Football Operations Manager

Operations Manager

Department: Pro Development Program

Reporting to: Pro Development Director

Location: Dubai, UAE

Type: Full-Time

Gulf United FC is the UAE's most diverse football club — a professional club competing in the UAE First Division and a 600+ player academy representing 83 nationalities. Founded in 2019, we are the #1 scholarship provider in the MENA region with pathways to US and Canadian universities and a proud adidas partnership.

The Pro Development Program (PDP) is our elite pathway program for players aged 18–23 who are looking to take their first step into professional football. The PDP operates as a high-performance environment with a full training, travel, competition and lifestyle schedule. Keeping this environment running seamlessly requires an exceptionally organised Operations Manager who can handle the logistical complexity behind the scenes so that coaches and players can focus entirely on performance.

The Opportunity

The Operations Manager is the backbone of the Pro Development Program. You will own every operational strand — from pitch bookings and transport logistics to team-building events and compliance administration — ensuring that the program runs on time, on budget, and to the standards expected of a professional football environment.

This role demands someone who thrives on process, takes pride in anticipating problems before they occur, and can simultaneously manage multiple workstreams without anything slipping. You will work closely with the coaching staff, the Head of Program and external suppliers, acting as the central coordination point that makes the PDP function.

Program Operational Oversight

• Own the day-to-day operational running of the Pro Development Program, ensuring all scheduling, logistics and administrative processes function smoothly throughout the season.
• Build and maintain the PDP master calendar, coordinating training sessions, matches, travel, recovery days, team activities and key club events to avoid conflicts and maximise player preparation time.
• Develop, implement and continuously improve Standard Operating Procedures for all operational functions within the PDP.
• Serve as the primary operational point of contact for coaching staff, providing proactive support so that logistical concerns never disrupt the training or match environment.
• Produce weekly and monthly operational reports for the Program Director, flagging issues, tracking budgets and summarising key activities.

Pitch Booking & Training Facility Management

• Manage all pitch bookings across Gulf United’s training venues and any external facilities, ensuring PDP training sessions and matches are confirmed well in advance with no scheduling gaps or clashes.
• Coordinate pitch allocation across the wider academy where sessions overlap, liaising with the Academy Administrator to ensure fair and efficient use of available pitch time.
• Maintain relationships with venue operators and manage booking contracts, invoices and renewals.
• Conduct pre-session facility checks, ensuring pitches, changing rooms, equipment and medical provisions are ready before staff and players arrive.
• Identify and assess new training venues or match facilities as the program grows, presenting recommendations to senior management.

Bus & Transport Management

• Plan, book and manage all player and staff transport for training sessions, away fixtures, tournaments and off-site activities — ensuring vehicles are confirmed, punctual and fit for purpose.
• Maintain the transport schedule, communicating pick-up times, routes and any changes to players, parents and staff with appropriate advance notice.
• Build and manage relationships with approved transport providers, negotiating rates and monitoring service standards.
• Ensure all transport arrangements comply with Gulf United’s safeguarding and duty of care requirements, including driver vetting and vehicle safety standards.
• Track transport expenditure against budget and identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising player welfare or punctuality.

Team-Building & Player Experience

• Research, plan and coordinate team-building activities, camps and off-pitch experiences that strengthen squad cohesion, reinforce club values and support player wellbeing.
• Work with the coaching staff and sports scientist (where applicable) to schedule team-building events at appropriate points in the season calendar, ensuring they complement rather than disrupt the performance plan.
• Manage end-to-end logistics for team events including venue hire, catering, transport, equipment and any external facilitators or speakers.
• Gather player and staff feedback after activities to measure impact and continuously improve the team-building calendar.
• Coordinate family engagement events and parent communication sessions, supporting the club’s culture of transparency and community.

Equipment, Kit & Inventory Management

• Oversee the ordering, distribution and tracking of all PDP training and match kit, equipment and consumables in coordination with the Adidas partnership and internal kit management processes.
• Maintain an accurate inventory of all PDP assets including footballs, training equipment, medical supplies and facility items, conducting regular audits and flagging shortfalls.
• Manage kit personalisation, laundry and storage, ensuring players always have clean, correctly branded kit available for training and matchdays.
• Coordinate matchday equipment logistics — packing, transport and setup — for both home and away fixtures.

Administration, Compliance & Safeguarding

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date player records for all PDP squad members, including registration documents, medical clearances, emergency contacts and visa/residency information where applicable.
• Ensure all players and staff hold current, valid documentation required by the UAE FA and relevant competition bodies, proactively chasing renewals ahead of deadlines.
• Support the safeguarding lead in maintaining a safe environment for all players, adhering to Gulf United’s safeguarding policies and reporting obligations.
• Manage the PDP operational budget, processing purchase orders, supplier invoices and expense claims, and maintaining accurate financial records for senior review.
• Liaise with the club’s finance and legal teams on contracts, insurance and compliance matters relevant to the program.

Essential

• 3+ years of experience in an operations, events management or programme administration role, ideally within sports, education or a similarly fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional organisational skills — you can manage multiple concurrent workstreams, juggle shifting priorities and never drop the ball on the details.
• Strong communication skills in English, with the ability to liaise confidently with players, parents, coaching staff, suppliers and external venues.
• Experience managing logistics including transport, venues and event coordination.
• Proficiency with productivity and scheduling tools (Google Suite, Microsoft Office, project management software).
• A proactive, solutions-first mindset: you anticipate problems and fix them before they become disruptions.
• Comfortable working flexible hours including evenings and weekends when training, matches or events require.

Desirable

• Background in football or high-performance youth sport operations.
• Experience working in the UAE or GCC, with familiarity of local logistics, facility providers and regulatory requirements.
• Arabic language skills (spoken and/or written).
• Experience in safeguarding, child protection or duty of care within a sporting or educational environment.
• Driving licence and willingness to drive club vehicles where required.

Opportunity

• A central role in one of the UAE’s most exciting football clubs, contributing directly to the development of the next generation of professional players.
• A fast-paced, high-energy environment where your work has visible, immediate impact on players and staff every single day.
• Exposure to professional football operations across both the academy and first-team environment.
• Adidas kit allocation, matchday access and the full Gulf United staff experience.
• Clear scope for career progression within a club that is growing rapidly across all departments.
• A diverse, international team that values initiative, ownership and people who make things happen.

To apply, please send your CV and a brief cover note explaining why you are the right person for this role and what sponsorship or commercial experience you bring to:

applications@gulfunitedfc.com

Please include “Sponsorship Coordinator Application” in the subject line alongside your name. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and early applications are strongly encouraged.

Job Type: Full-time