Requirements
The School Operations Manager will oversee all operational services at campus level, ensuring smooth, compliant, and cost-effective delivery. Key responsibilities include staff management, procurement, facilities, health & safety, events, ESG, and shared services. Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree or relevant operational qualification, with NEBOSH and IOSH preferred. A minimum of 3-5 years in operational roles, ideally in education, facilities, or service-driven environments, is required. Strong competencies in multi-service operations coordination, vendor and contract oversight, health, safety, and compliance leadership, budget awareness, procurement control, and cross-functional problem-solving are essential.
Description
Taaleem is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We hold ourselves to a high standard of effective practices in relation to child protection and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We expect all staff to share this commitment.All successful applicants must be willing to undergo enhanced child protection screening appropriate to the post, including various background checks including, receipt of high-quality references, proof of relevant qualifications, identification and police checks, including overseas checks. No member of staff will be able to start until these checks are complete and this process takes, on average, a month.Are you a strategic, solutions-focused operations professional ready to make a meaningful impact in educationHarrow International School Abu Dhabi is seeking an experienced and competent School Operations Manager to join its founding school.As part of our founding team, you will play a pivotal role in building a vibrant and inclusive community where the learning of every individual is at the heart of daily life. Guided by the Harrow values, our staff will create an environment in which every pupil is nurtured, challenged, and empowered to achieve their very best.Job PurposeThe School Operations Manager oversees all operational services at campus level, ensuring smooth, compliant, and cost-effective delivery. Reporting directly to the Head of Business Operations and working closely with the Principal, the role covers key functions such as procurement, facilities, H&S, events, ESG, and shared services. The role also ensures regulatory readiness and contributes to school improvement plans through cross-functional coordination.Key Accountabilities:Staff ManagementDevelop and maintain effective partnerships and engage in positive communication with all staff, senior leaders, HOBO and the Principal.Provide leadership for the Facilities Manager, Procurement assistant, IT assistant and Head nurse. This includes ensuring they adhere to their accountabilities and KPIs, supporting their professional development, conducting appraisals, and addressing performance issues.Adhere to the school's policies and procedures and ensure all supervised staff do as well.Purchasing and Contract Management Oversee operational budgets (R&M, FFE, licensing, utilities, IT), POs, and DoA compliance.Review procurement documentation and vendor payments; monitor advance payments and credit card use.Ensure deliveries are asset tagged per policy.QA/QC the vendor performance and escalate quality issues where required.Health and SafetyLead implementation of Taaleem and regulatory H&S protocols, and site safety infrastructure.Maintain H&S documentation (risk assessments, inspections, drill records, protocols etc.).Chair HSE meeting.Complete and escalate incident reports per internal systems and regulatory portals and coordinate with Facilities and Principal for post-incident investigations.Lead government inspections and coordinate post-crisis H&S site checks.Events and excursionsOversee school event and field trip approvals to ensure they follow Taaleem's Events & Excursions Policy.Liaise with transport and third-party vendors; support with escalated trip-related issues.Facilities ManagementMonitor R&M budgets and maintenance delivery in collaboration with Facilities Manager.Escalate site-level risks that threaten continuity of operations.Oversee CCTV usage for regulatory and internal policy compliance.ComplianceEnsure timely renewal of all key licenses (e.g., Civil Defence, Clinic, Trade).Maintain compliance records for inspections; report non-conformance to CO.Oversee onboarding documentation for ECAs, ASAs, and third-party vendors.Monitor adherence to Taaleem and local authority policies.ESG and energy conservationAct as site ESG champion; lead sustainability, waste reduction, and recycling initiatives.Liaise with CO teams to upcycle outdated equipment and reduce utility usage in line with group targets.Campus DevelopmentContribute to the school's strategic campus planning and monitor ongoing infrastructure needs.Oversee delivery of approved CIP projects; ensure all building modifications have proper authority approvals. Shared ServicesCoordinate transport, catering, ASA, and uniform providers with support from CO teams.Approve space allocation for ECAs and shared services.Manage provider performance, changes, and communication to relevant stakeholders.Lead commission tracking for all other income with the support of the Shared Services Manager.IT End User SupportOversee IT and software procurement against approved budgets.Support IT onboarding for new staff and resolve escalated operational IT issues.Monitor printing systems and coordinate asset usage with CO IT.Who Are We Looking ForEducation: Bachelor's degree or relevant operational qualification; NEBOSH and IOSH preferred.Experience: 3–5 years in operational roles, ideally in education, facilities, or service-driven environments.Competencies:Multi-service operations coordinationVendor and contract oversightHealth, safety, and compliance leadershipBudget awareness and procurement controlCross-functional problem-solving and crisis response Attributes:Calm, organized, and highly accountableClear communicator and team enablerPractical, audit-ready, and solutions-focusedComfortable in a fast-paced, stakeholder-heavy school environmentHarrow ValuesAll staff are expected to conduct themselves in line with the School's values which are: Courage, Honour, Humility and Fellowship. While the School's values set out what matters most to us, the behaviours below are intended as a shared set of expectations to refer to, and standards to aspire to, in our dealings with others. They are the practical application of our values.Equality, diversity and inclusion are values that are important to us at Taaleem. We believe in diversity of thought and actively welcome everyone regardless of their background to bring their valuable and relevant skills to our community.Note: It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.This advertisement is posted on behalf of Harrow International School Abu Dhabi which is part of the group owned by Taaleem Holdings PJSC and independently operated under a licence to use the Harrow School brand. For further details of the relationship, please see the relationship statement on the harrowdubai.ae website. Accordingly, applicants should be aware that the employer will be part of Taaleem Holdings PJSC's group and under its control and not Harrow School.