Head of Operations

Role summary

LEAF Academy is entering its second decade. Having established an international reputation for learning-centered education, we are growing in ambition and size. The Head of Operations will guide our growth by driving excellence across three core domains: finance, facilities, and service delivery. We are looking for an exceptional leader who:

• takes genuine pride in operational excellence, 

• can manage budgets, buildings, and people with equal confidence, and

• understands that great school operations are a service to students and staff.

This is a senior leadership role. You will report directly to the Principal and work closely with the Leadership Team, our staffulty, and students. You will be supported during your transition by the outgoing Head of Operations.

Your mission is to ensure that LEAF Academy’s physical environment, financial health, and operational systems are safe, efficient, and worthy of the learning community they support.

Your key deliverable: A school where the buildings are well-maintained, the finances are healthy and transparent, the services run without friction, and the operational team is confident, well-led, and oriented toward the learning mission.

Core responsiblities

Finance & Budgetary Oversight

• Financial Strategy & Planning: Lead the budgeting and medium-term financial planning processes, driving cost optimization to ensure the Academy’s long-term sustainability.

• Performance & Reporting: Manage the Academy’s financial accounts and provide the Principal with clear, actionable reporting on overall financial performance.

• Compliance & Expense Control: Exercise rigorous expense control across all functions and oversee the accuracy of accounting documentation.

Facilities & Assets Management

• Facilities Stewardship & Maintenance: Ensure all Academy buildings and residences are safe, clean, and operational for the entire community.

• Project & Refurbishment Leadership: Oversee the end-to-end project management of all building works and refurbishments.

• Compliance & Asset Governance: Ensure all premises meet statutory health, safety, and disability regulations. Collaborating with the Board’s Risk Committee and legal counsel to manage institutional risk.

Operational Excellence & Services

• Campus Services & Logistics: Lead the delivery of high-quality food services, front-office administration, and student/staff logistics (including travel, visas, and transport).

• Infrastructure & Administrative Innovation: Liaise with the IT Manager to have an appropriate digital infrastructure and efficient administrative workflows.

• Legal & Regulatory Governance: Coordinate with Legal Counsel to ensure robust GDPR compliance and total adherence to all statutory and legislative requirements, safeguarding the Academy’s operational integrity.

Expertise & Qualifications

We are looking for candidates who meet the following baseline requirements:

• Minimum 3 years of experience in an Operations, Finance, or similar role.

• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with fluency in English.

• Broad working knowledge of finance, legal compliance, facilities management, or IT.

• Demonstrated ability or a strong desire to lead a team and manage multiple workstreams simultaneously.

• Comfort working in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

Why LEAF Academy?

The Academy is right for you if you want to contribute to a brighter future for Slovakia and Central Europe by transforming our education. At LEAF Academy, work is more than a job: it’s a calling to help young people understand and develop Character, Excellence, Entrepreneurial Leadership, and Civic Engagement.

What we offer:

• A Learning Community: As an NEASC-accredited institution, we uphold the highest global standards of educational excellence while fostering a sense of local belonging.

• Deeply Purposeful Work: You’ll mentor and inspire young minds, helping students turn their ideas into real-world projects that improve their communities.

• Your Own Growth Engine: We believe in our staff as much as our students. You’ll enjoy a supportive environment that encourages you to innovate, take risks, and develop yourself and others.

• Innovation in the Heart of Bratislava: Join us in our modern building where tradition meets future-oriented pedagogy. You will have the scope to build and improve systems that affect every person in the school — staffulty, students, and families. It is operational work with genuine institutional impact.