Head of Operations - School Services
Posted date [2026-06-04]
(ID: 46046)
 |
Aldar Education is a leading education provider in the UAE, delivering inclusive, sustainable, and innovative learning experiences that inspire students and support community development. The organization offers a diverse portfolio of educational brands, covering all stages from early years to adult learning, with a wide range of curricula across multiple locations in Abu Dhabi and beyond. With a mix of owned and managed schools, Aldar Education ensures high standards in teaching, modern facilities, and a supportive environment for students, educators, and staff, maintaining a strong commitment to quality education and continuous improvement.... |
Job Description and Requirements
Head of Operations - School ServicesJob Snapshot
Role: Head of Operations - School Services
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Education Management
Function: Operations-Plant Management
Experience: Minimum 5 years senior operations leadership experience
Job Type: Full-time
Position Overview
Head of Operations - School Services in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates is an Education Management opportunity for a senior operations leader with strong experience in school operations, facilities management, outsourced services, regulatory compliance, HSE, procurement, budget control, service delivery, and cluster-level leadership. This role is suited for an experienced operational professional who can support principals, lead school-based operations teams, improve service standards, manage risk, and ensure safe, compliant, and efficient school operations across a group of Aldar Education schools.
Job Details
Country: United Arab Emirates
City: Abu Dhabi
Industry: Education Management
Function: Operations-Plant Management
Salary: 30000-45000
Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer.
Gender: Any
Candidate Nationality: Any
Job Type: Full-time
Role Context
The Head of Operations - School Services will oversee operational performance across an assigned cluster of schools in Abu Dhabi. The role focuses on creating consistent, safe, compliant, and cost-effective operations by supporting principals, school-based operations leads, HQ functional teams, outsourced providers, and service staff. Through strong governance, budget control, risk management, audit readiness, service culture, and sustainability leadership, the position helps schools operate smoothly while supporting student wellbeing, staff efficiency, and Aldar Education’s wider strategic goals.
Key Responsibilities
* Drive operational efficiency across the assigned school cluster through clear leadership, strong communication, defined strategy, and practical operating processes.
* Work closely with cluster principals and HQ senior leadership teams to implement consistent operational standards across schools.
* Lead and support operational initiatives required by HQ departments to ensure a group-led approach to school operations.
* Oversee Operations teams and outsourced service providers to ensure effective service delivery, staff deployment, and customer-focused support.
* Support recruitment of high-calibre Operations staff and outsourced service team members across the school cluster.
* Advise principals, school leadership teams, and HQ functions on operational, financial, risk, safety, sustainability, audit, and regulatory compliance matters.
* Manage operational and capital budgets to support cost efficiency, service quality, return on investment, and long-term school performance.
* Lead operational capital deployment related to growth, new builds, expansions, and key school development projects.
* Provide strategic guidance on audit and regulatory compliance to ensure schools remain prepared for authority and internal audit visits throughout the year.
* Ensure Operations and outsourced service staff receive relevant professional development and training.
* Oversee NPS and other strategic objectives linked to operations, support services, and school improvement plans.
* Support other business functions where operational input is required for strategic projects, compliance matters, or school delivery needs.
* Promote a proactive culture of safety, health, environmental responsibility, sustainability, and risk management across the cluster.
* Oversee performance of operations and outsourced service staff to maintain high service standards and a collaborative service culture.
* Review school support service operating models, staffing levels, and shared resource opportunities to improve efficiency and school performance.
* Manage dotted-line oversight for relevant school-based administrative teams including leave, attendance, and resource allocation coordination.
* Implement policies, service guidelines, systems, and processes in partnership with HQ teams to support business continuity.
* Identify good practices within the cluster and help roll them out across the wider group where they can improve consistency and efficiency.
* Remain available outside normal school hours when required to support critical incidents in line with Aldar Education protocols.
* Support school-based operational leads with tender preparation, evaluation criteria, technical evaluations, procurement documentation, and supplier coordination.
* Ensure Delegation of Authority procedures are followed for relevant operational, procurement, and financial activities.
* Lead delivery support for new builds, major expansions, pre-operations activities, and project execution initiatives.
* Ensure assigned schools comply with local government authority regulations, licences, contracts, and statutory requirements.
* Manage internal and external audit actions, ensuring findings are closed on time and process improvements are implemented.
* Conduct operational investigations after incidents to identify lessons learned and improve relevant policies or procedures.
* Monitor outsourced contracts including facilities management, student transport, school uniforms, catering, facility rental, housing, property support, insurance, and related services.
* Track provider performance against contractual terms, service standards, budget expectations, and school customer requirements.
* Ensure housing contracts, property management processes, government clearances, rental closures, and insurance policies are managed in line with compliance requirements.
* Lead HSE effectiveness across the cluster and ensure schools comply with health and safety legislation, Aldar Education guidelines, and relevant management systems.
* Ensure HSE inspections, audits, clinic operations, safety reviews, and corrective actions are completed and quality assured.
* Support implementation of Business Continuity Management plans in line with Aldar Group Risk Management requirements.
* Monitor compliance with ISO45001 standards and support implementation of ISO45003 and ISO26000 where applicable.
* Support sustainability accreditations such as TASS and Green Flag across the school cluster.
* Contribute to Aldar Group’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy by supporting sustainability initiatives and responsible operational practices.
Ideal Profile
* Bachelor’s degree in a business-related subject.
* Graduate-level industry qualification in a relevant functional area may also be considered.
* Certificate in School Business Management, Facilities Management, NEBOSH, or IOSH will be an advantage.
* Minimum 5 years of experience in a senior-level operations role within education, facilities, service delivery, or a service-oriented industry.
* Strong understanding of school operations, outsourced service management, facilities services, HSE, procurement, and regulatory compliance.
* Experience supporting principals, senior leadership teams, and HQ functions across multiple locations or business units.
* Strong commercial acumen with the ability to manage budgets, improve cost efficiency, and support return on capital investment.
* Good knowledge of local government compliance matters, audit readiness, authority requirements, and school operating standards.
* Strong supervisory skills with the ability to lead operations teams, service providers, and school-based support staff.
* Fluent written and spoken English communication skills.
* High attention to detail with diligent follow-up and ability to execute tasks in a timely manner.
* Skilled in multitasking, handling pressure, and managing competing operational priorities.
* Strong organizational ability for self, teams, systems, reports, budgets, and service workflows.
* Able to influence people, build networks, and work with cultural sensitivity in a diverse school environment.
* Good interpersonal skills with a professional, service-focused, and solution-oriented approach.
* Willing to contribute additional effort when urgent operational, compliance, or safety matters require immediate attention.
Skills Set
* School operations
* Cluster operations management
* Education operations
* Facilities management
* Outsourced service management
* Service delivery
* Operational leadership
* Budget management
* Capital budget control
* Cost efficiency
* Procurement support
* Tender evaluation
* Delegation of Authority
* Regulatory compliance
* Government authority compliance
* Audit management
* Internal audits
* External audits
* Risk management
* HSE leadership
* School safety
* ISO45001
* ISO45003
* ISO26000
* Business Continuity Management
* Critical incident response
* Facilities management contracts
* Student transport management
* Catering service management
* Uniform service coordination
* Housing contract management
* Property management compliance
* Insurance coordination
* School clinic operations
* Sustainability accreditation
* TASS
* Green Flag
* Net Zero strategy
* Staff deployment
* Team supervision
* Performance management
* Professional development
* Stakeholder coordination
* Principal support
* HQ coordination
* Service culture
* Commercial acumen
Why Join Us
This Head of Operations - School Services role offers the opportunity to lead operational excellence across a respected Education Management group in Abu Dhabi. The position provides senior exposure to school operations, facilities management, outsourced services, regulatory compliance, HSE, sustainability, budget control, and cluster-level leadership. It is a strong fit for an operations leader who wants to improve school efficiency, strengthen service standards, support safe learning environments, and contribute to the future of a leading UAE education group.
About the Company
Aldar Education is a leading education group in Abu Dhabi, supporting a growing network of owned and managed schools across the UAE. The group provides child-centered, innovative, and high-quality education across a broad range of curricula and learning pathways. Aldar Education combines strong school leadership, professional development, safeguarding, operational excellence, and national development priorities to support students, families, educators, and the wider UAE community.
