Operations Manager- Abdulla Bin Otaiba Charter School

Aldar Education is currently seeking an outstanding Operations Manager for Abdulla Bin Otaiba (ABO) Charter School in Abu Dhabi to start either in December 2022, or January 2023

ABO is a large and thriving Charter School, with @ 1500 students, from KG1 to Grade 5. The ABO aim is to be a collaborative, student centered school, to constantly develop staff, to develop stakeholder voice and to keep evolving in our practice, so demonstrating a change agent attitude.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the highly successful Aldar family of schools and to help shape the future of Abu Dhabi’s leading school group.

The successful candidates will be closely aligned with our core values and ethos of Aldar Education and of ABO and possess a genuine understanding and appreciation of the values of the region.

The successful candidate will join the school Senior Leadership Team and will be fully responsible to effectively lead Operations, Support Service and the school Administration team.

The successful candidate must have excellent time management, approachable, professional, calm, and knowledgeable. Also, Operation Manager must be an excellent communicator, both verbal and written who can build strong relationships with colleagues.

The successful candidate will be able to deal professionally with a range of stakeholders. The successful candidate will continuously strive to exceed internal & external customer expectations, capitalizing the economic profit and return on capital investment, while embracing the Aldar Education Core Values.

Main Duties

• To be responsible for the organisation and delivery of operations, administration (customer service) and support service teams across the School(s). Implementing a 'service culture' and ensuring efficient, effective staff deployment and, with the Principal, recruitment of high calibre candidates to join the Aldar Education operations and support service teams.

• To support and advise the Principal, Senior Leadership and Aldar Education HQ on operational and HSE matters and be accountable for their effectiveness using robust performance management systems.

• To implement processes and provide strategic guidance to the Principal, Senior Leadership and Aldar Education HQ on Audit and Regulatory Compliance matters, ensuring that schools maintain compliance throughout the year in all authority and internal audit visits.

• To ensure that all operations and support service staff are supported with high quality continuous professional development and training which contributes to the development and achievements of the School.

• To support the Principal in achieving the key strategic objectives for the School through formulating and leading on specific aspects of the school business and/or improvement plan as they relate to operations and support services.

Specific Duties

General Operations

• To support the Principal in implementing the agreed business strategy for the School.

• Development and implementation of policies, systems, processes and student safeguarding measures in conjunction with the Aldar Education HQ ensuring all new policy and processes are school focused prior to implementation throughout the group.

• Be contactable outside of normal School hours, available to attend site to support the Operations Team when required inline with the Aldar Education Critical Incident Response Protocols

Leadership & Management

• Develop the performance and efficient working hours of the customer-focused administration and support service teams to ensure high standards of service are maintained throughout the School(s) and that all teams provide a collegial efficient and effective service culture.

• Continuously review school support services operating models and staffing levels to ensure the school is suitably resourced to deliver key objectives whilst ensuring school financial and operational performance is maintained.

• Lead the recruitment, professional development, appraisal and training of all Operations & Support Service staff ensuring that each member of the team undergoes an individual development plan to help the school in building a high performance team.

Finance, Commercial & Procurement

• To support the Principal in monitoring operational and specific administration budgets and expenditure, ensuring the school receives best value and service at all times. Lead on operational budget development.

• Continually reviewing opportunities for shared resource, cost and/or services across those schools they hold responsibility for to ensure that the schools benefit from improved access to service teams and physical resources (ie support staff, transport etc).

• Ensure Delegation of Authority processes and procedures are followed at all times.

Relationship & Stakeholder Management

• Embrace and encourage the ethos and standards of excellence as defined in the Aldar Education Core Values.

• Ensure that schools are fully compliant with local government authority regulations to safeguard against fines of any nature as a result of non-renewal of contracts at school level.

• Ensure all internal and external audits are effectively co-ordinated and that actions arising from such audits are completed in a timely and appropriate manner.

• Understand the effects and implications of government policies, legislation and directives, developing effective strategies for current initiatives and long-term educational trends and developments.

Health, Safety & Environment

• To act as the responsible person for HSE effectiveness and ensure the School complies with current Health & Safety legislation and/or guidelines as issued by Aldar Education HQ advising the School Leadership team accordingly.

• To support the principal in establishing school specific health, safety and environmental related aims and objectives and ensuring that they are delivered within the required timelines.

• Ensure all internal and external health, safety and environmental related audits are effectively co-ordinated and that actions arising from such audits are completed in a timely and appropriate manner.

• Ensure all health, safety and environmental related inspections are completed in line with the Aldar Education standards and any actions arising from such inspections are completed in a timely and appropriate manner

Job Specific Knowledge & Skills

• Fluent English communication skills, written and oral.

• Attention to detail with diligent follow up, and able to execute in a timely manner.

• Skilled in multi-tasking and handling pressure.

• Organizational ability, of self and others.

• Forethought and forward planning (particularly as this relates to local Government compliance matters).

• Capable of influencing people and talented in networking with cultural sensitivity.

• Strong and consistent supervisory skills.

• Commercial acumen.

• Initiate effort and energy beyond the typical work day, where the tasks require additional commitment.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors (BSc) in business related subject; or

• Related industry qualification, of graduate level, for the assigned functional area(s).

• Certificate of School Business Management / Facilities Management / NEBOSH or IOSH preferable.

Minimum Experience

• At least 5 years’ experience in a senior level position within an education or service oriented industry.