Project Management Office Manager jobs in United Arab Emirates

Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 100+ schools in 16 countries across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East, serving more than 85,000 students. Each school is unique, but our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can Thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

At Cognita, we recognize that every student is unique. We nurture their personalities and strengths, supporting them academically, socially, and emotionally, regardless of their location or starting point. We aim to protect what makes them special while providing rich knowledge, opportunities, and best practices. Our students are part of something bigger, receiving a world-class education.

We are seeking an experienced marketing leader with a passion for launching brands and driving growth. The Senior Marketing Projects Manager will lead high-impact, full-cycle marketing initiatives for new school launches, campus expansions, and post-acquisition integrations across the Middle East.

This role reports directly to the Head of Marketing and involves delivering go-to-market strategies that shape the future of international education in the region. You will oversee brand identity, campaign performance, and ensure each launch is aligned with commercial goals, operational readiness, and brand consistency across all touchpoints.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Drive end-to-end marketing for new school openings, expansions, and M&A integrations. Align strategies with student recruitment and commercial milestones.
• Cross-Functional Project Management: Lead marketing readiness with commercial, operations, education, and admissions teams. Manage timelines and coordinate cross-departmental execution.
• Go-to-Market Execution: Lead full-funnel marketing campaigns (paid, owned, earned). Manage agencies, media, content, and campaign performance.
• Brand Building: Develop brand identity, naming, and visual storytelling for new schools. Maintain global brand integrity with local nuances.
• Asset & Toolkit Creation: Build scalable toolkits, brand guides, campaign playbooks, and asset libraries.
• Performance & ROI Monitoring: Track KPIs such as lead generation, conversion rates, and ROI. Ensure timely delivery and risk management in all projects.

Required Skills & Experience:

• 8+ years in marketing project management, brand launches, or go-to-market execution.
• Proven success in multi-channel campaigns delivering measurable results.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement, agency coordination, and project leadership.
• Strong understanding of branding, campaign metrics, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Experience in education, hospitality, real estate, or retail with multi-unit launches is preferred.
• Comfortable working within high-growth, matrixed organizations.

Why Join Cognita?

At Cognita, we're not just launching schools; we're shaping futures. This role offers the opportunity to:

• Accelerate regional growth through rapid, high-quality marketing execution.
• Lead exciting projects that blend brand strategy with real-world impact.
• Collaborate with passionate teams in a globally respected education group.

Please note, this role is office-based in Dubai, UAE, with local and regional site visits as required.

Cognita is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff, volunteers, and third parties must share this commitment. Safer recruitment practices and pre-employment background checks will be conducted before any appointment is confirmed.

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Senior Project Manager • United Arab Emirates