before opening. Anticipate operational risks and prepare contingency plans for staffing gaps, delayed deliveries, equipment failures and stock shortages. Operational Management: Coordinate procurement, warehousing, logistics, sales and finance to ensure timely execution. Oversee product readiness, stock allocation, replenishment, transfers, returns and post-event reconciliation. Maintain accurate records of inventory movements, company assets and event materials. Establish practical SOPs, checklists and reporting routines that improve consistency and accountability. Resolve operational issues promptly, escalating matters with clear recommendations when management decisions are required. Team Leadership & Customer Experience: Lead sales staff, brand ambassadors, ushers and operational support teams. Set staffing requirements, assign responsibilities and manage rosters, attendance and shift coverage. Conduct briefings covering sales targets, product knowledge, service expectations and operational procedures. Enforce grooming, uniform, conduct and presentation standards throughout each event. Address performance gaps directly and handle escalated customer concerns professionally. Commercial & Financial Accountability: Prepare event budgets, track spending and obtain approvals before committing costs. Evaluate supplier quotations, negotiate commercial terms and monitor delivery against agreed commitments. Monitor daily sales against targets and coordinate actions to improve conversion, average transaction value and customer engagement. Work with finance to reconcile sales, payments, supplier charges and operational expenses. Assess event performance against revenue, cost and customer experience objectives. Reporting & Continuous Improvement: Provide management with concise updates on readiness, risks, sales, staffing and operational performance. Deliver post-event reports covering results, budget variances, stock discrepancies, supplier performance and corrective actions. Maintain an event calendar and track preparation milestones across overlapping projects. Turn recurring issues into documented process improvements with clear owners and deadlines.