Senior FM & Operations Engineer

Facilities Management & Operations | Abu Dhabi, UAE

Iris Executives is a leading executive search firm specialising in Emiratisation and senior-level recruitment since 2010. We partner with government entities and strategic organisations across the UAE to identify exceptional leadership and advisory talent. We are currently supporting a leading UAE federal government entity in the search for an experienced Senior FM & Operations Engineer.

Reporting to the Head of Facilities or Director of Operations, the Senior FM & Operations Engineer is responsible for the comprehensive management of facilities and building operations across a UAE federal government facility. The role covers all aspects of hard and soft services, preventive maintenance, contractor management, and compliance.

Day to day, the role involves overseeing the performance of multiple service contractors, running the preventive maintenance programme to ensure zero-disruption operations, managing operational incidents, and ensuring all building systems — MEP, HVAC, fire suppression, access control, and general services — operate to the required standard.

At the senior level, this role also involves managing FM service contracts through UAE government procurement processes: preparing tender documentation, evaluating vendors, awarding contracts, and managing renewals within government financial authority frameworks.

This is a role for an experienced UAE National FM professional who has operated in a government or large institutional environment, understands the protocol standards required, and has managed both the operational and procurement dimensions of a complex FM portfolio.

• Manage day-to-day operations across all hard services (MEP, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, elevators, fire systems) and soft services (cleaning, landscaping, pest control, waste management)
• Develop, implement, and maintain the Preventive Maintenance Programme (PPM) across all critical building systems
• Monitor and ensure SLA compliance from all service contractors; manage underperformance and escalation

• Manage multiple FM service contracts simultaneously — performance monitoring, KPI reporting, and contract renewal management
• Lead the end-to-end tendering process for FM services: scope definition, RFP preparation, vendor evaluation, and contract award in compliance with UAE government procurement regulations
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with service contractors, ensuring alignment with organisational standards

• Ensure full compliance with UAE health & safety, fire safety, and environmental regulations
• Manage statutory testing, certification, and inspections for all building systems
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date FM documentation including maintenance records, compliance certificates, and incident logs

• Prepare and manage the annual FM budget, ensuring cost efficiency without compromising service quality
• Produce regular FM performance reports for senior management
• Identify and implement cost optimisation and energy efficiency initiatives

• Minimum 8–12 years of experience in facilities management, with at least 4 years in a senior FM role
• Proven experience managing FM operations within a UAE government, emirate, or large institutional facility
• Track record of managing multiple FM service contracts simultaneously, including through government procurement processes
• Experience building and operating a Preventive Maintenance Programme that ensures zero-disruption service delivery

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or Facilities Management
• Professional FM certifications (IFMA, BIFM/IWFM) are a strong advantage

• Integrated FM operations — end-to-end hard and soft services management
• UAE government procurement — tendering, contract management, compliance
• Preventive maintenance planning — PPM systems and CAFM tools
• Contractor performance management — KPIs, SLAs, escalation protocols
• UAE health & safety and fire safety regulations

This role ensures that a major UAE federal government facility operates flawlessly every day — supporting the organisation's mission, its people, and its official functions without interruption. By leading the FM function, the Senior FM & Operations Engineer directly protects the organisation's operational continuity, regulatory compliance, and institutional reputation.