Senior Operations Manager

About the Role / About the Job
We are seeking a Senior Operations Manager to lead Business Operations within our dynamic Operations team. This role sits at the core of our business, responsible for owning and improving our core money processes—from the day a property joins our platform to the day it exits. You will report directly to the SVP of Company Operations and lead a team to build rigorous controls and documentation that will allow our operations to scale efficiently. If you are energized by the idea of managing a complex operation and are committed to continuous improvement, this position is for you.

What You’ll Do

Core Business Operations

• Own the core money processes end-to-end, including the weekly dividend cycle, reconciliation, payables, receivables, forecasting, investor votes, and exits.
• Lead and develop a team of operations specialists by setting clear expectations, driving high performance, and investing in their growth.
• Identify and implement improvements to operational processes, utilizing technology and best operational practices for efficient scaling.
• Establish controls that catch potential issues proactively: ensuring reconciliation before payouts, invoice-level verification, and timely alerting on problems.
• Document every core process, maintaining named ownership for each to ensure critical tasks do not depend on a single person.
• Partner with the Finance team for comprehensive reconciliation, receivables collection, and cost allocation to alleviate friction points.
• Monitor the property portfolio performance, collaborating with the Property Management team to tackle underperformance, tenant issues, and operational challenges.
• Provide stakeholders across the business with clear visibility into asset performance through dashboards, periodic reporting, and ad-hoc insights.
• Manage investor communications regarding property updates, including tenancy statuses, maintenance events, and significant issues like legal disputes or major renovations.

Cross-Functional and Strategic

• Offer strategic insights on pressing operational issues, while leading cross-functional projects.
• Support new business initiatives and product lines as we expand into new markets.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting to regulators, auditors, and external stakeholders, adhering to DFSA and CMA regulations.
• Translate operational challenges into product enhancements and technology priorities, collaborating closely with Asset Management, Transactions, Finance, and Product teams.

What We’re Looking For

Must-Haves:

• 7+ years in operations, particularly with experience in financial services, fintech, or real estate.
• Demonstrated end-to-end ownership of large-scale operational processes (designing, running, and improving, not just executing).
• Direct management experience with financial flows, including reconciliations, distributions, payables, and receivables; you don’t need to be a finance expert, but you should have operational experience in these areas.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen; proficient in Excel and data-driven analysis.
• Enjoyment of operational detail; capable of digging into the process and numbers rather than managing from a distance.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence across functions and engage with senior leadership.
• Experience in a high-growth or startup environment, with the ability to build or scale processes without a playbook.
• Systematic thinking; ability to address root causes of issues rather than treating symptoms.
• Familiarity with operational technology, including databases, systems, and automation tools; understanding what’s possible is crucial.
• Experience leading and developing a team.
• Fluency in English.

Strong Preferences:

• Experience in a regulated environment (DFSA, CMA, FCA, or equivalent).
• AI-first mindset; thoughts on where automation can replace human effort in manual processes and experiences using AI to improve operational efficiency.
• Proficiency in the Arabic language.

Why You Should Join Us

• Hybrid work environment.
• Work closely with senior leadership in one of the region's fastest-growing startups, with exposure to every function and opportunities to influence company operations.
• Generous equity compensation—grow with the company as it expands.
• Budget for learning and development.
• Access to a best-in-class end-of-service savings scheme through the DIFC DEWS program.
• Regular team events and off-sites.

At the company, we foster a high-performance culture that embraces ambition and curiosity. We seek individuals who recognize the value of our mission and wish to grow alongside us.