Assistant Manager (Festivals & Events ~ National Talent)

Responsible for supporting the planning and execution of Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), ensuring strategic alignment with the DFRE and DET's goals. This role involves close coordination with various internal and external stakeholders, managing budgets and enhancing event experiences. Key duties include overseeing event logistics, ensuring compliance with regulations, and implementing innovative and creative event strategies throughout the lifecycle.

Core Functional Responsibilities & Subject Matter Expertise

• Assist in the development and management of DSF event plans, including the allocation of resources, budgeting, and adherence to timelines linked to project milestones.
• Support the Festival Strategy and Planning team in the creation of event budgets, implementing financial management controls, and establishing metrics for measuring spending and performance during DSF.
• Manage on-ground event/project delivery, coordinating with all relevant internal and external stakeholders.
• Support in classifying DSF events based on scope, attendance, audience profiles, duration, location, budget, and resource requirements.
• Contribute to the creation of project one-pagers, defining budgets, objectives, and content elements, and providing examples from the industry or benchmarks from similar festivals.
• Collaborate with the procurement team on drafting RFPs/RFIs, managing supplier selection, and overseeing contract processes. Maintain relationships with agencies post-award.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for DSF stakeholders, managing queries, resolving issues, and ensuring stakeholder satisfaction throughout the event lifecycle.
• Suggest and integrate creative content elements and activations to keep DSF engaging and aligned with global event management best practices.
• Collaborate with team members to develop and manage risk mitigation and contingency plans for DSF, addressing potential issues such as delays, budget overruns, or other unforeseen challenges.
• Coordinate with the Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) team to ensure robust safety protocols are in place and adhered to during all events.
• Maintain comprehensive records of all DSF-related documentation, including contracts, budgets, and communications, to ensure readiness for audits and future reference.