Senior Manager - School Operations
Posted date [2026-07-03]
(ID: 47385)
 |
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
Senior Manager - School OperationsJob Snapshot
Role: Senior Manager - School Operations
Location: Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Primary-Secondary Education
Function: School-College Administration
Experience: Minimum 5 years senior-level experience in education or service-oriented industry
Job Type: Full-time
Position Overview
Senior Manager - School Operations in Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates is a Primary-Secondary Education opportunity for an experienced operations leader who can oversee school administration, support services, compliance, HSE, procurement coordination, financial monitoring, and cluster-level operational performance. This role supports Aldar Education schools by working directly with Principals, Operations Managers, senior leadership teams, HQ departments, and external stakeholders to ensure that schools operate efficiently, safely, and in line with internal and regulatory requirements. The successful candidate will bring strong leadership, commercial awareness, service culture, process improvement ability, and the confidence to manage operational standards across
multiple school environments.
Job Details
Country: United Arab Emirates
City: Abu Dhabi Emirate
Industry: Primary-Secondary Education
Function: School-College Administration
Salary: 22000-32000
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 Senior Manager - School Operations will act as a cluster-level operational lead, ensuring that school support services are well managed, compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with Aldar Education standards. The role connects strategy with execution by supporting business planning, audit readiness, health and safety culture, staffing models, service delivery, school projects, regulatory compliance, procurement processes, and operational improvement. Through close collaboration with school leaders and HQ functions, the post holder will help create safe, responsive, and high-performing school environments that allow educators to focus on student learning and families to experience reliable service.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the specialist operations function across assigned school clusters, ensuring a consistent and streamlined approach aligned with strategic priorities.
* Oversee operations, administration, and support service teams to maintain efficient school environments and high-quality service delivery.
* Support Principals and Operations Managers in implementing agreed business strategies for schools and cluster operations.
* Advise school leadership and HQ teams on operational, financial, HSE, audit, and regulatory compliance matters.
* Ensure schools maintain readiness for internal audits, external audits, authority visits, and regulatory inspections throughout the year.
* Drive a service culture across cluster teams by supporting effective staff deployment, performance management, training, and recruitment of high-calibre operations staff.
* Implement policies, systems, processes, and safeguarding measures relevant to school operations and business continuity.
* Identify good practice across the cluster and share improvements that streamline operations, strengthen consistency, and secure efficiencies.
* Support key projects such as new school builds, major expansions, and operational mobilisation by coordinating with project stakeholders.
* Be available outside normal school hours when required under critical incident response protocols.
* Oversee the performance of Operations and Support Service staff to ensure high standards, accountability, and collegial working practices.
* Review support service operating models and staffing levels to ensure schools remain properly resourced while maintaining financial and operational efficiency.
* Contribute to recruitment, appraisal, professional development, and training plans for operations and support staff.
* Coordinate effectively between schools, cluster teams, ESE representatives, HQ departments, and functional reporting lines.
* Support Principals and Operations Managers in developing, monitoring, and controlling budgets and operational expenditure.
* Review opportunities for shared resources, staffing, transport, services, and physical assets across the cluster to improve value and access.
* Support tender preparation by reviewing scope of work, purchase requisitions, technical specifications, evaluation criteria, and procurement documentation.
* Assist Operations Managers and Procurement teams with technical evaluation of tender submissions.
* Ensure Delegation of Authority processes are followed accurately in all relevant operational and procurement activities.
* Monitor compliance with local government authority regulations to avoid fines, lapses, or non-renewal issues at school level.
* Ensure audit actions are tracked, assigned, completed, and closed within agreed timelines.
* Interpret the operational impact of government policies, legislation, directives, and education sector developments.
* Lead a positive health, safety, and environment culture based on practical risk management and the principle of no hurt, no harm.
* Act as the responsible person for HSE effectiveness across the cluster and advise teams on current health and safety legislation and guidelines.
* Support schools in setting HSE objectives and ensuring related actions are delivered within required timelines.
* Drive use of the AVA system for incident management, reporting, follow-up, and compliance monitoring.
* Ensure health, safety, and environmental inspections and audits are completed in line with the Aldar Education safety management system.
* Provide constructive, fact-led challenge on risk mitigation decisions where required for the benefit of the wider Aldar Group.
* Ensure the specialist operations area complies with relevant industry standards, specifications, regulations, and internal policies.
* Complete additional operational, strategic, or compliance duties assigned in line with department priorities.
Ideal Profile
* Bachelor Degree in a business-related subject or related graduate-level industry qualification for the assigned functional area.
* Certificate in School Business Management, Facilities Management, NEBOSH, or IOSH is preferred.
* Minimum 5 years of experience in a senior-level role within education, school operations, facilities, administration, or a service-oriented industry.
* Strong understanding of school operations, support services, compliance, HSE, finance, procurement, audit coordination, and stakeholder management.
* Experience working with Principals, Operations Managers, senior leadership teams, HQ departments, vendors, regulators, and project stakeholders.
* Able to manage cluster-level priorities while maintaining consistency, quality standards, and service efficiency across multiple schools.
* Strong supervisory skills with the ability to guide teams, review performance, support development, and build a high-performance service culture.
* Commercially aware, with the ability to monitor budgets, identify cost efficiencies, and support best-value procurement.
* Confident working with government compliance requirements, audit actions, regulatory submissions, and operational risk controls.
* Skilled in planning ahead, tracking deadlines, handling multiple workstreams, and following up diligently until actions are closed.
* Able to influence people, build networks, and work with cultural sensitivity across a diverse education environment.
* Strong written and spoken English communication skills.
* Good interpersonal skills with the ability to build trusted relationships across schools and central functions.
* Able to work under pressure, exercise sound judgment, and handle confidential operational information professionally.
* Willing to show commitment beyond normal working hours when operational priorities or critical incidents require support.
* Strong alignment with safeguarding, student wellbeing, service excellence, and the values of a professional school environment.
Skills Set
* School-College Administration
* School operations management
* Cluster operations leadership
* Administration management
* Support services management
* Facilities coordination
* HSE compliance
* Audit compliance
* Regulatory compliance
* ESE coordination
* ADEK awareness
* School business planning
* Operations strategy
* Business continuity
* Service culture development
* Staff deployment
* Performance management
* Operations staff training
* CPD coordination
* Procurement coordination
* Tender support
* Technical evaluation
* Budget monitoring
* Expenditure control
* Delegation of Authority
* Stakeholder management
* Project coordination
* New build support
* Major expansion support
* Risk management
* Incident management
* AVA system
* Health and safety inspections
* Environmental audits
* Policy implementation
* Process improvement
* Data reporting
* Confidential information handling
Why Join Us
This role provides a strong platform for an experienced operations leader to influence school performance across a respected Abu Dhabi education network. The successful candidate will work at cluster level, supporting school leaders, improving service delivery, strengthening compliance, and helping schools operate safely and efficiently. Aldar Education offers an attractive remuneration package that may include medical cover, flights, housing, and school place benefits, along with professional development, coaching, training, and opportunities to contribute to wider operational excellence across the Primary-Secondary Education sector.
About the Company
Aldar Education is a leading education group in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with a growing network of owned and managed schools that serve diverse student communities across multiple curricula. The organization focuses on academic excellence, safe learning environments, operational quality, innovation, and child-centered education. Through strong leadership, professional support teams, and continuous development, Aldar Education contributes to the UAE’s vision for a sustainable, knowledge-based future while supporting students, families, educators, and school communities.
Job Details
Country: United Arab Emirates
City: Abu Dhabi Emirate
Industry: Primary-Secondary Education
Function: School-College Administration
Salary: 22000-32000
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 Senior Manager - School Operations will act as a cluster-level operational lead, ensuring that school support services are well managed, compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with Aldar Education standards. The role connects strategy with execution by supporting business planning, audit readiness, health and safety culture, staffing models, service delivery, school projects, regulatory compliance, procurement processes, and operational improvement. Through close collaboration with school leaders and HQ functions, the post holder will help create safe, responsive, and high-performing school environments that allow educators to focus on student learning and families to experience reliable service.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the specialist operations function across assigned school clusters, ensuring a consistent and streamlined approach aligned with strategic priorities.
* Oversee operations, administration, and support service teams to maintain efficient school environments and high-quality service delivery.
* Support Principals and Operations Managers in implementing agreed business strategies for schools and cluster operations.
* Advise school leadership and HQ teams on operational, financial, HSE, audit, and regulatory compliance matters.
* Ensure schools maintain readiness for internal audits, external audits, authority visits, and regulatory inspections throughout the year.
* Drive a service culture across cluster teams by supporting effective staff deployment, performance management, training, and recruitment of high-calibre operations staff.
* Implement policies, systems, processes, and safeguarding measures relevant to school operations and business continuity.
* Identify good practice across the cluster and share improvements that streamline operations, strengthen consistency, and secure efficiencies.
* Support key projects such as new school builds, major expansions, and operational mobilisation by coordinating with project stakeholders.
* Be available outside normal school hours when required under critical incident response protocols.
* Oversee the performance of Operations and Support Service staff to ensure high standards, accountability, and collegial working practices.
* Review support service operating models and staffing levels to ensure schools remain properly resourced while maintaining financial and operational efficiency.
* Contribute to recruitment, appraisal, professional development, and training plans for operations and support staff.
* Coordinate effectively between schools, cluster teams, ESE representatives, HQ departments, and functional reporting lines.
* Support Principals and Operations Managers in developing, monitoring, and controlling budgets and operational expenditure.
* Review opportunities for shared resources, staffing, transport, services, and physical assets across the cluster to improve value and access.
* Support tender preparation by reviewing scope of work, purchase requisitions, technical specifications, evaluation criteria, and procurement documentation.
* Assist Operations Managers and Procurement teams with technical evaluation of tender submissions.
* Ensure Delegation of Authority processes are followed accurately in all relevant operational and procurement activities.
* Monitor compliance with local government authority regulations to avoid fines, lapses, or non-renewal issues at school level.
* Ensure audit actions are tracked, assigned, completed, and closed within agreed timelines.
* Interpret the operational impact of government policies, legislation, directives, and education sector developments.
* Lead a positive health, safety, and environment culture based on practical risk management and the principle of no hurt, no harm.
* Act as the responsible person for HSE effectiveness across the cluster and advise teams on current health and safety legislation and guidelines.
* Support schools in setting HSE objectives and ensuring related actions are delivered within required timelines.
* Drive use of the AVA system for incident management, reporting, follow-up, and compliance monitoring.
* Ensure health, safety, and environmental inspections and audits are completed in line with the Aldar Education safety management system.
* Provide constructive, fact-led challenge on risk mitigation decisions where required for the benefit of the wider Aldar Group.
* Ensure the specialist operations area complies with relevant industry standards, specifications, regulations, and internal policies.
* Complete additional operational, strategic, or compliance duties assigned in line with department priorities.
Ideal Profile
* Bachelor Degree in a business-related subject or related graduate-level industry qualification for the assigned functional area.
* Certificate in School Business Management, Facilities Management, NEBOSH, or IOSH is preferred.
* Minimum 5 years of experience in a senior-level role within education, school operations, facilities, administration, or a service-oriented industry.
* Strong understanding of school operations, support services, compliance, HSE, finance, procurement, audit coordination, and stakeholder management.
* Experience working with Principals, Operations Managers, senior leadership teams, HQ departments, vendors, regulators, and project stakeholders.
* Able to manage cluster-level priorities while maintaining consistency, quality standards, and service efficiency across multiple schools.
* Strong supervisory skills with the ability to guide teams, review performance, support development, and build a high-performance service culture.
* Commercially aware, with the ability to monitor budgets, identify cost efficiencies, and support best-value procurement.
* Confident working with government compliance requirements, audit actions, regulatory submissions, and operational risk controls.
* Skilled in planning ahead, tracking deadlines, handling multiple workstreams, and following up diligently until actions are closed.
* Able to influence people, build networks, and work with cultural sensitivity across a diverse education environment.
* Strong written and spoken English communication skills.
* Good interpersonal skills with the ability to build trusted relationships across schools and central functions.
* Able to work under pressure, exercise sound judgment, and handle confidential operational information professionally.
* Willing to show commitment beyond normal working hours when operational priorities or critical incidents require support.
* Strong alignment with safeguarding, student wellbeing, service excellence, and the values of a professional school environment.
Skills Set
* School-College Administration
* School operations management
* Cluster operations leadership
* Administration management
* Support services management
* Facilities coordination
* HSE compliance
* Audit compliance
* Regulatory compliance
* ESE coordination
* ADEK awareness
* School business planning
* Operations strategy
* Business continuity
* Service culture development
* Staff deployment
* Performance management
* Operations staff training
* CPD coordination
* Procurement coordination
* Tender support
* Technical evaluation
* Budget monitoring
* Expenditure control
* Delegation of Authority
* Stakeholder management
* Project coordination
* New build support
* Major expansion support
* Risk management
* Incident management
* AVA system
* Health and safety inspections
* Environmental audits
* Policy implementation
* Process improvement
* Data reporting
* Confidential information handling
Why Join Us
This role provides a strong platform for an experienced operations leader to influence school performance across a respected Abu Dhabi education network. The successful candidate will work at cluster level, supporting school leaders, improving service delivery, strengthening compliance, and helping schools operate safely and efficiently. Aldar Education offers an attractive remuneration package that may include medical cover, flights, housing, and school place benefits, along with professional development, coaching, training, and opportunities to contribute to wider operational excellence across the Primary-Secondary Education sector.
About the Company
Aldar Education is a leading education group in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with a growing network of owned and managed schools that serve diverse student communities across multiple curricula. The organization focuses on academic excellence, safe learning environments, operational quality, innovation, and child-centered education. Through strong leadership, professional support teams, and continuous development, Aldar Education contributes to the UAE’s vision for a sustainable, knowledge-based future while supporting students, families, educators, and school communities.
