Senior Manager - Operations (Charter Schools)

Job Description Aldar Education is currently seeking Senior Manager - Operations to join our Charter Schools operated in the UAE. 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. As a specialist lead across the school operations team, the Senior Manager will be responsible for advising, implementing, and supporting select initiatives, and ensure compliance with related internal & external directives and regulations. As a cluster lead, directly supporting a group of Principals and Operations Managers (OM), the Senior Manager will be fully responsible to effectively oversee all Operations, Administration & Support Service-related activities within their cluster and ensure compliance with Aldar Education Policy, procedures, HSE, Audit and Regulatory directives. The incumbent 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. To embody the values, vision and ethos of Aldar Education and assist the department in implementing process and policy which will ensure high quality and successful outcomes. The successful candidates will be closely aligned with our core values and ethos and possess a genuine understanding and appreciation of the values of the region. Responsibilities Main Duties: • To be the main liaison between ADEK and Aldar Education for Operations in the form of the single point of contact, on behalf of all schools within the cluster. To be responsible for distributing and submitting communication from/to ADEK in order to support their requirements and/or initiatives. • To be the department lead in their specialist function and ensure a consistent and streamlined approach in line with identified strategic directives, whilst maximising cost efficiencies, return on investment and quality standards. • To be responsible for the organisation and delivery of operations, administration and support service teams across the cluster(s). Implementing a 'service culture' and ensuring efficient, effective staff deployment and, with the HQ team, recruitment of high calibre candidates to join the Aldar Education Operations and Support Service teams. • To support and advise key functions within the cluster and Aldar Education HQ on operational, financial, HSE and Audit & Regulatory Compliance matters and be accountable for their effectiveness and compliance. • 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 each school. • To oversee the key strategic objectives for the cluster through formulating and leading on specific aspects of the school business and/or improvement plan as they relate to operations and support services. • To drive a positive and proactive health and safety culture throughout their cluster teams and act as a champion for health and safety. Specific Duties: General Operations: • To support the Principals and OM in implementing the agreed business strategy for both the School and Cluster. • Development and implementation of policies, systems, processes, and student safeguarding measures relevant to their cluster and in conjunction with Aldar Education HQ to ensure business continuity and service deliverables. • Initiate and identify good practices within their cluster and ensure these are shared throughout the group in order to streamline operations, processes and policies and secure efficiencies. • Be contactable outside of normal School hours, available to attend site to support the Operations Team when required in line with the Aldar Education Critical Incident Response Protocols. Leadership & Management • Oversee the performance of the Operations & Support Service staff to ensure high standards of service are maintained throughout the School(s) and that cluster teams provide a collegial efficient and effective service culture. • Contribute to the recruitment, professional development, appraisal, and training of all Operations & Support Service staff ensuring that members of the team undergo an individual development plan to help the school in building a high-performance team. Finance, Commercial & Procurement • To support the Principal and OM in developing & monitoring all relevant budgets and expenditure, particularly operational costs, ensuring the department receives best value and service at all times. • Continually reviewing opportunities for shared resource, cost and/or services across the cluster they hold responsibility for to ensure that the schools benefit from improved access to service teams and physical resources (i.e. support staff, transport etc). • Endure 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 assigned cluster is fully compliant with local government authority regulations to safeguard against fines of any nature. Understand the effects and implications of government policies, legislation and directives. • Ensure all internal and external audits are effectively managed and that actions arising from such audits are completed in a timely and appropriate manner. Health, Safety & Environment • To lead and support a culture of “no hur, no harm” through Pro-active and pragmatic risk-based decision making. • To promote and demonstrate a supportive and business focussed approach to the management of risk, with a solution-based mentality. • To act as the responsible person for HSE effectiveness and ensure their cluster complies with current Health & Safety legislation and/or guidelines as issued by Aldar Education HQ, advising the cluster team accordingly. • Professionally offering challenge and fact led opinion on decision making in relation to risk mitigation, for the benefit of the wider Aldar group. • To drive a positive and proactoive health and safety culture througout their team • To support each school within their cluster in establishing specific health, safety and environmental related aims and objectives and ensuring that they are delivered within the required timelines. • To ensure adherence to all relevant Service Guidelines and Policies, developing and challenging where necessary. • To drive and support the use of the AVA system to ensure compliance regarding incident management. • Ensure all health, safety and environmental related inspections and audits are completed in line with the Aldar Education safety management system, using a supportive and coaching nature, helping to remove barriers, and promoting improvements in standards through teamwork. Specialist Function • Develop relevant feasibility studies for submitting technical proposals in specialist area as required to support business needs & initiatives. Responsible for reviewing & preparing all relevant info

Main Duties: - Be the main liaison between ADEK and Aldar Education for Operations in the form of the single point of contact, on behalf of all schools within the cluster. - Manage the department lead in specialist function and ensure a consistent and streamlined approach in line with strategic directives, while maximizing cost efficiencies, ROI and quality standards. - Organise and deliver operations, administration and support service teams across the cluster. Recruit and deploy staff in collaboration with HQ. - Advise key functions within the cluster and HQ on operational, financial, HSE and Audit & Regulatory Compliance matters. - Ensure ongoing professional development and training for Operations & Support Service staff. - Oversee strategic objectives for the cluster related to operations and support services. - Drive health and safety culture and serve as a champion for HSE. Specific Duties: - Support Principals and OMs in implementing business strategy for the School and Cluster. - Develop and implement policies, systems, processes, and safeguarding measures with HQ. - Identify best practices within the cluster and share across the group to improve efficiency. - Be available outside normal hours to support the Operations Team as required. Leadership & Management: - Oversee performance of Operations & Support Service staff, ensure high service standards and a high-performance team. - Recruit, develop, appraise and train staff with individual development plans. Finance, Commercial & Procurement: - Support budgeting and expenditure oversight, ensure best value and service. - Explore shared resources and services across the cluster. - Ensure delegation of authority processes are followed. Relationship & Stakeholder Management: - Uphold Aldar Education Core Values. - Ensure cluster compliance with local regulations and manage audits and corrective actions. Health, Safety & Environment: - Lead a culture of proactive risk-based decision making and HSE compliance. - Manage risk, drive improvements, and ensure incident management and safety inspections are completed. Specialist Function: - Develop feasibility studies for technical proposals to support business needs and initiatives.