Associate Manager

Job Description
Aldar Education is the leading education group in Abu Dhabi. We provide inclusive and innovative learning that inspires and empowers communities. Aldar Education aims to be your employer of choice. We educate over 34,000 students across our group of owned and managed schools in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and as we grow, so does our need for highly skilled, inspirational, and dedicated school leaders and employees across the group.

Working collaboratively, our purpose is to empower the next generation to shape our future, directly supporting the educational goals of Abu Dhabi's government. Today, Aldar Education's efforts are guided by the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 plan, which aims to build a sustainable knowledge-based economy through premium education.

We are a "Great Place To Work" and currently employ over 1,400 teachers to deliver the English National Curriculum, the highly regarded American Massachusetts State Curriculum, and the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, all with an international dimension.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the highly successful Aldar family of schools and to help shape the future of Abu Dhabi's leading school group.

Responsibilities
Main Duties

• Develop and own brand and marketing strategies for assigned schools or portfolios, aligned with business and enrolment objectives
• Lead the delivery of integrated marketing programmes from strategy through execution and optimisation
• Act as a senior marketing partner to principals and school leadership, shaping marketing direction and priorities
• Lead the localisation, implementation, and rollout of HQ-led brand, marketing, and communications initiatives across schools
• Ensure consistent application of brand strategy, messaging, and visual identity across all school touchpoints
• Provide strategic leadership in campaign planning, prioritisation, and optimisation
• Drive marketing excellence, governance, and delivery standards across all assigned activity

Specific Duties

• Develop annual and term-based marketing strategies and plans aligned with enrolment targets, portfolio priorities, and HQ direction
• Translate HQ-led strategies, campaigns, and frameworks into clear school-level plans and execution roadmaps
• Lead campaign strategy, planning, and execution across digital, owned, events, partnerships, and community engagement channels
• Act as the primary marketing lead for school-level rollout of corporate initiatives, launches, and brand programmes
• Brief and align principals, PREs, and operational teams on HQ initiatives, ensuring clarity, readiness, and consistency
• Oversee the development and rollout of marketing assets, content, and collateral in line with brand and governance frameworks
• Lead school-level brand activation and positioning initiatives, ensuring strong on-ground and digital presence
• Partner with social media, digital and communications teams to ensure integrated messaging, performance alignment, and delivery
• Monitor campaign and rollout effectiveness, interpret insights, and drive optimisation recommendations
• Lead marketing support for open days, enrolment drives, launches, and key school milestones
• Identify opportunities to strengthen brand visibility, reputation, and community engagement at both the school and portfolio level

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related discipline
• Professional marketing certifications are desirable

Minimum Experience

• 6–8+ years' experience in brand, marketing, or integrated strategy roles
• Proven experience in developing and owning marketing strategies and execution plans
• Demonstrated experience rolling out central or HQ-led initiatives across multiple locations or brands
• Strong track record leading integrated campaigns end-to-end
• Experience partnering with senior stakeholders and operational leadership
• Experience operating in multi-brand, portfolio, or complex organisational environments
• Experience within education or premium service-led sectors is preferred

Job Specific Knowledge & Skill

• Excellent English language skills, written and oral
• Work in a highly collaborative and effective manner, both independently and in cross-functional teams
• Very good at establishing professional relationships within and across company
• Ability to roll up sleeves and get things done through taking calculated risks and experimenting with new solution
• Attention to detail with diligent follow up, and able to execute in a timely manner
• Skilled in multi-tasking and handling pressure
• Organizational ability, of self and others
• Capable of influencing people and talented in networking with cultural sensitivity
• Great interpersonal skills
• Ability to think strategically
• Commercial acumen
• Strong expertise in brand strategy, positioning, and integrated marketing planning
• Ability to translate the central strategy into effective local execution
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing, and presentation skills
• Experience managing agencies, vendors, and cross-functional teams
• Commercially minded with an understanding of enrolment-driven growth
• Highly structured, confident, and outcome-oriented

WHAT WE OFFER:
Aldar Education is a family of world-class, child-centered, and innovative schools based in the UAE. We educate over 34,000 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 including medical cover, flights, housing, and free child school places. Our future-focused learning model includes both students and staff, so we place a special emphasis on professional development, coaching and training.

Successful candidates will have access to a wide network of professionals and opportunities to both lead and contribute to training others as well as develop themselves.

Aldar Education is keen to hear from like-minded, forward thinking school leaders who would welcome the challenges and opportunities that we have to offer.

This job description is not all inclusive. Aldar Education reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are also mindful of our national development strategy and encourage UAE Nationals in their application at our company.

Aldar Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and police clearance.