Director of Palace Operations

About the role

Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Director of Palace Operations to lead the Palace Services team. The role oversees the day‑to‑day guest residence experience, ensuring ultra‑personalised service for VIP and high‑profile guests while upholding the brand’s luxury standards.

Key responsibilities

• Manage daily operations of the Palace, coordinating pre‑arrival, arrival, in‑house and departure services for VIP, VVIP and high‑profile guests.
• Lead and supervise the Palace Operations and Butler teams, planning manpower deployment and ensuring operational coverage.
• Collaborate with Front Office, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Culinary, Engineering, Security and Guest Relations to deliver seamless service.
• Conduct regular inspections of Palace areas and guest amenities to maintain luxury standards.
• Handle complex guest requests, service recovery situations and maintain strict confidentiality.
• Oversee private events, celebrations and high‑profile visits within the Palace.
• Monitor guest feedback, identify improvement opportunities and drive continuous enhancement of the Palace experience.
• Support budget management, cost‑control initiatives and efficient utilisation of resources.
• Coach, mentor and develop team members, conduct performance follow‑ups and assist with recruitment and training.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Hospitality Management, Hotel Management, Business Administration or related field.
• Minimum 5 years progressive experience in luxury hospitality, with significant exposure to hotel operations and guest‑facing environments.
• Proven track record managing high‑profile guests and delivering luxury service standards.
• Strong knowledge of Front Office, Butler Services, Housekeeping and cross‑functional hotel operations.
• Excellent leadership, communication, interpersonal and decision‑making abilities.
• Fluent English (written and spoken); additional languages are a plus.

What we offer

• Learning & Development programmes tailored to career stages.
• MOstay programme providing complimentary nights and discounted rates for you and your family.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• Retirement plans varying with length of service and role.