Head of Operations & Administration

Job Title: Head of Operations & Administration

Date Posted: 18/09/2026

Job Type: Full Time

Job Level: Management

Employer: Granada Schools

Industry: Administration

Salary: Open

Location: Kilifi

Country: Kenya

Deadline: 01/10/2026

• Granada School is seeking an experienced, highly organised and commercially aware professional to join the school as its Founding Head of Operations & Administration.
• This is a key senior leadership role responsible for ensuring that the school’s operational, administrative and support functions are efficient, compliant, well controlled and fully aligned with the school’s educational mission.
• Working closely with the Principal and Senior Leadership Team, the successful candidate will help establish the systems, procedures, service standards and operational culture required to support a high-performing day and boarding school.
• Key

Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership
• Provide strategic day-to-day leadership for the school’s operations and administrative functions.
• Ensure that all non-academic services operate efficiently, safely and in support of the school’s educational objectives.
• Develop and implement operational plans, systems, procedures and service standards across the school.
• Coordinate operational activities across departments and ensure effective communication between academic and support teams.
• Support the Principal and Senior Leadership Team in whole-school planning, budgeting and decision-making.
• Facilities & Estate Management
• Oversee the effective management, maintenance and development of the school’s buildings, grounds, utilities and physical infrastructure.
• Ensure classrooms, laboratories, boarding houses, offices, dining areas, sports facilities and common spaces are maintained to a high standard.
• Develop and manage preventive and corrective maintenance programmes.
• Coordinate contractors, service providers and maintenance teams.
• Ensure facilities are safe, functional, clean and ready for school operations at all times.
• Maintain accurate records of assets, equipment, repairs and maintenance schedules.
• Procurement & Supplier Management
• Lead and coordinate the school’s procurement and purchasing processes.
• Ensure procurement is transparent, competitive, cost-effective and properly documented.
• Manage supplier selection, evaluation, contracts and performance.
• Maintain effective procurement controls, approval processes and records.
• Work with departments to forecast purchasing
• and performance expectations.
• Promote a professional, accountable and service-oriented culture.
• Ensure staffing levels across operational functions are appropriate for the school’s needs.
• ICT & Administrative Systems
• Support the effective implementation and use of school management and administrative systems.
• Work with ICT staff to ensure operational systems are reliable, secure and fit for purpose.
• Promote efficient use of digital tools for procurement, inventory, maintenance, records, reporting and administration.
• Support data accuracy, access controls and appropriate information-management practices.
• Risk Management & Compliance
• Develop and maintain an operational risk register and ensure key risks are identified and managed.
• Ensure operational practices comply with relevant laws, regulations, licences, insurance
• appropriate to the role as assigned by the Principal.
• Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, Operations Management, Finance, Procurement, Human Resource Management,

Requirements

• and ensure timely availability of goods and services.
• Support inventory and stock-control systems across the school.
• Finance & Budgetary Control
• Work closely with the Finance function in preparing operational budgets and expenditure forecasts.
• Monitor departmental expenditure against approved budgets.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and achieve value for money.
• Support financial controls relating to purchasing, contracts, assets and operational expenditure.
• Produce regular operational reports for the Principal and Board as required.
• Administration
• Develop and maintain effective school administrative systems, procedures and records.
• Ensure efficient management of documentation, correspondence, records and administrative workflows.
• Coordinate administrative support across school departments.
• Ensure school policies and procedures are implemented consistently.
• Support the establishment of efficient systems for admissions administration, student records, staff records and general school administration where required.
• Boarding & Residential Operations
• Ensure that operational services supporting the boarding programme are properly coordinated.
• Oversee the operational aspects of boarding houses, catering, housekeeping, laundry, security, transport and maintenance.
• Work closely with the Deputy Principal responsible for Boarding and Welfare to ensure boarding services support high standards of student care.
• Ensure residential facilities are safe, clean, well maintained and appropriately resourced.
• Catering, Housekeeping & Support Services
• Oversee the quality and performance of catering, cleaning, housekeeping, laundry and related services.
• Ensure food-service operations meet appropriate hygiene, safety and quality requirements.
• Monitor outsourced and in-house service providers and address service deficiencies promptly.
• Security, Health & Safety
• Lead operational arrangements relating to site security, access control, emergency preparedness and health and safety.
• Ensure appropriate security procedures are in place for students, staff, visitors, vehicles and school property.
• Coordinate emergency-response procedures, drills and risk assessments.
• Ensure compliance with relevant occupational health and safety requirements.
• Work closely with school leadership on safeguarding-related operational risks.
• Transport & Logistics
• Oversee school transport and logistics operations, including school vehicles, student transport and operational deliveries.
• Ensure vehicles are appropriately maintained, licensed, insured and operated safely.
• Develop appropriate transport procedures, schedules and controls.
• Monitor transport providers and ensure high standards of safety and reliability.
• Human Resources & Staff Management
• Lead, supervise and support relevant administrative and operational staff.
• Participate in recruitment, induction, performance management and professional development of support staff.
• Establish clear roles,
• and school policies.
• Maintain required operational permits, contracts, inspection records and compliance documentation.
• Support audits, inspections and regulatory reviews.
• Ensure appropriate business-continuity and emergency-response plans are in place.
• Projects & School Development
• Coordinate operational aspects of construction, fit-out, renovation and campus-development projects.
• Work with consultants, contractors and suppliers to ensure projects are delivered to agreed standards, timelines and budgets.
• Support the commissioning and opening of new facilities.
• Ensure operational readiness ahead of major school events, openings and expansion phases.
• School Leadership
• Serve as a member of the School Leadership Team and contribute to whole-school strategy and planning.
• Provide operational advice and recommendations to the Principal and Board.
• Prepare regular reports on operations, facilities, projects, budgets, risks and service performance.
• Support the establishment of Granada School’s systems, standards and operational culture from the foundation stage.
• Undertake other
• relevant to school operations.
• Strong competence in ICT, management information systems, spreadsheets, reporting and digital administrative systems.
• Knowledge of operations within a boarding-school environment will be highly desirable.
• relevant to school operations, including occupational health and safety, employment, procurement, data protection and statutory compliance.

Education

• Management or a related field from a recognised university.
• A relevant Master’s degree in Business Administration, Management, Operations, Finance, Educational Leadership or a related field will be an added advantage.
• Compliance & Finance
• Strong knowledge of school administration, facilities management, procurement, budgeting, compliance and operational planning.
• Good understanding of Kenyan employment, health and safety, procurement, data protection and other regulatory

Experience

• A minimum of 8 years’ relevant professional experience, including at least 3 years in a senior operations, administration, facilities or management role.
• Proven
• managing multi-functional operational teams and coordinating services across different departments.
• in budget preparation, expenditure control, procurement, supplier management and contract administration.
• Demonstrable
• in facilities, maintenance, security, transport, catering, housekeeping or other support services.
• developing and implementing operational systems, procedures, policies and controls.
• Strong
• in project coordination, planning, reporting and performance monitoring.
• in a school, university, hospital, hospitality, corporate campus or similarly complex institution will be an added advantage.
• supporting the opening, expansion or establishment of a new institution or facility will be particularly valuable.
• Compliance & Finance Strong understanding of Kenyan regulatory
• in budget preparation, expenditure monitoring, cost control and financial planning.
• Ability to manage procurement, supplier contracts and service agreements while ensuring value for money and proper controls.
• Strong understanding of internal controls, audit requirements, asset management and accountability procedures.
• Ability to maintain appropriate licences, permits, insurance, inspection records and compliance documentation.
• in risk management, business continuity, emergency preparedness and operational reporting.
• Ability to work closely with the Finance function, Principal and Board in monitoring operational expenditure and preparing management reports.
• Personal Qualities
• High levels of integrity, professionalism, discretion and accountability.
• Strong leadership, organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.
• A practical, organised and solutions-focused approach to operational challenges.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and remain effective in a fast-paced and evolving school environment.
• Strong attention to detail while maintaining a clear understanding of wider organisational priorities.
• Ability to lead, motivate and hold operational and administrative teams accountable for high standards.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective relationships with staff, parents, suppliers, contractors and external stakeholders.
• Sound judgement and the confidence to make timely operational decisions.
• A strong service-oriented mindset, with a commitment to ensuring that school operations support excellent teaching, learning and student wellbeing.
• Resilience, flexibility and adaptability, particularly within the founding and growth stages of a new school.