The Role

Reports to:

The COO reports operationally to the Director of Schools and is accountable to the Board of Governors on matters of strategic oversight, compliance and financial stewardship.

Job Purpose

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key leadership position at the school, in ensuring the efficient and effective day-to-day and long-term operational management of the school, and in full compliance with local and international standards. The role involves leading strategic planning, resource management, infrastructure, compliance, and operational execution to support a high-quality educational environment.

Reporting to the Board of Governors and the Director of Schools, the COO is responsible for all non-academic functions and works in close partnership with the Director of Schools and the Executive Leadership to support the school’s strategic goals. The COO is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and plays a central role in strategic planning and operational execution.

The COO leads various operational areas including Finance, Procurement, Marketing and Communications Facilities, IT/Data, HR, Admissions, Health and Safety, risk management, and compliance, ensuring efficiency and legal adherence.

The COO, in partnership with the Director of Finance, is also responsible for maintaining and strengthening the school’s financial position through planning, budgeting, and focused communication with all stakeholders.

The COO will ensure that positive relationships are maintained with the Saudi Arabian Ministries and authorities, the British Embassy and the school’s landlords.

Key Expectations

BISR Staff are committed to:

The BISR mission, vision, values and all associated school policies
Contributing to and developing their own practice in relation to our three strategic pillars: learning, enrichment and well-being
Developing and maintaining relationships with Students, Staff and Parents
Contributing to the development of BISR as ‘one school’ in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Valuing Diversity and inclusion.
Demonstrating values-led leadership, with a focus on fostering collaboration, staff morale, and high professional standards across operational teams.

Strategic and Operational Leadership

Work closely with the Board of Governors, Director of Schools, and Executive Leadership to develop and execute the school’s strategic plan, educational vision, growth plans, and sustainability goals.
Act as a key advisor on operational strategy, risk, and compliance, providing insights and recommendations to the Board, Director, and Executive Leadership.
Collaborate to drive continuous improvement, operational excellence, and effective risk management across all school operations.
Lead strategic projects, including capital works, digital transformation, and policy development, ensuring successful implementation and alignment with school objectives.
Develop and lead the implementation of operational strategies and departmental strategic plans, translating school priorities into actionable objectives.
Monitor progress against strategic and operational targets, adjusting priorities and resources as needed to drive continuous improvement and high performance.
Advocate a culture of accountability, efficiency, and collaboration across all operational departments.
Develop and implement internal service-level agreements (SLAs) to ensure operational functions meet the needs of academic and pastoral teams.
Actively contribute to the Executive Leadership Team and relevant Board subcommittees, such as Finance, HR, Operations and Safeguarding.
Explore and manage opportunities for income generation, including commercial use of school facilities, aligned with the school’s mission.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Financial Management

Lead on cross-functional initiatives that enhance the school’s financial sustainability, operational resilience, and overall student experience.
Oversee the school’s financial strategy, budgeting, reporting, and forecasting in partnership with the Director of Finance (CFO), ensuring financial health and sustainability.
The CFO reports to the COO, with a dotted line to the Board of Governors for audit matters. The COO ensures strategic alignment of finance with overall operations.
Ensure financial controls and compliance with both internal policies and Saudi regulations, including Ministry of Finance requirements.
Support revenue growth through cost control, commercial ventures, and optimising school resources, identifying opportunities for financial efficiency.
Deliver regular, comprehensive financial updates and reports to the Board of Governors and Executive Leadership, ensuring full transparency and proactive communication regarding budget status, including any potential or actual overruns.
Explore and manage opportunities for income generation, including commercial use of school facilities, aligned with the school’s mission.

Governance and Compliance

Ensure full compliance with all regulatory requirements, including Ministry of Education, Labor, GOSI, Civil Defence, and other relevant Saudi Arabian authorities.
Maintain up-to-date and fit-for-purpose operational policies, authority matrix, procedures, and risk registers, ensuring legal and regulatory adherence.
Ensure that the school has robust, audit-ready, and internal control processes, conducting regular audits and reviews.
Oversee and manage all legal case management, including establishing tracking systems for legal matters, coordinating with and managing external legal counsel, ensuring timely and effective resolution, and maintaining rigorous cost management.
Is responsible for informing the Board of Governors of any risks and compliance issues to ensure timely resolutions and must be transparent with all issues.
Establish and oversee a clear escalation process for legal and compliance issues, including reporting to the Board of Governors before any significant decisions or actions are taken.
Stay informed about changes in regulations and best practices, updating policies and procedures accordingly.
Manage relationships with regulatory bodies and authorities, ensuring effective communication and compliance.
Oversee governance, risk management, and quality assurance for all strategic and capital project.
Act as custodian of the school’s RACI framework for compliance and risk, ensuring roles are clearly defined and accountability upheld.

Facilities and Infrastructure

Oversee the operation, maintenance, and development of the school’s physical campuses to ensure safety, functionality, presentation appeal, and optimal learning environments.
Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and capital projects, ensuring alignment with the school’s strategic development plans and budgetary constraints.
Ensure that health and safety policies and practices meet or exceed both local Saudi regulations and international best practices. Develop and implement a strategic approach to health and safety, supported by a robust policy framework and procedures. Provide regular assurance to the Board of Governors that health and safety performance is effectively monitored and that key risks are mitigated through the development and use of performance indicators, audits, and ongoing risk assessments.
Develop and implement a comprehensive facilities management plan, including preventative maintenance schedules and emergency response protocols.
Oversee space allocation and utilisation, optimising the use of school facilities to meet current and future needs.
Manage sustainability initiatives related to facilities and infrastructure, including energy efficiency and waste management.
Develop and implement a comprehensive security strategy and operational framework, ensuring the effective management of all security personnel, systems, and protocols. Oversee the proactive safeguarding of students, staff, visitors, and school assets, aligning all security practices with the school’s broader risk management plan and strategic priorities.
Lead the planning and execution of facility upgrades and renovations, minimising disruption to school operations.
Coordinate efficient use of school buildings and explore appropriate letting options that support income generation.
Oversee procurement and vendor selection processes for key outsourced services, ensuring cost-effectiveness and contract compliance.