Job Description

Aldar Education is seeking a Head - Operations to support our schools in Abu Dhabi. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled professional to join the highly successful Aldar family of schools and to help shape the future of Abu Dhabi’s leading school group. .

Since its inception in 2007 with just 250 students, Aldar Education has grown into a highly sought-after education provider, with more than 25 owned and managed premium and super-premium schools and academies- in partnership with some of the world’s most prestigious institutions including Rugby School, King’s College Wimbledon, and Cranleigh. The Group now serves over 38,000 students through 5,000 educators from more than 100 nationalities to deliver world-class education across a broad range of curricula and learning pathways from nursery through to K12.

At Aldar Education, our impact goes far beyond the classroom: we are proud to contribute to the UAE’s vision for a sustainable, knowledge-based economy through premium education. With this in mind, we hire educators and industry professionals who not only embody our values and cultural ethos but also bring a genuine passion for education—qualities central to our mission of shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

If you are passionate about excellence and ready to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to apply and be part of our journey.

As a senior Operations lead across their relevant cluster, the incumbent will be responsible for leading, implementing and supporting initiatives within their group of schools, as required by HQ departmental senior leads, to ensure a group-led approach for a consistent, systematic, safe school operation. In addition, the role will ensure that schools are compliant with related internal & external directives and regulations.

As a cluster lead, directly supporting a group of principals and school-based operational leads, the role will be fully responsible to effectively oversee the effectiveness of all operations and external service-related activities within their cluster and ensure compliance with Aldar Education policy, procedures, risk, safety, sustainability, audit, and regulatory directives.

The incumbent will continuously strive to exceed internal & external customer expectations, capitalising the economic profit and return on capital investment, while embracing the Aldar Education core values. To embody the values, vision and ethos of Aldar Education and assist the department in ensuring high quality and successful outcomes..

This is an exciting opportunity to join the highly successful Aldar family of schools and to help shape the future of Abu Dhabi’s leading school group.

Main Duties:

• To drive all aspects of operational efficiencies at cluster level through strong leadership and integrity, clear communication, defined strategy, creative thinking, and robust processes.
• To collaborate with cluster principals and HQ senior leadership teams and ensure a consistent and streamlined approach in line with identified strategic directives, whilst maximising cost efficiencies,return on investment and quality standards, through effective development and management of operational and capital budgets.
• To be responsible for the organisation and delivery of Operations and outsourced service teams across the cluster, implementing a 'service culture' and ensuring efficient, effective staff deployment.
• Lead in the recruitment of high calibre candidates to join the Operations and outsourced service team, and support principals and HQ functional leads in the recruitment of functional, school-based staff.
• To support and advise key stakeholders within the cluster and HQ teams on operational, financial, risk, safety, sustainability, and audit & regulatory compliance matters and be accountable for their effectiveness using robust performance management systems.
• To lead on operational capital deployment in relation to growth and expansion of key build projects within their cluster.
• To implement processes and provide strategic guidance to the principals and senior leadership teams on audit and regulatory compliance matters, ensuring that schools maintain compliance throughout the year in all authority and internal audit visits.
• To ensure that all Operations and outsourced service staff are supported with high quality continuous professional development and training which contributes to the overall development and achievements of each school.
• To oversee NPS and other key strategic objectives for the cluster through formulating and leading on specific aspects of the school business and/or improvement plan as they relate to operations and outsourced services.
• To support strategic directives of other functions where operational input is required.
• To drive a positive and proactive safe, healthy and environmental culture throughout their cluster teams and act as a champion for safety, health, sustainability and risk management.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as requested by either direct or indirect reporting lines

Specific Duties:

Leadership & Management

• Oversee the performance of the Operations and outsourced service staff to ensure high standards of quality and service are maintained throughout the cluster and provide a collegial efficient and effective service culture.
• Continuously review school support services operating models and staffing levels to ensure the cluster is suitably resourced to deliver key objectives, contributing to the school’s financial and operational performance.
• Dotted-line management (leave, attendance, resource allocation etc.) of admin staff and coordination with cluster/HQ functional leads on the non-functional performance of the school-based teams.
• Oversee the recruitment, professional development, appraisal, and training programs of Operations staff.
• Implementation of policies, service guidelines, systems and processes, relevant to their cluster and in conjunction with HQ teams to ensure business continuity and service deliverables.
• Initiate and identify good practices within their cluster and ensure these are implemented throughout the group to streamline operations, processes and policies and secure efficiencies.
• Be contactable outside of normal school hours, available to attend site to support the Operations teams when required in line with the Aldar Education Critical Incident Response Protocols.

Finance, Commercial & Procurement

• To support the principal and school-based operational leads in developing & monitoring relevant operational budgets and expenditure, ensuring the department always receives best value and service.
• Continually reviewing opportunities for shared resource, cost and/or services across the cluster they hold responsibility for, to ensure that the schools benefit from improved access to service teams and physical resources (i.e., support staff, transport etc).
• Support the school-based operational leads in reviewing & preparing all relevant information to initiate tenders, develop weighted pre-determined evaluation criteria & completion of technical evaluations if required.
• Ensure Delegation of Authority processes and procedures are always followed.
• Lead in the effective delivery of key projects such as new builds and major expansions, supporting project stakeholders, sharing knowledge, and implementing good practice during pre-ops and project execution.

Stakeholder Management & Compliance

• Embrace and encourage the ethos and standards of excellence as defined in the Aldar Education core values.
• Ensure that assigned cluster is fully compliant with local government authority regulations to safeguard against fines of any nature as a result of non-renewal of contracts and licenses at school level.
• Ensure all internal and external audits are effectively managed and that actions arising from such audits are completed in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Conduct operational investigations as required following an incident for the purpose of improvement to key processes or policies to ensure school operations remain efficient.
• Understand the effects and implications of government policies, legislation, and directives, developing effective strategies for current initiatives and long-term educational trends and developments.

Outsourced Service Provision Management

• Implementation and delivery of centrally appointed contracts for 3rd party providers including facility rental, facilities management, student transport, school uniforms and catering throughout the cluster.
• Monitor performance standards of appointed providers in line with contractual terms and conditions.
• Ensure exceptional service delivery that exceeds school and customer expectations.
• Monitor financial performance in line with approved revenue budgets, continually striving to maximise returns to school’s other income stream.
• Monitor allocation of housing contracts at cluster level in line with the eligibility and in relation to the targeted budgets to always ensure best value is received.
• Ensure compliance with property management and government regulations including staff compliance with relevant submission of clearances and rental closure.
• Ensure insurance policies across the cluster are active and valid with comprehensive coverage for assets, employees, and students. Support with claim submission when applicable.

Risk, Health, Safety & Environment

• To lead and support a culture of ‘no hurt, no harm’ through pro-active and pragmatic risk-based decision making in relation to risk mitigation for the benefit of the cluster.
• To act as the responsible person for HSE effectiveness and ensure their cluster complies with current health & safety legislation and/or guidelines as issued by Aldar Education HQ, advising the cluster team accordingly.
• To drive a positive and proactive safe, healthy, and environmental culture throughout their cluster teams and act as a champion for safety, health and sustainability.
• To support each school within their cluster in establishing specific health, safety and environmental related aims and objectives and ensuring that they are delivered within the required timelines.
• To ensure adherence to all relevant service guidelines and policies, developing and challenging where necessary, utilising the deployed safety and securtity management systems.
• Ensure all health, safety and environmental related inspections and audits within the cluster are completed, and quality assured, using a supportive and coaching nature, helping to remove barriers, and promoting improvements in standards through teamwork.
• Oversee the deployment and operations of school clinics ensuring complaince with regualtions at all times.
• Implement the Business Continuity Management in line with the mandated roadmap from ‘Aldar Group Risk Management’ within the assigned cluster.
• Monitor compliance to ISO45001 quality standards across the cluster and support with implementation of ISO45003 and ISO26000 (sustainabilty accreditation)
• Support their cluster in obtaining key sustainability accreditations (TASS, Green Flag etc.)
• Accountable for the cluster commitment to the business strategy of Aldar Group in the delivery of the roadmap to ‘Aldar Net Zero 2050 Strategy’.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors (BSc) in business related subject; or
• Related industry qualification, of graduate level, for the assigned functional area(s); or
• Certificate of School Business Management / Facilities Management / NEBOSH or IOSH preferable.

Minimum Experience:

• At least 5 years’ experience in a senior level position within an education or service-oriented industry.

Job Specific Knowledge & Skills:

• Fluent English communication skills, written and oral.
• Attention to detail with diligent follow up, and able to execute in a timely manner.
• Skilled in multi-tasking and handling pressure.
• Organizational ability, of self and others.
• Forethought and forward planning (particularly as this relates to local Government compliance matters).
• Capable of influencing people and talented in networking with cultural sensitivity.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Strong and consistent supervisory skills.
• Commercial acumen.
• Initiate effort and energy beyond the typical workday, where the tasks require additional commitment.

What We Offer:

Aldar Education is a family of world-class, child-centered, and innovative schools based in the UAE. We educate students across our group of owned and managed schools and as we grow, so does our need for highly skilled, inspirational, and dedicated school and educational leaders. We offer an attractive remuneration package including a range of benefits. Our future-focused learning model includes both students and staff, so we place a special emphasis on professional development, coaching, and training.

Successful candidates will have access to a wide network of professionals and opportunities to both lead and contribute to training others as well as developing themselves.

This job description is not all-inclusive. Aldar Education reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are dedicated to our national development strategy and encourage UAE Nationals in their application to our company.

Aldar Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and police clearance.