Chief Operations Officer

Braeburn Schools Limited is part of the Braeburn Group that owns and operates schools in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Cape Town. The Braeburn Group was established in 1978 and has a rich history of providing quality education for more than 40 years. For more information, visit their website: https://braeburn.com/about-us/

Braeburn Schools is a group of nineteen (19) co-educational international schools spread over eleven (11) campuses, providing world-class teaching of the British National Curriculum and GCE A-Levels to over 5,000 pupils. Our schools actively value and celebrate diversity, nurturing personal growth by providing a friendly and supportive environment.

In some of the schools, we also have BTEC Level 2 and 3 or International Baccalaureate Programmes. Working with a local and international staff, we value and celebrate diversity and nurture personal growth by being proudly inclusive and truly international, as we inspire students to be confident individuals, responsible global citizens, and successful life-long learners.

The Role

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer is a key member of the senior leadership team, responsible for translating Braeburn's strategic objectives into operational outcomes. The role provides executive oversight of Braeburn’s operations, driving performance, efficiency, and continuous improvement across the business.

The COO holds accountability for the full breadth of Braeburn's operational functions — spanning Transport, Procurement, Catering, Technical Operations, and Braeburn Services — ensuring these functions operate cohesively and in direct support of their educational mission and growth ambitions.

Key Responsibilities

You will be expected to:

1. Provide strategic leadership and direction for Braeburn’s operations and facilities; play a key role in shaping the operational strategy of Braeburn Schools Limited and supporting its future expansion.
2. Continuously evaluate Braeburn’s operational infrastructure, identify gaps, and propose projects that improve efficiency, reduce costs, capture business opportunities, and maintain brand positioning.
3. Develop and implement operational strategies and plans aligned to the business plan and the achievement of Braeburn’s targets.
4. Build and sustain relationships with all key stakeholders to drive efficiency and responsiveness across operations; forge and manage strategic partnerships in support of Braeburn’s objectives.
5. Direct, motivate, and develop the company's support management teams to ensure efficient day-to-day delivery of support services across the group.
6. Provide oversight to the Procurement, Fleet, Catering, Braeburn Services, and Theatre Service functions, and collaborate with the broader senior management team to ensure all group operations run efficiently and schools receive the support required to deliver excellent education.
7. Work in close partnership with the Chief Financial Officer to provide oversight of annual operating budgets, driving efficiency, sustainability, and cost savings across the group.
8. Ensure all aspects of Braeburn’s operations and facilities are consistently monitored and evaluated against required standards and compliance requirements.
9. Champion operational best practices, policies, and procedures, and foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing across schools within the group.
10. Oversee Braeburn Services activities, ensuring set goals and targets are met.
11. Prepare regular reports to the Chief Executive Officer on operational performance and on planned adjustments or developments to the operations strategy.

Requirements

We seek a seasoned operations leader with extensive senior management experience, ideally gained within a multi-site service or education environment. We are particularly interested in individuals who have:

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in business management, operations management, or other related field.

Knowledge, Experience and Competences

• At least ten (10) years of experience working in a busy environment, five (5) of which must be in a managerial position.
• Strong analytical skills and a strategic thinker with the ability to conceptualise the downstream impact of key decisions.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels, particularly with senior management, and engage diverse audiences to influence strategic alignment.
• Proven experience organising and directing multiple teams and departments.
• Experience with budget management.
• Proven success in project coordination roles.
• Experience in planning and leading strategic initiatives.
• Ability to provide cross-functional consultation based on corporate vision and strategy.
• Highest level of personal and professional integrity.