Operations Manager - UAE

About the role

The Operations Manager

UAE role at Gibson Dunn is responsible for owning the full operational narrative of the firm's two offices located in the United Arab Emirates, specifically in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This position ensures that all local regulations and professional relationships translate into calm, compliant, and efficient daily workflows across both sites. You will act as the central conduit for decision-making, guaranteeing that no critical detail slips through the cracks during routine execution. A core part of the role involves protecting people, process integrity, and the firm's reputation while fostering a quiet and highly productive environment. You will be required to travel regularly between Abu Dhabi and Dubai to maintain consistent presence and oversight across both locations. Reporting lines will fall under the Director of Administration and International Operations or other designees within the global support structure. The successful candidate will manage an annual compensation budget of 140,000 AED for this role.

What you'll do

You will design and refine intake routines that capture staff and vendor needs proactively, preventing issues from escalating into urgent crises. Championing building standards for human resources, finance, and office systems will be essential to satisfy DIFC and ADGM regulatory expectations. Driving regular review rituals where contracts, expenses, and vendor work are scrutinized for accuracy and clarity will become a standard part of your responsibilities. Orchestrating shipping processes for legal affairs renewals, payroll execution, and visa documentation will fall directly within your scope of ownership. You will coordinate closely with internal and external partners to align facilities, vendors, and cross-departmental projects with all applicable local rules and procedures. Championing the employee experience through benefits administration, payroll accuracy, and leave record integrity will be a non-negotiable aspect of the position. Guarding information is a core duty; you will maintain strict confidentiality in every system, conversation, and document handled. You will shape hiring workflows from interview to full onboarding so that teams grow stronger, faster, and more cohesively. Maintaining office readiness through maintenance schedules, vendor relationship management, and compliance checks is an expected standard of performance. You will also host events that connect staff, mark key milestones, and sustain a strong culture across both offices in the UAE.

Requirements

You must be able to conduct financial analysis and explain core concepts in plain, accessible language to non-specialist audiences. Identifying complex issues and recommending solutions that respect law and regulation will be a daily expectation of the role. You will present professionally at all times, communicate with clarity, and organize your work so that nothing critical is overlooked or missed. Advanced critical thinking skills are required, paired with high-level time management abilities to handle competing priorities effectively. Protecting sensitive data is non-negotiable and must be approached with the highest level of integrity and vigilance at all times. Initiative is expected as you manage multiple concurrent tasks against tight timelines while remaining effective within a team structure. A university degree is required, and you must bring seven or more years of business operations experience, ideally gained within law firms or professional services environments. A working understanding of DIFC and ADGM employment laws, as well as visa and immigration procedures, is mandatory for success in this position. You must be capable of navigating complex regulatory environments while maintaining a practical, solutions-oriented mindset. Reliability, discretion, and a high standard of professionalism are essential traits for representing Gibson Dunn in the UAE.

Nice to have

Experience supporting international teams across multiple jurisdictions is valued but not required for this role. Familiarity with legal operations best practices and a service-oriented mindset will be considered an advantage during the evaluation process. Comfort with event planning and the ability to manage cross-functional communications will further support your effectiveness in this position.

Practical notes

The role is based across Abu Dhabi and Dubai, requiring regular travel between the two locations to ensure consistent coverage and alignment. You will report to the Director of Administration and International Operations or other designees within the organizational hierarchy. The annual compensation for this role is set at 140,000 AED. Please note that Gibson Dunn will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of local law.