Interim Operations Manager

Location: Qatar

About Us

Nord Anglia Education is the world’s leading premium schools organisation, with 85+ schools across 33 countries. We educate more than 80,000 students and employ over 15,000 colleagues worldwide. Our Middle East regional team, based in Dubai, supports schools across the region to deliver an outstanding education and world-class operations. We are now seeking a strategic and experienced Interim Operations Manager to join one of our schools in Qatar

The Role

The Interim Operations Manager holds overall responsibility for the onboarding and integration of full operational management for the campus. This role provides strategic leadership across health and safety, facilities management, contract management (including third-party contracts), legal and compliance requirements, campus planning, and project support.

Working closely with the Principal, Regional Operations Director, and Integration Team, the Interim Operations Manager ensures compliance with Qatar regulatory agencies and Nord Anglia Education (NAE) standards. The role also oversees contractor services, including the Maidan and Super Park facilities, and manages support staff, catering, transport, and procurement, ensuring efficient, cost-effective operations across all non-academic functions of the school.

Key Responsibilities

Health & Safety

• Lead and embed health and safety standards across the school in alignment with NAE and Qatar regulations.
• Oversee delivery of onboarding and training for new staff, integrating safety awareness.
• Coordinate with regional HS leads to ensure regular audits, risk assessments, and training compliance.

Third-Party Contractors

• Manage day-to-day operations and contracts for security, cleaning, maintenance, catering, and transportation.
• Ensure service quality and compliance with NAE’s child protection and legal documentation requirements.
• Maintain up-to-date contracts in the Evisort database and ensure suppliers meet all compliance standards.

Super Park Operations

• Oversee daily operations for school and public visits to Super Park, ensuring safety and visitor satisfaction.
• Collaborate with the Super Park Manager on scheduling, staffing, logistics, and continuous improvement.
• Build partnerships with educational institutions and authorities to enhance program engagement.

Facilities Management & Events

• Oversee building maintenance, space allocation, and renovations in coordination with the ELT.
• Support planning and execution of school events and activities, ensuring smooth operational delivery.
• Ensure efficient use of school facilities and manage resource allocation effectively.

School Transport & Support Assistants

• Line-manage Bus Support Assistants and allocate responsibilities across classrooms or departments as required.
• Oversee transport operations, ensuring safety and efficiency.

Financial Management & Cost Control

• Partner with the Principal and Finance Manager on forecasting, budgeting, and resource planning.
• Source vendors, negotiate contracts, and identify opportunities for cost savings and energy efficiency.
• Act as project manager for facilities and building projects, ensuring timely, cost-effective delivery.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and motivate operations, facilities, and support teams, fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability.
• Conduct performance reviews and implement development plans.
• Build strong relationships across schools in the ME region to share best practices and drive operational excellence.

What We’re Looking For

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (essential); relevant professional qualification or postgraduate study (desirable).
• Proven experience in an operations management role, ideally within a school or multi-site environment.
• Strong understanding of health and safety management, facilities operations, and compliance frameworks.
• Financial acumen with experience managing budgets, contracts, and procurement.
• Previous experience in the UAE or Qatar is advantageous.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across teams.
• Highly organised, proactive, and detail-oriented.
• Calm under pressure with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Adaptable and solutions-focused with a continuous improvement mindset.
• High levels of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.

Safeguarding

At Nord Anglia Education, we are committed to providing a world-class, safe, and happy environment in which children and young people thrive and learn. We promote the welfare of all our pupils irrespective of race, ability, religion, gender, or culture. All post holders having regular unsupervised contact with children are subject to appropriate national and international vetting procedures, including satisfactory criminal record checks from both the country of residence/birth and any country of residence within the last 10 years.