Chief Operating Officer (COO) – School Group Operations
Skills
About This Role
Join the International Community Schools (ICS) Group
International Community Schools (ICS) is a leading educational group with multiple branches delivering high-quality international education.
We are seeking an experienced, visionary, and results-driven
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
to oversee and enhance the operational excellence of our schools.
The COO will play a key leadership role in ensuring smooth day-to-day operations across all branches while supporting the strategic growth and long-term success of the organization.
International Community Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
All appointments are subject to satisfactory references and the receipt of police clearance.
We strongly encourage UAE Nationals to apply.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and oversee the overall operations of all school branches within the group
- Ensure operational efficiency, compliance, and consistency across academic and administrative functions
- Work closely with the CEO and senior leadership team to implement strategic initiatives and organizational goals
- Monitor and improve operational processes, policies, and systems
- Supervise and coordinate departments including Administration, HR, IT, Procurement, Facilities, Transportation, and School Operations
- Ensure compliance with ADEK regulations, policies, and educational standards
- Develop and implement performance metrics and operational KPIs
- Support school leaders in achieving operational and organizational excellence
- Manage budgets, resource allocation, and operational planning
- Lead large-scale projects, school expansions, technology initiatives, and process improvements
- Drive innovation, digital transformation, and operational modernization across the group
- Strengthen communication and collaboration between branches and headquarters
- Ensure high standards of health, safety, security, and risk management across all campuses
Additional Key Responsibilities
- Provide leadership, direction, and operational oversight to the HR, Procurement, Admissions, IT, Media, and Marketing departments across the group.
- Develop and implement strategic plans, departmental goals, and operational initiatives in collaboration with the senior management team to support organizational growth and excellence.
- Identify opportunities for process optimization, standardization, and automation across operational departments, implementing effective strategies to streamline workflows, improve productivity, and enhance overall organizational performance.
- Foster strong cross-departmental collaboration and communication to ensure seamless operations, efficient information sharing, and effective problem-solving while promoting a positive work culture and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Allocate and manage resources, including budgets, personnel, and technology, to support the operational needs of each department, ensuring optimal utilization and adherence to the financial guidelines.
Requirements
- Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Educational Leadership, Management, or related field
- Minimum 10–15 years of senior leadership or operational management experience
- Experience within the education sector or multi-site organizations is highly preferred
- Strong understanding of school operations, compliance, and organizational management
- Excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills
- Proven ability to manage large teams and multiple branches
- Strong analytical, strategic planning, and problem-solving abilities
- Experience in ERP systems, digital transformation, and operational optimization is an advantage
- Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
Preferred Qualities
- Visionary and strategic mindset
- Strong people management and leadership skills
- High level of professionalism and integrity
- Ability to lead organizational change and continuous improvement
- Strong stakeholder management and communication abilities
What We Offer
- Competitive salary package
- Professional and collaborative work environment
- Opportunity to lead operations for a growing educational group
- Career growth and leadership opportunities
- Dynamic and innovative educational environment
Your resume, rewritten
for this exact role.
Sign up free — Base Career tailors your CV to this job description in 60 seconds.
01 / 05
Resume Tailored to This Job

Your keywords, structure, and story — rewritten to match this exact role and pass ATS filters.
Free · No card · 60 seconds
02 / 05
Cover Letter for This Role, Done

Job-specific cover letters written in Gulf professional tone — ready in seconds, not hours.
Free · No card · 60 seconds
03 / 05
See How Well You Fit This Role

AI match score with clear reasons — know your fit before investing time in the application.
Free · No card · 60 seconds
04 / 05
Apply in One Click

Autofill any application form on Workday, LinkedIn, Bayt, Greenhouse — with your tailored content.
Free · No card · 60 seconds
05 / 05
Track It. Follow Up at the Right Time.

Visual pipeline for every application with AI-timed follow-up reminders so nothing slips.
Free · No card · 60 seconds
Similar Jobs
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
International Community School - City Centre Campus · Abu Dhabi
Oversee operations, ensure compliance, and drive strategic initiatives in educational institutions, requiring strong leadership, management skills, and operational optimization ...
Skills
Chief Operating Officer
Confidential · Dubai
We are looking for an Chief Operating Officer for a medical distribution business, drives operational efficiency, supply chain optimization, and regulatory compliance to support sales growth and market expansion. They ty
Skills
Chief Operating Officer
ACCEL HUMAN RESOURCE CONSULTANTS · Dubai
A multinational investment and commodities group with operations across the United Arab Emirates, West Africa, the UK, and emerging global markets is seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer to lead the next phase
Skills
Group Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Dubai UAE
Confidential Company · Dubai
Lead group-wide operations in B2B commodities trading, ensuring alignment, efficiency, and growth while managing teams and driving performance.
Skills
Chief Operating Officer (COO) — Real Estate | Dubai
Bluebell Connect — Real Asset Economy & Strategic Capital Infrastructure · Dubai
Chief Operating Officer (COO) — Real Estate | Dubai Bluebell Connect Dubai, UAE | Foundational C-Suite Leadership Role Bluebell Connect is building a next-generation real-asset economy and strategic capital infrastructur
Skills
Chief Operating & Growth Officer (Fragrances)
Beverly Hills Polo Club Lifestyle Global · Dubai
**Position:Chief Operating & Growth Officer (Fragrances) Location: UAE / Regional (Multi-Market Responsibility) Category: Perfumes & Fragrances Brand: Beverly Hills Polo Club About the Organization: Beverly Hills Polo Cl
Skills
Chief Operating Officer
Lobo Management · Dubai
Chief Operations Officer Our client is a local business group and is seeking to recruit a Chief Operations Officer, blending the internal financial discipline of a CFO with the external capital deployment of an Investmen
Skills
Chief Operating Officer - Dubai
OKX · Dubai
Who We Are At OKX, we believe that the future will be reshaped by crypto, and ultimately contribute to every individual's freedom. OKX is a leading crypto exchange, and the developer of OKX Wallet, giving millions access
Skills
Chief Operating Officer
Royal Carpenter Services And Installation Services · Abu Dhabi
About Us: Royal Carpenter Services and Installation Services is a premium provider of custom carpentry and professional installation solutions. We pride ourselves on craftsmanship, reliability, and client satisfaction. A
Skills
Professionals hired via Base Career
“I kept getting rejections from London. Base Career rewrote my CV for Dubai, and I landed Emirates in 3 weeks.”
Sarah M. · Marketing Manager
🇬🇧 UK → 🇦🇪 Dubai
“50 applications in Canada, zero replies. Base Career tailored my resume for Riyadh and I got 4 interviews within a month.”
James T. · Software Engineer
🇨🇦 Canada → 🇸🇦 Riyadh
“The cover letters matched Gulf tone immediately. I got hired by a semi-government team in Doha on my first round.”
Maya R. · Product Manager
🇺🇸 USA → 🇶🇦 Doha
“As an expat I had no idea how Gulf CVs work. Base Career nailed it. Offer from a Big 4 in Abu Dhabi in 6 weeks.”
Priya K. · Finance Analyst
🇮🇳 India → 🇦🇪 Abu Dhabi
2.2K+
Cover Letters & Follow-ups
1.8K+
Resumes Tailored
190.5K+
Jobs Tracked
Trusted by professionals at
Stop applying blindly.
Start getting hired.
Base Career automates the hardest parts of job searching — apply smarter, not harder.
AI Resume in 60s
Your resume rewritten for this exact role using the job description as the brief.
ATS-Optimized
Get past automated screening filters with the right keywords matched to each job.
Application Tracker
Track every job, follow-up, and interview in one visual kanban board.
Free plan · No credit card required