Facilities Manager

Safeguarding Statement

Taaleem is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. At Taaleem, we hold ourselves to a high standard of effective practices in relation to child protection and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We expect all staff to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be subject to various background checks including, receipt of high quality references, proof of relevant qualifications, identification and police checks, including overseas checks.

Job Purpose:

The Facilities Manager is responsible for ensuring that the school campus, buildings, and facilities are maintained to a safe, compliant, and high operational standard. The role provides hands-on leadership in facilities operations, health & safety, compliance, and sustainability, working closely with the Operations Manager, Principal, and Central Office teams. The Facilities Manager ensures the smooth daily running of the school environment, enabling a safe, efficient, and sustainable learning setting.

Key Accountabilities

Staff Management

• Lead the facilities, cleaning, and security teams, setting clear objectives and ensuring performance management and training.
• Collaborate with the Principal, Operations Manager, HOBO, and CO departments to ensure alignment with group policy.
• Maintain strong communication with the school community and parent committee on facilities-related matters.
• Purchasing and Contract Management
• Ensure deliveries are asset tagged in line with Taaleem policy and procedure.
• Lead on the procurement process for facilities management budgets including raising of PO’s and IR’s, in line with the Taaleem procurement policies.

Health and Safety

• Ensure compliance with Taaleem’s H&S policies, authority regulations, and audit requirements.
• Lead the implementation of evacuation plans during emergencies and complete post-drill reports for staff distribution.
• Maintain the school’s OSH incident register and oversee corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure PPE provision for all personnel, including individuals with impaired mobility.
• Verify that contractors submit all safety, compliance, and administrative documentation before commencing work.
• Oversee the daily implementation of the Traffic Control Management Plan and coordinate site safety during events.

Events and excursions

• Conduct pre-departure safety checks for buses used in school trips.
• Support event setup and execution, ensuring facilities-related requirements are met.
• Ensure all documents (such as risk assessments, compliance documents etc.) are collected & documented prior to providing access to vendors during large scale events.

Facilities Management

• Oversee day-to-day campus operations, maintenance, cleaning, and security, ensuring high presentation standards and safety.
• Manage the facilities helpdesk/ticketing system and ensure timely resolution of requests.
• Supervise contractors and internal teams for planned and reactive maintenance, ensuring quality and value for money.
• Monitor the R&M budget and report risks or variances to the Operations Manager.
• Maintain site documentation (drawings, permits, service reports) and ensure readiness for audits.

Compliance

• Ensure all contractors and service providers are pre-qualified, compliant, and approved before work begins.
• Maintain KHDA/ADEK and authority approvals where applicable.
• Oversee compliance documentation for ECA, ASA, and outsourced staff operating on site.
• Support audits (KPMG, ADEK, Civil Defence, KHDA and DM) by maintaining required registers and evidence files.

ESG and energy conservation

• Implement school-level ESG and sustainability initiatives in line with group strategy.
• Monitor energy and water consumption; propose efficiency measures to meet reduction targets.
• Manage waste segregation and recycling initiatives; ensure responsible disposal of obsolete equipment.

Campus Development

• Support the delivery of approved Campus Improvement Plans, ensuring authority approvals and safe execution.
• Coordinate with HOBO, Ops manager and Group facilities manager on long-term asset planning and refurbishment requirements.
• Manage school-based projects during term breaks and ensure all works meet operational and compliance standards.

Shared Services

• Oversee school facilities used by providers for after-school programs.
• Manage compliance documentation for all external providers (bus nannies, canteen staff, ECA/ASA providers, etc.).
• Coordinate allocation of school space for external providers in line with safety and operational requirements.

Person Specification 
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, or related field.

Experience
•    Minimum 3 years’ experience in a Facilities Management or similar role, ideally in an educational institution.
•    Strong knowledge of UAE Health & Safety regulations and authority compliance requirements.
•    Experience managing contractors, maintenance teams, and external providers.

Competencies: 

• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead and supervise multi-disciplinary teams.
• Good financial awareness in managing R&M budgets.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.

Attributes: 

• Organised, detail-oriented, and proactive.
• Capable of leading multi-disciplinary teams and managing emergencies calmly.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Commitment to sustainability, compliance, and continuous improvement.