Head - Operations - Aldar Education

Aldar Education; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 420,000 - 620,000; Full time

Job summary

Aldar Education is seeking a Head - Operations to lead and shape the operational effectiveness of its Abu Dhabi cluster. The role involves steering base school operations, partnering with Principals, and aligning with HQ directives to ensure safe, compliant and efficient services across the group.

The position requires senior leadership experience in education operations, strong strategic thinking, and the ability to oversee multi-site facilities and regulatory compliance within a premium school

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in multi-site operations.
• Strong strategic and financial planning skills.
• Excellent stakeholder and people management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and functional leadership across the cluster to drive operational excellence.
• Lead day-to-day operational management of the base school with the Principal and leadership team.
• Act as senior operational lead for the cluster ensuring consistency with Aldar Education priorities and standards.
• Drive financial and operational performance, optimise opex/capex, and maximise ROI across the base school and cluster.
• Oversee operations, administration and support services to maintain high standards across the cluster.
• Provide strategic guidance to Principals, operational leads and HQ functions.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Financial Acumen

Stakeholder Management

People Management

Job description

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 over38,000 students through5,000 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.

Responsibilities

Main Duties

• To provide strategic and functional leadership across the cluster, driving operational excellence through strong leadership, clear communication, innovation and robust processes.
• To lead and be accountable for the day-to-day operational management of the designated base school, partnering with the Principal and leadership team to deliver safe, compliant, efficient and customer-focused operations.
• To act as the senior operational lead for the cluster, ensuring consistency, standardisation and alignment with Aldar Education’s strategic priorities and quality standards.
• To drive financial and operational performance, optimising Opex and Capex, resources, cost efficiencies and return on investment across the base school and cluster.
• To lead the effective delivery of operations, administration and support services across the cluster, ensuring consistently high standards.
• To provide strategic guidance to Principals, school-based operational leads and HQ functions