Head of Operations

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

At Cognita, we know every student is unique. We nurture their distinct personalities and strengths. We support them academically, socially, and emotionally, wherever they are in the world, wherever they’re starting from. We protect what’s special about them, while offering them rich knowledge, opportunities, and best practices. And they get to be part of something bigger; ensuring they get an education that’s, quite literally, world class.

Since 1996, Dasman Bilingual School has been enriching the lives of its students, their families, and the community by providing high quality, bilingual education in a safe and positive learning environment, which fosters the academic, social, spiritual and moral development of each child.

Our diverse student body, comprised of children from different countries, benefits from a progressive, modern and congenial school setting designed to foster academic achievement. We are committed to internationalism and seek to promote a multicultural community. Additionally, our mission serves to encourage global citizenship with the understanding that learning is challenging, connected and never ending.

This vision, and a keen desire to improve continuously, has been the driving force towards many, and most, of the academic and non-academic decisions taken. Embarking on a journey aimed at a more holistic approach to education, the school have built a vision of empowering, engaging, inspiring and motivating the youth of today, for a better future tomorrow.

We are seeking an experienced Head of Operations to join our team in Kuwait and play a pivotal role in shaping the success and growth of our esteemed school.

Reporting directly to the Superintendent, you will be a strategic and hands-on leader responsible for overseeing all non academic operations. You will ensure the school achieves its strategic goals, delivering exceptional experiences for students, parents, and staff alike.

Key Responsibilities

Finance & Procurement

• Drive financial performance, meeting or exceeding P&L targets.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Manage procurement and asset management to ensure cost efficiency.

Marketing & Admissions

• Collaborate with the leadership team to execute growth strategies and optimise enrolment.
• Analyse market trends and develop data-driven strategies to enhance school positioning.

Human Resources

• Work with HR to foster staff retention, professional development, and performance management of the operations team.
• Drive initiatives to build a robust and motivated team.

Operations & Compliance

• Oversee facilities, security, IT operations, and transportation.
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory standards, including child safeguarding policies.
• Collaborate across teams to optimise resources and align operations with school objectives.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven leadership and management experience in complex, multi-functional roles.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across diverse teams and cultures.
• Experience in compliance, risk management, and operations within a regulated environment.
• Demonstrated success in influencing strategic decisions and driving organizational performance.

Qualifications

• Degree in Business, Management, or Education.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience, with at least 5 years leading cross-functional teams in education, retail, hospitality, or a similar sector.

If you’re interested in creating an exceptional learning environment where students, staff, and the community thrive together, we welcome your application; please include your current, up-to-date CV.

The school reserves the right to interview and appoint strong candidates before the official closing date, and therefore we would encourage candidates to apply early in the process.

Cognita is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects the same from its employees. All new staff will be subject to detailed and enhanced pre-employment clearance, including identity checks, criminal background checks for all countries lived in, qualification checks, employment checks to include an exploration of any gaps in employment, and satisfactory reference checks for all employment in the last 5 years.