School Operations Manager - Facilities

Gems Education UAE; Dubai; On-site; AED 223,200 - 334,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Job summary

Gems Education UAE is seeking a School Operations Manager for its Dubai location. The role involves overseeing the daily operations of school facilities, advising leadership, managing resources, and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.

Candidates should have a strong background in operations and administration, ideally in an educational environment. This full-time position provides an opportunity to lead key functions in a respected school setting, directly impacting student safety and service quality.

Qualifications

• Strong background in operations, facilities, administration, or business management in an education setting.
• Proven ability to manage support teams, contractors, and budgets.
• Good financial understanding with experience in budget monitoring and cost control.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operation of school facilities and support services.
• Advise senior leadership on operational and financial matters.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and local regulations.

Skills

School operations management

Facilities and maintenance planning

Budget monitoring and cost control

Vendor and contractor management

Health and safety compliance

Administration leadership

Stakeholder communication

Education

Degree in Business Management or related field

Job description

School Operations Manager - Facilities

Location: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Education Management
Function: Facilities Management-Maintenance
Job Type: Full-time

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the daily operation of school facilities, buildings, grounds, administration, and support services.
• Advise the Principal, CEO, Senior Leadership Team, and Corporate Office on operational, financial, and business matters.
• Support the school improvement plan by aligning operational performance with academic and community priorities.
• Lead environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and service improvement initiatives across the school site.
• Manage administration and support teams, ensuring clear responsibilities, service standards, and performance expectations.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and development of non-academic staff across operational departments.
• Monitor budgets, control expenditure, review forecasts, and support financial reporting with the Accounts team.
• Ensure compliance with Delegation of Authority, audit requirements, procurement policies, and internal controls.
• Manage third‑party suppliers, contractors, and service providers while tracking KPIs, contracts, and service delivery.
• Oversee preventive and reactive maintenance schedules to keep school facilities safe, functional, and well maintained.
• Supervise cleaning, waste management, catering, transportation, security, accommodation, and school support services.
• Ensure health, safety, safeguarding, and local regulatory requirements are followed across all operational areas.
• Manage site access, parking arrangements, CCTV systems, emergency readiness, and general school security.
• Support the commercial use of school facilities for events, activities, conferences, and community engagement.
• Maintain a welcoming, safe, and efficient school environment for students, parents, staff, and visitors.

Ideal Profile

• Strong background in operations, facilities, administration, or business management, preferably within a school or education setting.
• Proven ability to manage support teams, contractors, budgets, service standards, and operational risks.
• Good financial understanding with experience in budget monitoring, cost control, forecasting, and contract management.
• Confident working with senior leaders, corporate teams, parents, suppliers, and external stakeholders.
• Practical knowledge of health and safety, safeguarding, security, maintenance, and school compliance requirements.
• Able to prioritize competing tasks, solve problems quickly, and maintain service quality under pressure.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to improve systems, processes, and day‑to‑day operational performance.
• Professional communication style with a service‑focused approach to school community support.

Skills Set

• School operations management
• Facilities and maintenance planning
• Budget monitoring and cost control
• Vendor and contractor management
• Health and safety compliance
• Safeguarding procedures
• Administration leadership
• Support services supervision
• Security and access control
• Cleaning and waste management
• Catering and transport coordination
• Preventive maintenance scheduling
• Financial reporting support
• KPI and contract monitoring
• Sustainability and energy efficiency
• Stakeholder communication

Benefits

• Lead a key operational function within a respected Dubai school environment.
• Work closely with senior education leaders while supporting student safety, service quality, and school growth.
• Build strong experience across facilities, finance, administration, procurement, compliance, and community services.
• Contribute to a professional school setting where efficient operations directly support teaching, learning, and family experience.