Chief Operating Officer

SagePaths Global Education; Singapore; On-site; SGD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global education provider is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) based in Singapore, responsible for operational excellence across multiple education businesses. The role requires a seasoned leader with experience in multi-entity and cross-cultural environments, fluent in English and Mandarin. Key responsibilities include implementing strategic plans, ensuring compliance, and managing stakeholder relationships. This position offers a chance to shape the future of education across Asia, driving quality and sustainability in diverse markets.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in education or international services.
• Proven multi-country operations management track record.
• Strong understanding of compliance and quality assurance.

Responsibilities

• Partner with leadership to implement strategic plans.
• Oversee admissions, student services, and HR functions.
• Ensure compliance across jurisdictions and manage operations.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Decision-making

Fluent in English and Mandarin

Job description

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Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Location: Singapore (with regional oversight across Asia)

Employment Type: Full-time

Reporting To: Managing Director / Managing Partner

Shape the Future of Global Education

The Opportunity

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key executive leadership role within SagePaths Global Education, responsible for translating strategic vision into operational excellence across the Group’s education businesses, including international student recruitment, K–12 education services, higher education partnerships, overseas teaching centres, and student accommodation initiatives.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the COO will oversee group-wide operations, governance, compliance, and execution, ensuring scalability, quality assurance, and financial sustainability across multiple jurisdictions. This role requires a seasoned operator with strong leadership capability, cross-cultural fluency, and experience in complex, multi-entity education environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the Managing Director and senior leadership team to operationalise the Group’s strategic plans and growth initiatives.
• Translate strategic objectives into clear operational frameworks, KPIs, and execution roadmaps.
• Support new market entry, overseas teaching centre development, and partnership implementation.
• Provide executive oversight of core operational functions, including admissions operations, student services, HR, finance coordination, compliance, IT systems, and administrative infrastructure.
• Establish standardised operating procedures (SOPs) across all business units and geographies.
• Drive operational efficiency, scalability, and service quality across the Group.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and quality-assurance frameworks across jurisdictions.
• Oversee risk management, internal controls, and audit readiness for education and commercial operations.
• Support institutional governance processes, including board reporting and policy development.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing management team across multiple countries.
• Foster a professional, accountable, and service-oriented organisational culture.
• Support workforce planning, leadership succession, and performance management.
• Manage relationships with key external stakeholders, including partner institutions, regulators, schools, universities, accommodation partners, and corporate clients.
• Represent the Group in senior-level meetings, negotiations, and partnership discussions.
• Strengthen SagePaths’ reputation as a trusted international education partner.
• Oversee operations spanning different regulatory, cultural, and market environments.
• Navigate complexities of operating between Singapore headquarters and overseas teams.
• Ensure effective communication, alignment, and governance across borders.

Key Requirements

• Senior leadership experience (COO, Deputy COO, Director of Operations, or equivalent) within education, international education services, or professional services.
• Proven track record in multi-entity, multi-country operations management.
• Strong understanding of education operations, compliance, and quality assurance frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to scale organisations, build systems, and drive execution.
• Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, and decision-making skills.
• Fluent in both English and Mandarin (spoken and written) to engage effectively with regional stakeholders.
• Experience working with or within Asian education markets is highly advantageous.