Manager School Operations

GEMS FOUNDERS SCHOOL – MASDAR CITY; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 320,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

GEMS FOUNDERS SCHOOL – MASDAR CITY seeks a School Operations Manager to oversee facilities, administration, and support services, ensuring secure, efficient, and compliant site operations with high standards of operational excellence. You will collaborate with the Principal/CEO and SLT to optimize budgets, manage contracts, drive sustainability, safety, and community engagement across the school.

Strong leadership and communication are essential to deliver outstanding service.

Qualifications

• Experience in operations, facilities, or business management, preferably in an educational setting.
• Financial acumen with budgeting and contract management.
• Strong leadership and people-management capabilities.
• Excellent communication with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize tasks, and resolve issues proactively.
• Commitment to health, safety, safeguarding and sustainability standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic guidance to the Principal/CEO and Senior Leadership on operational, financial, and business matters.
• Organize and manage administration and support services, ensuring effective staff deployment.
• Manage budgets, monitor expenditure, prepare monthly reports and forecasts with the Accounts team.
• Oversee maintenance, security, and efficient operation of the school site and grounds; ensure compliance with health and safety regs.
• Promote the school facilities as venues for events and community activities and engage with parents and staff.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Facilities management

Budgeting & financial acumen

Stakeholder management

Communication

Health, safety & safeguarding

Sustainability

Job description

The School Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing the development, maintenance, safety, and smooth day-to-day running of the school’s facilities, administration, and support services. This role ensures that the school site, buildings, and resources are secure, efficient, and aligned with the highest standards of operational excellence, while also contributing strategically to the school’s growth and success.

The post holder will work closely with the Principal/CEO, Senior Leadership Team, and Corporate Office to provide expert advice on business, financial, and operational matters. They will ensure that resources are effectively managed, budgets are optimized, and services delivered to the highest quality, supporting both the academic mission of the school and its wider community engagement.

Leadership & Strategy

• Provide strategic guidance to the Principal/CEO and Senior Leadership on operational, financial, and business matters.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of the school’s improvement plan and long-term sustainability goals.
• Lead initiatives for environmental sustainability and operational efficiency across the school site.
• Ensure robust performance management systems are in place for all support teams.

Administration & Support Services

• Organize and manage all administration and support services, ensuring effective deployment of staff and resources.
• Support recruitment, training, and continuous professional development of administration and support staff.
• Ensure a culture of service excellence, accountability, and professionalism across all teams.

Finance & Business Operations

• Manage budgets, monitor expenditure, and ensure value for money across all operational areas.
• Prepare monthly financial reports, variance analysis, and forecasts in collaboration with the Accounts team.
• Ensure compliance with Delegation of Authority and audit requirements.
• Oversee third-party service providers, ensuring KPIs, contracts, and service standards are consistently met.

Facilities & Health & Safety

• Oversee the maintenance, security, and efficient operation of the school site, buildings, and grounds.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and safeguarding regulations, in line with GEMS Corporate policies and local legislation.
• Manage preventative and reactive maintenance schedules, either in-house or via external contractors.
• Supervise facilities services including cleaning, waste management, energy usage, catering, transportation, and accommodation.
• Promote safe parking, secure site access, and effective use of CCTV and security systems.

Community & Commercial Engagement

• Promote school facilities as a venue for events, conferences, and community activities.
• Ensure smooth operation of ancillary services such as catering, school shop, and after-school activities.
• Strengthen relationships with parents, staff, and the wider community by ensuring high-quality services and a welcoming school environment.

Skills

• Strong leadership, organizational, and people management skills.
• Proven experience in operations, facilities, or business management, preferably in an educational setting.
• Financial acumen with experience managing budgets and contracts.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to handle pressure, prioritize tasks, and resolve issues proactively.
• Commitment to health, safety, safeguarding, and sustainability standards.