Assistant Facilities Manager - Cranleigh Abu Dhabi

Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, in partnership with Aldar Education, is seeking to appoint a proactive and experienced Assistant Facilities Manager with a Bachelors degree in engineering – Mechanical, Electrical or Civil (Mandatory) to support the delivery of high-quality facilities, operations, and support services across the school.

Located on Saadiyat Island, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi is a leading British international school delivering an outstanding education inspired by the heritage and ethos of Cranleigh School in the UK. As part of Aldar Education, the school operates within a values-led, high-performance environment, delivering excellence across education, operations, and community life.

The Assistant Facilities Manager will support the Senior Operations Manager in the effective delivery of facilities management, health & safety, and general services across the school. The role will help ensure that the campus, accommodation, and support services operate to the highest standards, providing a safe, well-maintained, and efficient environment for students, staff, and visitors.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Facilities & General Services

• Support the delivery of facilities and general services across the school, promoting a strong service culture and ensuring efficient deployment of staff and resources.
• Supervise and support on-site facilities and support teams, including Security, Khidmah facilities teams, cleaning, maintenance, and other contracted service providers.
• Ensure school facilities are maintained to high standards of cleanliness, safety, presentation, and operational readiness.
• Act as a day-to-day point of contact for facilities-related matters, escalating issues where required.
• Support the planning and resourcing of school events and activities to ensure facilities and services are in place and operating effectively.

Maintenance & Operations

• Support the coordination of all repairs and maintenance works, including inspections, contractor engagement, and follow-up to ensure work is completed to specification.
• Assist in monitoring the condition and safety of buildings, grounds, and equipment in line with Health & Safety guidance.
• Support daily site checks and ensure issues are logged, tracked, and resolved.
• Assist with monitoring BMS systems and alerts (where applicable).

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Promote a positive and proactive health and safety culture across facilities and support service teams.
• Support compliance with all relevant Health & Safety legislation, Aldar Education policies, and local authority requirements.
• Assist in completing internal and external health, safety, and environmental audits.
• Support contractor HSE monitoring and compliance.

Finance, Procurement & Contracts

• Support the management of facilities-related budgets and expenditure.
• Assist with procurement and purchasing in line with Aldar Education policies and Delegation of Authority (DOA).
• Support contract management to ensure value for money and service delivery standards are met.

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Support the management and coordination of facilities and general services teams.
• Work collaboratively with school leadership, P&C, and Aldar Education HQ.
• Support performance management, training, and development of facilities staff.
• Build strong working relationships with contractors, suppliers, and regulators.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in engineering – Mechanical, Electrical or Civil (Mandatory)
• NEBOSH – Preferred
• Certification in Energy Management or Facilities Management – Preferred

Minimum Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in facilities, operations, or health & safety roles.
• Experience in education, hospitality, or large multi-site environments – desirable.
• Experience supporting school operations – advantageous.
• Experience in Abu Dhabi – desirable.

Job-Specific Knowledge & Skills

• Strong organisational and planning skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and follow-up.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and work under pressure.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Commercial awareness and cost-control mindset.
• Confident working with contractors and service providers.
• High standards of professionalism and integrity.

What We Offer

Aldar Education are a family of world-class, child-centred, and innovative schools based in the UAE.  We educate over 38,000 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. Our future-focused learning model includes both students and staff and so we place a special emphasis on professional development, coaching and training.

Safeguarding & Safer Recruitment

Cranleigh Abu Dhabi and Aldar Education are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to enhanced safer recruitment checks in line with UAE Labour Law, KHDA requirements, and Aldar Education’s Safer Recruitment Framework.

Equal Opportunities

This job description is not all-inclusive. Aldar Education reserves the right to amend this role at any time. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. UAE Nationals are strongly encouraged to apply in line with our national development strategy.