Director of Facilities and General Services Department (UAE National)

Since the establishment of the union of the United Arab Emirates in 1971, education has received the utmost attention of the founding leader, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may Allah have mercy on him, and his founding brothers. They believed that education was the cornerstone of building an enabled community that could keep pace with the advancements. Over the past decades, the wise leadership of the country was keen on building an educational system that matched its counterparts in the advanced nations. It harnessed for this purpose all the required capabilities, to achieve the country's agenda and national vision in this regard. Sincere efforts have also been made to develop education and adopt the best systems that achieve high-quality education outputs, to achieve the future visions and aspirations of the wise leadership.
Since investing in human capital is the main objective, the UAE has been keen on establishing the Ministry of Education and creating the appropriate environment to build pioneering Emirati schools, in terms of standards, form, and content they provide. It also made sure that such schools provided high-quality educational environment and owned the most technically advanced tools to be able to graduate generations that could pursue their university education confidently in higher education institutions to fulfil the requirements of labour market.
The MOE has also provided a smart learning system and high-quality digital platforms, side by side with the continuous development of school curriculums, according to national learning standards, assessment policy that is based on assessing for learning, and highest quality standards that match the best international practices. Various learning tracks, moreover, have been provided to support the capabilities and skills of students and achieve the country's strategy of encouraging the culture of creativity and innovation through providing the students with the skills of the 21st century and motivating them to have new ideas that relate to the reality they live in and foresee the future. This will eventually help in finding radical, sustainable solutions to the major issues,
improving competitiveness, and supporting smart government in its attempts to keep pace with global advancements, advance education, and push it to broad horizons of excellence, leadership, and competitiveness.

Department Definition:

The Facilities and General Services Management Department is responsible for overseeing the Ministry’s facilities, buildings, and general services. It ensures the proper implementation of policies, construction and maintenance standards, operational services, school transportation, asset management, document and office management, and safety protocols, while enhancing service quality and efficiency in alignment with the Ministry’s vision.

Main Job Duties & Responsibilities:

• Implement policies and establish technical, construction, educational, and technological specifications for all Ministry facilities and schools, prepare procedural manuals regarding location, area, and usage type, and ensure compliance with relevant authorities and national standards.
• Develop policies and procedures for building construction, monitor the execution of construction projects for educational and service facilities and infrastructure, coordinate with relevant authorities, and prepare periodic reports on project progress and compliance with specifications and standards.
• Prepare and execute annual and long-term maintenance plans for all facilities, including routine, preventive, and emergency maintenance, and manage buildings and facilities to ensure optimal use and a safe and productive working environment.
• Develop disaster and emergency management plans for each facility, update them regularly, and ensure the safety and security of employees, students, and stakeholders during crises and emergencies.
• Oversee contracts for building management and operational services, including security, maintenance, cleaning, and school transportation, ensuring compliance with terms and standards and improving service quality for employees, students, and stakeholders.
• Develop policies and strategies for school transportation, coordinate with relevant sectors and authorities to ensure student comfort and safety, assess service quality, allocate necessary budgets, and enforce transportation regulations for employees and delegations.
• Prepare executive plans for inventorying and monitoring the Ministry’s fixed assets, in coordination with the Asset and Inventory Management Department.
• Develop a comprehensive plan to identify administrative needs, manage files, organize offices, and provide daily support to all Ministry employees.
• Establish archiving policies and oversee document management systems, manage official mail, prepare and review official correspondence, and carry out printing and publishing operations to support administrative activities.
• Develop and update general services work procedures to ensure alignment with best practices and institutional policies, and improve the quality and efficiency of service delivery.
• Perform any other duties related to the nature of the department’s work or as assigned by the Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector.

• A bachelor’s degree within a relevant field.
• 10+ years of experience in facility management, building projects oversight, maintenance planning, and operational services management.
• Project and Facility Management – Skilled in monitoring and executing construction, service, and infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance with specifications and standards.
• Maintenance Management – Ability to develop and implement annual and long-term maintenance plans, including preventive, routine, and emergency maintenance.
• Crisis and Disaster Management – Ability to develop and implement emergency and disaster management plans to ensure the safety of employees, students, and stakeholders.
• Communication and Negotiation Skills – Effective communication with internal and external stakeholders and the ability to conduct negotiations when required.