Middleton International School Thailand is a modern, inclusive, and forward-thinking international school. We combine the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), Singapore Maths, and the British National Curriculum with inquiry-based learning to create a nurturing environment that promotes curiosity, well-being, and the holistic development of every child.

Position Overview

As Operations Manager, you will lead all non-academic operations for Middleton’s founding Bangkok campus, ensuring the school opens on time, operates safely, and delivers an outstanding experience for students, staff and families. You will combine strategic planning (budgets, policy development, compliance, risk management) with hands-on operational execution (site fit-out oversight, vendor management, health & safety, admissions support and event logistics).

This role is pivotal during the pre-opening/start-up phase and throughout the school’s early years of establishment and growth.

Key Responsibilities
Pre-Opening/Start-Up

• Lead and coordinate the physical fit-out, working closely with architects, contractors and the landlord to ensure the campus meets educational, safety and accessibility standards.
• Own the operational start-up timeline, including:

1. Final snagging,
2. ICT provisioning,
3. Furniture procurement & delivery,
4. Signage & branding installation,
5. Vendor mobilisation and service readiness.

• Lead procurement: source, tender, and appoint key suppliers (cleaning, security, transport, catering, waste management, uniforms, IT, and facilities services) and establish SLAs and performance expectations.
• Ensure all statutory approvals, licences, and registrations required to operate an international school in Thailand are secured in time (local authorities, fire safety, Ministry of Education requirements, and insurance compliance).
• Support expat staff onboarding in coordination with HR by liaising on visas, work permits, accommodation arrangements and arrival logistics.
• Establish core operational systems, templates, and documentation, including evacuation plans, H&S policies, risk assessment frameworks, contractor protocols, maintenance logs, and compliance registers.
• Set up school transport operations (bus routes, supervision guidelines, safety protocols) if applicable.
• Prepare the school campus for Experience Days, Open Houses and launch events (campus readiness, equipment, wayfinding, visitor flow planning).

Day-to-Day School Operations

• Oversee all aspects of facilities, maintenance, security, and site services to ensure the school's safe daily operations.
• Implement preventative and reactive maintenance schedules, cleaning standards, playground and equipment checks, and vendor compliance.
• Oversee school administration, including reception, front-of-house services, admissions event support, procurement processes, inventory management and the asset register.
• Maintain insurance compliance (public liability, property, staff and student cover) and ensure timely renewals.
• Oversee campus security: gate protocols, CCTV monitoring systems, emergency response procedures and visitor management.

People and Supplier Management

• Recruit, train, and line-manage the operations team (maintenance, security and admin).
• Develop job descriptions, duty rosters, appraisal systems and ongoing professional development plans.
• Monitor supplier performance through KPIs and SLAs; conduct performance reviews and ensure proactive issue resolution.
• Build strong working relationships with contractors, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders.

Finance, Planning and Systems

• Prepare, monitor and control operational budgets (facilities, utilities, insurance, campus events, capital expenditure).
• Align closely with the Finance team/Director of Operations (Singapore) on forecasting, procurement approvals and cost efficiency.
• Establish and maintain operational systems:

1. Digital maintenance systems,
2. Procurement and purchase request workflows,
3. Cleaning & security rotas,
4. Asset management systems.

• Ensure effective cost control, supplier value-for-money and transparent reporting.

Health, Safety and Safeguarding

• Serve as the school’s lead for health, safety and compliance. Organise:

1. Risk assessments,
2. Fire drills and evacuation procedures,
3. First aid training and provision,
4. Contractor safety protocols.

• Maintain incident-reporting and emergency-response systems.
• Ensure operational staff understand and uphold their safeguarding responsibilities, and that safer recruitment checks are carried out in coordination with HR.
• Ensure the campus remains compliant with Thai building codes, fire safety standards and environmental health regulations.
• Monitor daily air quality levels (PM2.5/AQI) and implement the school’s response protocols, including adjusting outdoor activities and communicating updates to staff and parents. Ensure air purifiers and filters are maintained, classrooms meet air-quality standards, and the Air Quality Policy is consistently applied to safeguard student health and well-being.

Events, Logistics and Communications

• Lead operational planning and delivery for major school events (Experience Days, Open Houses, parent orientation, staff induction, and training days).
• Coordinate logistics including staffing, equipment, transport, signage, visitor routes and security.
• Work with the marketing/admissions teams to ensure the campus is visitor-ready and aligned with school branding.
• Act as the operations point of contact for parents and staff, ensuring timely and clear communication on facilities, access, uniform delivery, transport, safety updates, and disruptions.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in operations management within an international school, education provider, or multi-site facilities environment.
• Demonstrated success in a founding or pre-opening context is strongly preferred.
• Strong project and vendor management capability — proven experience managing fit-outs, service contracts and site readiness.
• Excellent people-management skills with the ability to lead diverse operational teams.
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with attention to detail, accuracy and timelines.
• Competent in budgeting, procurement and operational systems.
• Knowledge of Thai regulations, including building standards, licensing, H&S requirements, insurance, and school operational norms.
• Thai language ability is desirable but not essential.

Key Attributes

• Solutions-focused, proactive and able to work under the pace and pressure of a start-up environment.
• Able to switch fluidly between strategic leadership and hands-on operational tasks.
• Calm, professional and able to manage emergencies and complex logistics.
• Strong customer-service orientation and commitment to an excellent parent and student experience.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality and commitment to safeguarding and child protection.

Safeguarding
Middleton International School Thailand is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All employees must comply with our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policies, including background checks and references, in accordance with Thai law and international safeguarding standards.

Start Date: January 2026