Commercial Operations Manager

Job Overview

The Commercial Operations Manager is responsible for driving revenue generation, commercial strategy, and operational execution across events. This role sits at the intersection of sales, partnerships, and event delivery, ensuring profitability, efficient vendor management, and successful execution of corporate, sports, and large-scale events.

Key Responsibilities

1. Commercial Strategy & Revenue Growth

• Develop and execute commercial strategies to maximize event revenue


• Identify and secure sponsorships, partnerships, and exhibitor sales


• Build pricing models for:




• Event packages


• Sponsorship tiers


• Vendor participation




• Track revenue pipelines and conversion metrics

2. Client & Partnership Management

• Manage relationships with:




• Corporate clients


• Sponsors


• Government entities




• Negotiate commercial terms, contracts, and SLAs


• Ensure high client satisfaction and repeat business

3. Event Operations Oversight

• Work closely with production and creative teams to ensure commercial commitments are delivered


• Oversee end-to-end event lifecycle:




• Pre-event planning


• On-ground execution


• Post-event reporting




• Ensure alignment between sales promises and operational feasibility

4. Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Identify, onboard, and manage vendors:




• Production


• Staffing agencies


• Logistics partners




• Negotiate pricing and ensure cost optimization


• Monitor vendor performance and service delivery

5. Financial & Commercial Performance

• Manage event budgets, P&L, and profitability


• Monitor:




• Revenue vs targets


• Cost vs budget


• Margin optimization




• Prepare commercial reports and forecasts for management

6. Process Optimization & Reporting

• Establish SOPs for commercial and operational workflows


• Improve efficiency in:




• Lead conversion


• Vendor onboarding


• Event execution timelines




• Maintain dashboards and MIS reporting

Required Skills & Qualifications

Experience

• 5-10+ years in:




• Events industry (corporate / sports / exhibitions)


• Commercial operations, business development, or event management




• Proven track record in revenue generation and event delivery

Core Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen (pricing, margins, negotiations)


• Deep understanding of event lifecycle and execution


• Vendor and stakeholder management expertise


• Financial management (budgeting, forecasting, P&L)


• Ability to manage multiple large-scale events simultaneously

Soft Skills

• Strong negotiation and influencing skills


• Excellent communication and stakeholder management


• Problem-solving under pressure (critical for live events)


• Leadership and team coordination

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in sports events or large-scale government events in UAE


• Existing network of sponsors, vendors, and event partners


• Knowledge of contracts, procurement, and compliance