Head of Operations

Overview

Application Deadline: 15 MAY 2026

Person Profile

• The Head of Operations is a senior leadership role responsible for leading all non-academic functions of the school, ensuring smooth, effective operations, regulatory compliance, and a supportive environment for staff and the wider ISL Qatar community.
• The Head of Operations should be a caring, inspirational, adaptable, and innovative leader.
• They should be an outstanding motivator, administrator, and communicator with excellent interpersonal skills.
• A key competency is to be a collaborative team member who values collective ability over traditional hierarchies, while nurturing the professional learning and growth of all non-academic and operational staff.
• The successful candidate will play a major role in the Senior Leadership Team, providing high-level strategic advisory input to the Head of School and contributing to whole-school direction.
• They will have a diverse range of qualities and competencies, with a proven track record of leading operational departments in complex international environments.
• **Qualifications**.
• Master’s degree in Business and/ or Operations Management, Leadership, Finance, or a related field from a recognised international university
• 8–10 years of progressive leadership experience, preferably within an international school or comparable international environment (experience in the Middle East is an advantage)
• Fluent spoken and written English; strong ability in Arabic is a significant asset
• **Knowledge and Skills**.
• He/She should:
• be aligned with the ISL Qatar values of integrity, belonging, grit, and kindness
• possess excellent communication, collaborative, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively across cultures and with diverse stakeholders
• have a record of achievement in senior operational leadership, preferably with experience in the international education sector
• be able to lead, manage, and develop an expanding school and build strong team spirit across non-academic departments
• have extensive experience running one or more non-academic/operational departments including, but not limited to, Advancement, Admissions, Human Resources, Finance, Facilities, Procurement, Transportation, Canteen, IT, and Office Support in international schools, applying best practices
• have experience implementing major projects and leading collaborative change in international organisations
• be innovative and creative in applying current research on how staff learn and develop best
• demonstrate cultural sensitivity and the ability to navigate and respect diverse cultural norms and practices in an international context
• have strong crisis management skills, including the ability to develop and implement response plans and maintain operational continuity during emergencies
• demonstrate commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, including leading initiatives that reduce the school’s environmental footprint
• have an innovative and creative approach to international leadership, based on current best practice
• **Responsibilities**.
• He/She will be responsible for:

Strategic Leadership & SLT Contribution

• fostering the values, dispositions, behaviours, attitudes, and attributes of the ISL Qatar guiding statements and the IB learner profile
• serving as a core member of the Senior Leadership Team, providing strategic counsel to the Head of School on all operational planning, resource allocation, and risk mitigation
• developing, implementing, and monitoring the long-term operational strategy, ensuring resource deployment aligns with the school’s educational vision and financial sustainability objectives
• developing and articulating clear goals for all operational departments, aligned to the school’s strategic plan, and communicating these consistently to operational teams
• actively strengthening the relationship between the academic and operational sides of the school, working jointly with academic leaders to anticipate and deliver the operational support needed for the educational programme
• managing change processes effectively, leading operational teams through transitions and dealing constructively with ambiguity, ensuring continuity of service during periods of change
• designing, developing, implementing, and reviewing various administrative policies, documents, and strategic plans in conjunction with the Head of School
• ensuring alignment with the school’s strategic goals and contributing to the development of initiatives that enhance operational efficiency, resource management, and overall school growth
• driving a culture of continuous improvement, efficiency, and innovation across all support services, using data and performance indicators to benchmark service delivery
• employing effective processes for gathering, analysing, and using data to inform operational decision-making, consistent with the school's strategic goals
• identifying, analysing, and resolving operational issues using structured problem-solving approaches, ensuring a positive and productive working environment
• building an environment of trust through transparent communication about decisions, processes, and how they are made, across all operational departments
• ensuring robust governance and compliance frameworks are embedded throughout all operational departments
• contributing to Senior Leadership Team and Whole School Leadership meetings
• maintaining and ensuring confidentiality throughout all processes and communications

Staff Leadership, Learning & Development

• ensuring that purposeful professional learning and development opportunities are offered for culturally diverse non-academic staff, with varied learning needs, aligned with whole-school procedures and policies
• leading the development and implementation of professional development plans that build the proficiency, efficiency, and confidence of the administrative and operational team
• overseeing recruitment best practices for non-academic roles, including the use of structured interview protocols, consistent selection criteria, and approaches that attract high-quality candidates
• implementing staff retention strategies, including regular stay conversations with key operational staff, to understand engagement and respond proactively to retention risks
• maintaining up-to-date knowledge of best practices in recruitment, onboarding, transition, and induction, and applying these to ensure non-academic staff are well supported from day one
• creating a culture of support for new and novice administrative staff, providing opportunities for them to demonstrate their expertise and grow into leadership responsibilities
• fostering a culture of innovation and encouraged risk-taking across all non-academic teams, modelling behaviours others are encouraged to adopt
• convening regular meetings with administrative staff to ensure alignment between departments, creating learning opportunities, and fostering a sense of belonging
• holding regular termly review meetings with admin staff and leaders to evaluate the effectiveness of the administration department
• overseeing and governing the full performance management and professional growth and evaluation cycle for all non-academic operational staff and department heads, ensuring evaluations are conducted consistently, fairly, and in alignment with school-wide HR processes and timelines
• monitoring, developing, and implementing a structured evaluation framework for all non-academic operational staff, using performance data to inform professional development planning and staffing decisions
• reviewing and assessing the reporting systems for non-academic operational staff in collaboration with the Head of School, ensuring alignment with HR processes and structures.

Finance & Budgetary Oversight

• in conjunction with the Head of Finance, overseeing the budget process for administration and school operations, including ordering, maintenance, inventory, record-keeping, and advice on resources, equipment, publications, furniture, hardware, software, and facilities
• overseeing the preparation, management, and monitoring of the annual operational budget (including capital expenditure), ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with strategic priorities
• providing leadership and governance for procurement, contract management, and vendor relations, ensuring value for money and adherence to financial policies
• reviewing, developing, and negotiating all administrative employment and operational contracts, ensuring compliance with school policies and Qatari laws
• in conjunction with HR and Finance, overseeing, reviewing, and renewing all school insurance policies, including health and premises insurance, ensuring coverage is adequate and compliant with local regulations

Human Resources

• providing strategic oversight for the HR function, ensuring administrative processes are efficient, compliant with Qatari Labour Law, and support the overall staffing needs of the school
• ensuring HR policies and procedures support a professional, ethical, and compliant working environment, liaising with regulatory bodies as required
• ensuring the human resources and administration sections of the school handbooks are kept current

Admissions, Advancement & Marketing

• providing executive leadership to the Admissions team, ensuring streamlined, compliant, and efficient student enrolment, transfer, and withdrawal processes
• collaborating strategically with the Marketing and Advancement functions to ensure strong operational delivery enhances the school’s reputation and supports enrolment and community goals
• ensuring operational readiness — facilities, staffing support — for all marketing events, school tours, and official publications.
• Facilities, Safety, Security, Canteen & First Aid Unit
• leading the strategic management and maintenance of all school premises, grounds, infrastructure, and assets through the Head of Facilities, who reports directly to the Head of Operations and holds day-to-day operational accountability for these areas
• establishing, monitoring, and enforcing comprehensive Health, Safety, and Security policies and protocols, ensuring strict adherence to Qatari safety standards, emergency preparedness, and business continuity planning
• governing the school cafeteria/canteen operation through the Head of Facilities; the Head of Operations sets standards, monitors compliance, and holds strategic accountability, while day-to-day management of canteen is the direct responsibility of the Head of Facilities
• governing the School First Aid Unit, holding overall accountability for its compliance with public health regulations, appropriate staffing levels, medical inventory management, and the timely delivery of high-quality care to students and staff; operational oversight of the first aid unit sits within the Head of Operations’ direct line of responsibility.

IT & Systems

• overseeing the IT department to ensure that the school’s digital infrastructure (non- academic), systems, and tools support operational efficiency, data security, and the wider educational programme
• using technology effectively for administrative and operational tasks, ensuring digital tools are appropriately adopted across non-academic departments to enhance efficiency and accountability
• collaborating with the Director of Learning, Analytics and Innovation to ensure operational professional learning is comprehensive, data-informed, and enhances the efficiency of school operations
• maintaining an ongoing and productive connection between administration and faculty, ensuring operational decisions are clearly communicated and faculty needs are factored into operational planning
• fostering collective efficacy and shared accountability among administrative staff, building a team culture where operational outcomes are owned collectively and improvements are pursued together
• exploring relevant standards and benchmarks, locally and internationally, to introduce best practices into the school’s operational context.

Liaison with Qatar Government Authorities

• supervising the operational liaisons of the relevant Qatar Government Authorities, including the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE)
• ensuring the timely submission, renewal, and maintenance of all necessary operational licences, permits, and regulatory documentation required for the school to function legally
• overseeing communications and negotiations with governmental departments regarding operational compliance, inspections, and official directives

Family, Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• overseeing the efficiency and professionalism of Front Office operations, ensuring it functions as a high-quality first point of contact for all incoming inquiries
• disseminating information to parents and stakeholders in a timely manner through multiple communication channels, maintaining open and accessible lines of communication at all times
• communicating a positive image of the school, acting as a proud ambassador for ISL Qatar in all professional interactions, and speaking positively about students, colleagues, parents, and the wider ISL Qatar community
• showing sensitivity, cultural competency, respect, care, and warmth in all communications with parents and community members, modelling strong human relations skills
• managing the process for non-academic coordination with parents, ensuring clarity, responsiveness, and professionalism in addressing inquiries related to billing, facility usage, transportation, and general administrative support
• understanding, promoting, and developing the interrelationship between school operations and community programmes, ensuring operational decisions support school-wide community goals
• **Key Competencies**.
• Strategic Acumen: ability to translate the school’s vision into executable, measurable operational plans
• Financial Stewardship: proven track record of prudent financial planning, budget management, and cost optimisation
• Regulatory Expertise: deep understanding of organisational compliance, risk management, and contingency planning within a Qatari context
• Leadership & Influence: capacity to lead, mentor, and hold accountable diverse departmental managers across the SLT
• Communication & Diplomacy: superior interpersonal skills for effective negotiation with government entities, transparent reporting to the Head of School, and professional engagement with parents and the wider community
• Cultural Sensitivity: ability to navigate and respect diverse cultural norms within an international school environment
• Crisis Management: demonstrated ability to lead operational response during emergencies and maintain continuity
• Integrity & Professionalism: unwavering commitment to ethical standards and confidentiality across sensitive operational areas

Children Safeguarding and Welfare

Education