Health and Safety Officer

Job description / Role

Job overview

AAESS is seeking a dedicated and experienced Health and Safety Officer (HSO) to join our dynamic team in Al-Ain. This is a pivotal role focused on creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for students, staff, and visitors across our school community.

As the Health and Safety Officer, you will be at the forefront of ensuring compliance with Al-Ain Occupational Safety and Health System Framework (OSHAD-SF), ADEK regulations, Cognita Middle East policies, and other relevant local guidelines. You will also drive and support a strong safety culture through training, policy management, risk assessment, and continuous improvement.

About AAESS

Al Ain English Speaking School is one of the oldest schools in Al Ain with a reputation that goes beyond the city boundaries. It sits in the u2018Garden Cityu2019 renowned for being an oasis in the desert. AAESS is an all through school with over 2200 children from 3 to 19, and continually growing. The campus is spacious and welcoming and prides itself on good facilities such as our fantastic indoor swimming pool, floodlit tennis courts, 566 seat auditorium, food prep and nutrition kitchen, automotive garage, TV and radio production studio, and two Apple Mac suites. We deliver the British Curriculum and offer iGCSE, AS and A Levels, with our 6th Form students securing places in prestigious universities all over the world.

Al Ain English Speaking School is the first school in Al Ain to hold the British Schools Overseas Award, where we are endorsed by the British Government and quality assured by Ofsted. Additionally, the school holds the prestigious Silver Carnegie Mental Health Award, reflecting its commitment to academic excellence and the mental well-being of its students and staff.

Al Ain English Speaking School is a caring and multicultural community that enables all individuals to realise their potential in a dynamic and innovative learning environment. We value enquiry, perseverance and reflection, treating one another with respect and integrity, while learning together to become responsible and enterprising global citizens.

About Cognita

Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 100+ schools in 16 countries - in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East - serving more than 85,000 students. Each of our schools is proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, u2018Thrive in a rapidly evolving worldu2019.

At Cognita, we know every student is unique. We nurture their distinct personalities and strengths. We support them academically, socially, and emotionally, wherever they are in the world, wherever theyu2019re starting from. We protect whatu2019s special about them, while offering them rich knowledge, opportunities, and best practices. And they get to be part of something bigger; ensuring they get an education thatu2019s, quite literally, world class.

Key responsibilities

• Compliance monitoring: Ensure adherence to ADEK, Cognita ME, and relevant regulatory HSE guidelines.
• Risk management: Lead and maintain comprehensive risk assessment procedures and documentation.
• Training and development: Manage the health and safety training matrix, deliver internal sessions, and support external ADEK-mandated training.
• Audits and inspections: Coordinate internal and external audits, respond to findings, and implement corrective actions.
• Incident management: Investigate incidents, ensure proper documentation, and align reporting with ADEK standards.
• Document control: Maintain HSE documentation, policies, and ensure compliance with ADEK formatting and Cognita requirements.
• Health and Safety Committee: Chair the committee with a focus on analysis, improvement, and collaboration.
• Safety culture leadership: Promote a proactive and positive approach to health and safety across the organisation.

Successful candidates will

• Hold bacheloru2019s degree or equivalent.
• Hold NEBOSH certificate or diploma.
• Have minimum of 3 yearsu2019 experience in a health and safety advisory role.
• Have strong organisational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Have proven ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
• Have IT proficiency (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Have experience in incident investigation and report writing.
• Have Level 3 training qualification (desirable).
• Have experience working within the education sector (desirable).
• Be familiar with ADEK/OSHAD systems and regulatory framework (desirable).

Why join Cognita?

Cognita is a global leader in education, operating over 100 schools across multiple continents. We are committed to safeguarding, wellbeing, and delivering a world-class educational environment. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a values-driven organisation and make a meaningful impact.

Benefits of living in Al Ain and the UAE

Living in Al Ain City offers teachers extremely affordable living in an exceptionally friendly and cosmopolitan environment. Staff enjoy an excellent lifestyle, with plentiful leisure facilities (e.g. rugby, golf, swimming, discounted hotel memberships) and fascinating tourist attractions (e.g. Al Ain Zoo, Wadi Adventure, Jebel Hafeet). With the thrill and bright lights of Dubai and Abu Dhabi on our doorstep, staff have extensive opportunities for travel around the Gulf region and further afield.

The position is a full-time, permanent role and offers a highly competitive salary. Only fully completed applications will be processed. To support your application, please include your current, up-to-date CV. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The school reserves the right to interview and appoint strong candidates before the official closing date, and therefore we encourage candidates to apply early in the process.

Al Ain English Speaking School and Cognita are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expect the same from their employees. All new staff will be subject to detailed and enhanced pre-employment clearance, including identity checks, criminal background checks for all countries lived in, qualification checks, employment checks to include an exploration of any gaps in employment, and satisfactory reference checks for all employment in the last 10 years.