General Affairs Manager

Our client, a multinational company is looking for a General Affairs Manager to be based in Dubai.

You will be responsible in overseeing smooth, safe, compliant, and efficient General Affairs (GA) operations for the Dubai office, including DIFC and JAFZA, while supporting consistent GA practices across the Middle East & Africa region. Manage key areas including facilities, safety, assets, leases, government relations, vendors, budgets, and process improvements.

Key Responsibilities

1. Office & Facility Management

• Manage daily office operations, including maintenance, utilities, access, parking, visitors, supplies, and workplace services.
• Oversee building systems such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and fire safety.
• Coordinate with landlords, service providers, and vendors to ensure quality and compliance.
• Organize company events, meetings, and office functions.
• Communicate office, safety, regulatory, and holiday updates.

2. Health, Safety & Security (HSE) and Business Continuity

• Manage safety programs, inspections, training, fire drills, risk assessments, and emergency plans.
• Maintain emergency equipment, evacuation procedures, and contact lists.
• Support crisis response and business continuity activities.
• Investigate incidents, track corrective actions, and promote safety awareness.

3. Lease & Workplace Projects

• Manage office leases, relocations, renovations, fit-outs, reinstatements, and handovers.
• Coordinate vendors, project schedules, approvals, and documentation.
• Ensure timely renewal of leases, permits, insurance, and service contracts.

4. Asset, Residence & Vehicle Management

• Maintain asset records and manage procurement, disposal, and transfers.
• Support IT asset administration with the IT department.
• Manage company housing and staff residences, including leases, utilities, maintenance, and handovers.
• Oversee company vehicles, drivers, parking, insurance, maintenance, and registrations.

5. Government & Corporate Administration

• Manage submissions, renewals, and approvals with government bodies, free zones, customs, and civil defence.
• Maintain trade licenses, permits, lease registrations, customs codes, and gate passes.
• Coordinate document certification, attestation, notarization, legalisation, translation, and official processing.
• Support company secretarial matters and regulatory filings in cooperation with the Legal Department.
• Maintain compliance calendars and key administrative deadlines.

6. Procurement, Vendors & Budget Management

• Manage internal approval workflows (Ringi), budgets, contracts, quotations, and risk assessments.
• Support MEA offices with GA processes and approvals.
• Source, evaluate, and manage vendors in line with company policy.
• Review invoices, coordinate payments, and monitor budgets and contracts.
• Monitor service quality and identify improvement opportunities.

7. Regional Coordination & Process Improvement

• Coordinate with GA representatives across MEA and HQ.
• Support GA meetings, audits/peer reviews, training, manuals, and follow-ups.
• Manage regional projects covering facilities, assets, HSE, residences, and business continuity.
• Prepare reports, dashboards, presentations, and management updates.
• Promote digitalization, automation, and process improvements.

8. Records & Administrative Support

• Maintain records for contracts, licenses, assets, inspections, incidents, training, and payments.
• Support travel, accommodation, transportation, meetings, events, couriers, subscriptions, and visitor logistics.
• Provide backup support during absences or peak workloads.
• Perform other duties as assigned within company policies and laws.

Qualifications & Profile

• Experience: 6+ years in General Affairs, facilities, corporate services, government relations, or similar, preferably within multinational environments.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Practical knowledge of facilities, leases, contracts, assets, HSE, government documentation, and budgeting.
• Familiarity with DIFC, JAFZA, and/or other UAE free zone operations is an advantage.
• Strong Microsoft 365 skills, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Fluent English with strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to travel between office locations and regions as required.

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