Lead - Staff Accommodation Authority

Overview

This role supports the Staff Accommodation Authority by driving operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and maturity in staff accommodation facilities. It focuses on creating and overseeing operational and design standards, inspection frameworks, licensing manuals, and classification systems to ensure all accommodation categories meet regulatory and strategic goals with transparency and continual enhancement.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, review, and update standards for staff accommodation based on UAE laws and global best practices.
• Conduct benchmarking to incorporate emerging trends in accommodation management and worker welfare.
• Set measurable criteria and compliance terms for accommodation operators and create governance frameworks to aid standard implementation.
• Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to validate and refine standards and procedures.
• Improve and maintain inspection checklists covering operations, health, safety, and facility management.
• Develop independent audit and compliance tools supporting regulatory monitoring.
• Define pre-occupancy inspections, certification criteria, methodologies, and corrective processes.
• Lead the creation of five category-specific licensing manuals and a Star Rating Classification Manual, including assessment criteria and accreditation requirements.
• Engage internal teams and external regulators through consultations, workshops, and training to ensure smooth implementation and adherence to standards.
• Report progress, risks, and recommendations to senior management and establish KPIs for compliance and performance monitoring.
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities and stay informed on regulatory and industry trends impacting accommodation quality and worker welfare.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Business Administration, Architecture, Urban Planning, or relevant disciplines; Master's degree favorable.
• Fluent in English; Arabic proficiency is preferred.
• Minimum 8 to 10 years of experience in facilities management, regulatory compliance, operational standards development, or accommodation management.
• Experience with governmental agencies, regulatory frameworks, or large infrastructure projects is advantageous.
• Proven skills in creating operational standards, SOPs, policies, inspection and audit tools, licensing systems, and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong analytical, documentation, and report writing capabilities; proficiency with Microsoft Office; familiarity with process mapping and workflow tools preferred.