Head – Operational Risk & Security

Aldar Education is currently seeking an inspirational Head – Operational Risk & Security. As a key member of the HQ senior operations team, the Head – Operational Risk & Security will oversee an effective coaching and support focussed function to the business in relation to Operational Risk, Safety, Environmental Management, Student Travel, Security Services and Sustainability, and be the key point of contact for employees, current, and new, in relation to Operational Risk matters.

Aldar Education is the leading education group in Abu Dhabi, we provide inclusive and innovative learning that inspires and empowers communities, Aldar Education aims to be your employer of choice. We educate over 34,000 students across our group of owned and managed schools in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and as we grow so does our need for highly skilled, inspirational, and dedicated school leaders and employees across the group.

Working collaboratively, our purpose is to empower the next generation to shape our future, directly supporting the educational goals of Abu Dhabi’s government. Today, Aldar Education’s efforts are guided by the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 plan, which aims to build a sustainable knowledge-based economy through premium education.

We are a “Great Place To Work” and currently employ over 1,400 teachers to deliver the English National Curriculum, the highly regarded American Massachusetts State Curriculum and the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme all with an international dimension.

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.

Main Duties    
•    Be the primary point of contact for all school staff on Operational Risk, Safety, Student Travel, Security Services and Sustainability, including services, legal and legislation, standards, implementation, applicable policies and guidelines.
•    Support ELT and SLT, both upward and downward, in the effective management of Operational Risk for group staff.
•    Manage the AVA management system, providing reports and dashboards for all relevant stakeholders.
•    Coordinate and manage internal training in co-ordination with ATA and external stakeholders.
•    Manage the internal monitoring, document control and review of our Safety Management System, in line with ISO45001, including risk assessment and execution of controls.
•    Manage the internal monitoring, document control and review of our Environmental Management System, in line with ISO14001, including waste stream mapping and sustainability monitoring.
•    Oversee the continual development and adherence to the group Critical Incident Response Protocols.
•    Lead the student travel portfolio with appointed providers, ensuring students benefit from expeditions with impact.
•    Foster a culture of ‘no hurt, no harm’, through an open coaching mentality, focused on supporting dialogue and a no blame mentality.

Specific Duties    
Health, Safety & Environment 
•    To lead and be accountable for the annual school review process, auditing each school annually.

•    To act as the responsible person for Group HSE effectiveness and ensure the Group complies with current Health & Safety legislation and/or guidelines as issued by Aldar Education HQ advising the OSM team accordingly.
•    To drive a positive and proactive health and safety culture throughout their teams and act as a champion for health and safety.
•    To support the Manager of Occupational Health & Group Clinics across all relevant activities
•    To lead on the recruitment and CPD for our Sustainability champions.
•    To support the Operations team in establishing groupwide 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 coordinated 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
•    To support the effective delivery of a health and safety committee within the school, which meets on a monthly basis.

Security & Risk Assessment
•    Own and be accountable for the deployment of the Secuirty contratcs across the group.

•    To undertake security risk assessments for schools supporting OSMs in establishing site specific lockdown and fire evacuation procedures.
•    Oversee and continuingly review adherence to the Critical Incident Response Protocols for the group ensuring that relevant scenarios are updated and maintained in line with new incidents and learnings.
•    Ensure all security 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.

Student Travel & Expeditions
•    To lead the student travel and expeditions strategy for the group, increasing student participation in expeditions with impact and ensuring that all travel meets the group wide sustainability goals.
•    To undertake and review approved travel providers travel risk assessments, supporting schools in ensuring the standards of the trip meet Aldar Education safety standards.
•    Ensure schools adhere to the approved providers portfolio for international travel and that the benefits of the portfolio are understood and accepted by school leaders.

Leadership & Management
•    Support the Operational Group Heads and OSM’s to ensure high standards of service are maintained throughout the School and that both internal and external employees provide an effective service culture.
•    Professionally offering challenge and fact led opinion on decision making in relation to risk mitigation, for the benefit of the wider Aldar Education group.
•    To conduct relevant group training sessions (including leading specialist training sessions for ATA) in relation to specialist areas with OSMs and FSOs as required.

Finance, Commercial & Procurement
•    Coordinate with school based OSMs on OPEX/CAPEX requirements to support the Group Head Operational Risk & Safety.
•    To develop and track relevant OPEX/CAPEX budgets and expenditure and ensure the school always receives best value and service in relation to operations and safety standards.
•    To review opportunities for shared resource, cost and/or services across partner schools to ensure that the schools benefit from improved access to service teams and physical resources (i.e., security etc).
•    Ensure purchasing policy and the Delegation of Authority (DOA) processes and procedures are followed at all times.
•    Oversee the collection and reporting of student travel commissions to support Group Head – General Services.

Relationship & Stakeholder Management 
•    Support schools in ensuring that service providers 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.
•    Manage reporting and status update reviews from department leads for the Director of Operations as requested.

Minimum Qualifications    
•    Minimum diploma / degree of higher education; or
•    Related industry qualification, of graduate level, for the assigned functional area(s).
•    Recognised OSH / Security Qualification and/or professional subscription (eg IOSH) desirable

Minimum Experience    
•    Minimum 2 years in OSH or Security management in any industry; or
•    Education industry experience preferable

Job Specific Knowledge & Skills    
•    A coaching and supporting leadership style
•    Sound working knowledge of OSH standards across UK or USA (OSHA)
•    Competent using IT systems, including Microsoft Word/Excel/Outlook.
•    Strong organizational and prioritisation skills.
•    Fluent English communication skills, written and oral (Arabic proficiency is desirable)
•    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.
•    Excellent interpersonal skills.

What We Offer

Aldar Education is a family of world-class, child centered, and innovative schools based in the UAE. We educate over 34,000 students across our group of owned and managed schools and as we grow so does our need for highly skilled, inspirational, and dedicated school leaders. We offer an attractive remuneration package including medical cover, flights, housing, and free child school places. Our future-focused learning model includes both students and staff so we place a special emphasis on professional development, coaching and training.

Successful candidates will have access to a wide network of professionals and opportunities to both lead and contribute to training others as well as developing themselves.

Aldar Education is keen to hear from like-minded, forward thinking school leaders who would welcome the challenges and opportunities that we have to offer.

This job description is not all inclusive. Aldar Education reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are also mindful of our national development strategy and encourage UAE Nationals in their application at our company.

Aldar Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and police clearance.