Operations Manager, Tennis Events
MARI Group · UAE - MARI Events, United Arab Emirates ·
- Work mode
- Onsite
- Employment
- Contract
- Category
- Operations
- Experience
- 10+ years
About MARI Group
MARI is a global events and experiences company with a portfolio of world-class live properties spanning sport, art, lifestyle, and entertainment. These include major international tennis tournaments, among them the Mutua Madrid Open and Miami Open presented by Itaú, Frieze, a leading voice in contemporary art, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, TodayTix Group, a leading digital ticketing and technology company for theatre and live performance, and Barrett-Jackson, the foremost U.S. collector car auction company. MARI delivers live experiences that bring people together, inspire audiences, and shape culture worldwide.
MARI is reshaping the live events landscape — building a growing portfolio of category-defining events and brands that set the standard for what's next, across sports, entertainment, art, and lifestyle.
At MARI, you'll work alongside people who are passionate, curious, and driven — people who believe that live experiences have the power to shape culture, and who care about the work, the mission, and each other. We welcome outstanding applicants of all backgrounds and encourage everyone to apply.
The Role and What You’ll Do:
The Operations Manager will take a leading role in the end-to-end planning and delivery of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, with full responsibility for key operational areas including venue infrastructure, supplier management, logistics, and workforce recruitment. Acting as a central point of coordination across all stakeholders, the role will ensure the event is executed safely, efficiently, and to the highest international standards. Beyond event delivery, the position will contribute to year-round operational strategy, drive continuous improvement across processes and supplier frameworks, and opportunity to support on other MARI tennis events within the portfolio.
Key Responsibilities Include:
Event Operations Management
You Have These
We’d Love If You Also Have These:
Travel:
Working Conditions:
Permanent or Fixed Term Position – Location: Permanent, based in Dubai
Working hours are: 9am to 6pm
Working days are: Monday to Friday, weekends are required during event build, delivery and derig.
Benefits
Here are some of the Benefits and Perks offered at MARI Group:
MARI believes in the power of live experiences to unite people — and we know that can only be achieved when we reflect the full diversity of the world around us. As a global company that shapes culture across sports, art, and entertainment, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and to practicing anti-discrimination across race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and beyond. We recognise that systemic inequality and discrimination remain challenges across the events and entertainment industry, and we are dedicated to driving meaningful progress — both within our own organisation and across the wider industry we are proud to be part of.
MARI is a global events and experiences company with a portfolio of world-class live properties spanning sport, art, lifestyle, and entertainment. These include major international tennis tournaments, among them the Mutua Madrid Open and Miami Open presented by Itaú, Frieze, a leading voice in contemporary art, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, TodayTix Group, a leading digital ticketing and technology company for theatre and live performance, and Barrett-Jackson, the foremost U.S. collector car auction company. MARI delivers live experiences that bring people together, inspire audiences, and shape culture worldwide.
MARI is reshaping the live events landscape — building a growing portfolio of category-defining events and brands that set the standard for what's next, across sports, entertainment, art, and lifestyle.
At MARI, you'll work alongside people who are passionate, curious, and driven — people who believe that live experiences have the power to shape culture, and who care about the work, the mission, and each other. We welcome outstanding applicants of all backgrounds and encourage everyone to apply.
The Role and What You’ll Do:
The Operations Manager will take a leading role in the end-to-end planning and delivery of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, with full responsibility for key operational areas including venue infrastructure, supplier management, logistics, and workforce recruitment. Acting as a central point of coordination across all stakeholders, the role will ensure the event is executed safely, efficiently, and to the highest international standards. Beyond event delivery, the position will contribute to year-round operational strategy, drive continuous improvement across processes and supplier frameworks, and opportunity to support on other MARI tennis events within the portfolio.
Key Responsibilities Include:
Event Operations Management
- Lead full lifecycle delivery of venue operations: planning, build, live event, and breakdown
- Ensure operational readiness across competition, hospitality, broadcast, and public zones
- Manage site infrastructure, logistics, and stakeholder coordination
- Support in venue build and infrastructure RFP processes
- Manage contractor performance, compliance, and timelines
- Maintain and strengthen long-standing supplier relationships
- Support development and monitoring of operational budgets
- Identify cost efficiencies through structured planning and supplier continuity
- Provide financial reporting and variance analysis
- Recruit, train, and manage temporary operations workforce
- Develop staffing structures and operational procedures
- Implement standardized planning tools and risk management processes
- Provide leadership with readiness updates and post-event evaluations
- Maintain operational documentation and knowledge transfer systems
- Venue feasibility and infrastructure planning
- Operational framework and playbook development
- Post-event analysis and continuous improvement initiatives
You Have These
- 10+ years delivering large-scale sports or live events
- Expertise in venue infrastructure, temporary structures, and logistics
- Strong commercial and supplier management capability
- Proven leadership in complex multi-stakeholder environments
- Experience operating within UAE and/or Middle East Markets
We’d Love If You Also Have These:
- Ability to network and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Team player with ability to understand all elements of the event portfolio.
- Ability to handle pressure, remain professional and stay calm when dealing with difficult situations.
- Excellent time management and prioritisation skills.
Travel:
- UAE based travel for meetings and networking events
- International travel from time to time to other Mari Events and company meetings
Working Conditions:
Permanent or Fixed Term Position – Location: Permanent, based in Dubai
Working hours are: 9am to 6pm
Working days are: Monday to Friday, weekends are required during event build, delivery and derig.
Benefits
Here are some of the Benefits and Perks offered at MARI Group:
- Hybrid work environment (blend of in-office and at-home days)
- Pension match and access to a bespoke pension scheme
- Paid Parental Leave
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Enhanced gyms, wellness and financial wellbeing apps access via Wellhub
- Flexible Paid Time Off
MARI believes in the power of live experiences to unite people — and we know that can only be achieved when we reflect the full diversity of the world around us. As a global company that shapes culture across sports, art, and entertainment, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and to practicing anti-discrimination across race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and beyond. We recognise that systemic inequality and discrimination remain challenges across the events and entertainment industry, and we are dedicated to driving meaningful progress — both within our own organisation and across the wider industry we are proud to be part of.