Executive Assistant and Administrative Officer - Sunmarke School

About Sunmarke School – Where Amazing Happens

Sunmarke School delivers an inspiring and values-based education that fosters both emotional and intellectual growth, enabling students to thrive and achieve their goals. With our unique signature programs, Sunmarke distinguishes itself as an innovative institution that transforms young lives. This dedication to excellence was honored when Sunmarke School was awarded the ‘Most Innovative School’ at the Which School Advisor ceremony held in Dubai and London.

As an all-through school, Sunmarke provides exceptional educational pathways, including the National Curriculum of England, GCSE/IGCSE, ‘A’ Levels, BTEC, and the IB Diploma and Career Related Programmes. Additionally, we offer a suite of unmatched Signature Programmes in Dubai. Our students engage in Environmental and Sustainability Studies through immersive Forest School experiences, utilizing advanced hydroponic technology to explore how science can lead to a sustainable future. Our outstanding STEAM center and curriculum enable students to apply their knowledge to tackle real-world challenges, from Foundation Stage through Year 9. For students in Years 10 to 13, we provide premier mini-MBA programmes in partnership with the Peter Jones Academy to prepare them for success in business and entrepreneurship. We embrace technological advancements with comprehensive AI programs across core subjects and enhance learning through Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) experiences. Our exceptional performing arts offerings, paired with state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated educators, allow our creative students to express themselves fully. Sunmarke School has been rated ‘Very Good’ by the Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB) in our third operational year and received an ‘Outstanding’ rating in our British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspection in 2019.

We are excited to present an excellent opportunity to join our all-through school and play a significant role in our pursuit of “outstanding.” Sunmarke School, located in the Jumeirah Village Triangle, serves as one of our flagship institutions.

Job Purpose:

The Executive Assistant will manage a variety of tasks, providing support to the Senior Leadership Team while overseeing the daily operations of the School Leadership team.

This position requires exceptional organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and the capacity to juggle multiple responsibilities while effectively prioritizing tasks.

- Establishing and maintaining office systems, including data management and filing.
- Taking notes during meetings and offering general assistance during presentations.
- Screening phone calls, inquiries, and requests, addressing them appropriately.
- Welcoming and greeting visitors of all seniority levels.
- Organizing and maintaining calendars, scheduling appointments.
- Handling incoming emails, faxes, and postal correspondence, often responding on behalf of the SLT.
- Organizing and participating in meetings, including taking dictation and minutes; coordinating meetings, workshops, and events for the school's leadership team, ensuring accurate filing and distribution of minutes.
- Identifying, preparing, and compiling necessary materials to equip the SLT with relevant information for meetings, reports, presentations, and special projects.
- Managing the SLT’s calendar, overseeing email and school communications, distributing minutes, coordinating school events, and executing various administrative tasks as needed.
- Conducting background research and presenting findings.
- Collaborating with internal administration and marketing departments to create and implement projects.
- Maintaining essential records to ensure current, accurate, and accessible information.
- Providing senior-level administrative support to the directors by facilitating communication on their behalf (including letters, memos, reports, emails, and phone calls).
- Acting as a liaison between the directors and staff to ensure effective coordination and follow-up on daily matters.
- Offering coordination support for the Senior Management Team and academic staff.
- Handling all logistics for Board meetings.
- Assisting in budget management and financial record-keeping, tracking expenses, reconciling accounts, and processing purchase requisition orders as necessary.
- Taking ownership of and improving existing processes that support the School Leadership team.
- Assisting SLT members with various ad-hoc projects and additional administrative duties as required.

Job specification:

We would love to hear from you if you:

- Hold a degree in any field, preferably in Business Administration, and have at least 5 years of professional administrative experience in a dynamic, cross-functional environment.
- Have experience in a school or educational setting in the UAE, although it is not a requirement.
- Are an excellent communicator, both in writing and verbally, with a proven ability to build relationships with diverse audiences.
- Can effectively articulate information and ideas in both written and spoken formats and maintain strong relationships.
- Possess a solid technical understanding and can adapt quickly to various software and tools.
- Can work collaboratively within a cross-functional team environment.
- Are capable of managing and prioritizing multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.
- Have experience in drafting business correspondence.
- Demonstrate strong computer skills with proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
- Take the initiative to manage workflow and priorities effectively.
- Exhibit excellent organizational skills with the ability to multitask.
- Have outstanding interpersonal skills that enable you to work effectively with all levels of staff and management.
- Display sound judgment and the capacity to maintain confidentiality.

Interested candidates can apply on our website https://careers.forteseducation.com/CurrentOpening.aspx

Fortes Education is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All individuals involved in regulated activities are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including a satisfactory International Child Protection Certificate and police checks from their resident country.