Operations Manager — Café, Retail & Events

SURFBASE is building a surf-inspired clubhouse in Dubai combining a specialty coffee point, curated retail, community events, e-commerce and delivery. We need a hands-on commercial operator who can launch, run and grow the venue. This is an on-site operating role, not an office-only or marketing-only position.WHAT YOU WILL OWN

• Launch and run the coffee point, retail zone, e-commerce, delivery and event operations.
• Own the operating P&L and weekly dashboard: revenue, gross margin, contribution margin, average order value, conversion, COGS, waste, inventory turns and stock accuracy.
• Build pricing, menu economics, merchandising, purchasing and supplier relationships.
• Manage daily standards, customer experience, staff schedules, POS, cash controls and issue resolution.
• Create a practical calendar of community events that brings repeat visits and measurable sales.
• Grow online sales and delivery through strong assortment, fulfilment and unit economics.
• Coordinate with the mall and internal legal/accounting support on reports, approvals, licences, payments and operating documentation.
• Shape the clubhouse atmosphere: surf culture, product selection, visual details, lighting, sound and reasons for guests to return and share.
• Build and execute a credible plan toward the first AED 100,000 in monthly revenue.
• Use AI to work faster while checking figures, sources and recommendations independently.WHAT WE NEED
• 2+ years personally operating or growing a café, retail store, hospitality venue, lifestyle business or community-led commercial space.
• Clear examples of results you owned, with real numbers.
• Working knowledge of P&L, margins, inventory, purchasing, pricing and sales.
• Hands-on attitude: comfortable dealing with guests, suppliers, stock, staff and day-to-day problems.
• Strong written and spoken English.
• Currently in the UAE and able to start quickly.
• E-commerce, delivery, events and Dubai mall experience are valuable advantages.
• A real connection to surf, board sports, beach or outdoor culture is a strong advantage.OFFER
• Full-time, on-site role in Dubai.
• AED 5,000–6,000 fixed monthly salary, depending on experience.
• Uncapped profit share linked to agreed business results.
• Opportunity to build the operating model from the start and grow with future locations.Please apply with a current CV. Shortlisted candidates will be asked for concise examples covering their P&L ownership, operating results, UAE status, start date and use of AI.