Manager Global Properties, dnata Catering

dnata is more than a global air and travel services provider. We connect people with possibilities and opportunities across 130+ airports in 34 countries through ground handling, cargo, travel, and catering & retail services. Our purpose is clear: to deliver on the promises our customers make. We are powered by a bold vision to be the world’s most admired air and travel services provider, which guides our strategy, culture, and every role across our teams. Our core values fuel everything we do: we are safe, we play to win, we respect everyone and work together as a team, and we are future thinking. At dnata, we foster diversity, nurture ambition, and celebrate achievement. If you're inspired by purpose and motivated to be part of a global team shaping the future of aviation and travel, we’d love to have you onboard.

As Manager Global Properties, dnata Catering, you will play a key role in shaping and delivering our global property and infrastructure strategy across an international network of catering operations. We are looking for an experienced property and infrastructure professional with a strong background in industrial or operational facilities, property development and major capital projects. This role goes beyond traditional real estate and property management, with a focus on the planning, development, construction and optimisation of complex operational facilities that support our business.

You will lead the development of global property standards and strategies, oversee new developments, expansions and refurbishments from concept through to operational handover, and support infrastructure planning for future business growth and acquisitions. Working across multiple countries and jurisdictions, you will provide strategic and commercial guidance to senior leadership, collaborating with regional teams, contractors, landlords and regulatory authorities.

This is an opportunity for a commercially astute, proactive individual who combines strategic thinking with hands-on project delivery experience and can influence stakeholders across a complex international organisation. This is a permanent, full-time position based at our Dubai head office, with frequent international travel required.

In this role, you will:

• Develop and implement global property portfolio strategies covering lease management, space utilisation, capacity planning, asset lifecycle management, and portfolio optimisation to support current and future business requirements.
• Manage lease agreements, renewals, relocations, expansions, and disposals while maintaining effective stakeholder relationships and ensuring compliance with contractual and statutory obligations.
• Lead the delivery of property development, expansion, refurbishment, and relocation projects, ensuring alignment with operational, compliance, budget, and timeline requirements.
• Oversee property due diligence, acquisitions, asset improvement initiatives, and risk assessments, providing recommendations to enhance asset readiness, operational effectiveness, and long-term value.
• Develop business cases, feasibility studies, capital investment proposals, and commercial recommendations to support strategic decision-making and investment prioritisation.
• Monitor property portfolio performance, including risks, compliance, operational readiness, budgets, lease liabilities, and supplier performance, providing reporting, insights, and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Actively embody, promote, and advocate the organisation's core values in all interactions, decisions, and work practices, serving as a role model for ethical behaviour, integrity, and an inclusive workplace culture.

To be considered for the role, you must meet the below requirements:

• An attested Bachelor's degree (or an additional 3+ years of relevant vocational experience) in Business, Construction, Engineering, Surveying, Real Estate or a related field.
• A minimum of 10 years' experience in property development, infrastructure, facilities or asset management, including responsibility for multi-site or regional operations.
• Significant experience managing industrial, operational or technically complex facilities, such as manufacturing, logistics, distribution, aviation, hospitality infrastructure or other large-scale operational environments.
• Proven experience delivering major property development, construction, refurbishment or expansion projects, from initial planning and design through to operational handover.
• Experience working across multiple locations, ideally internationally, with an understanding of different regulatory environments and operational requirements.
• Strong knowledge of property portfolio management, including lease management, asset lifecycle planning, space utilisation and capacity planning.
• Experience developing property strategies, operational standards, business cases, feasibility assessments and capital investment recommendations.
• Sound understanding of property governance, compliance obligations, due diligence, budgeting and commercial risk management.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams, contractors and external service providers to deliver complex projects within agreed budgets, timelines and quality standards.
• Strong commercial judgement, analytical and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience presenting recommendations and reporting at executive level.
• A proactive and collaborative approach, with the ability to work independently, establish new frameworks and build effective relationships across international teams.
• Demonstrates ethical judgement, acts with integrity and contributes to a positive, inclusive and values-driven culture.

You'll have an edge if you have:

• A recognised professional qualification or membership relevant to property, construction, engineering or facilities management.
• Experience within aviation, ground handling, catering, logistics or other complex industrial operations.
• Experience managing property development or infrastructure projects across multiple countries and jurisdictions.
• Experience working with airport authorities, landlords and statutory bodies across multiple markets.
• Knowledge of regional property markets and relevant regulatory frameworks.
• Familiarity with operational facility design, technical infrastructure requirements and readiness standards.
• Experience supporting property and infrastructure due diligence for business acquisitions or international expansion.
• Proficiency in property or asset management systems and reporting tools.

At Emirates Group, we’re committed to providing our employees with opportunities to grow and develop in their careers. So if you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity, apply today and join our team!

Join us in a management role and enjoy an attractive tax-free salary. On top of our generous travel benefits, including discounted flights and hotel stays around the world, this managerial role also has an excellent leave and healthcare package. That’s on top of transport benefits, life insurance and more. Find out what it’s like to live and work in our fast-paced, cosmopolitan home city in the Dubai Lifestyle section of our website