Project Accountant jobs in United Arab Emirates

Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 100+ schools across 16 countries, including Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East, serving over 85,000 students. Each school is unique, but our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, ‘Thrive in a rapidly evolving world’.

At Cognita, we recognize that every student is unique. We nurture their personalities and strengths, supporting them academically, socially, and emotionally, regardless of where they are in the world. We protect what’s special about them while providing rich knowledge, opportunities, and best practices. Our students are part of something bigger, ensuring they receive a world-class education.

We are seeking an experienced marketing leader passionate about launching brands and driving growth. Cognita is looking for a Senior Marketing Projects Manager to lead high-impact, full-cycle marketing efforts for new school launches, campus expansions, and post-acquisition integrations throughout the Middle East.

This pivotal role reports directly to the Head of Marketing and involves delivering go-to-market strategies that shape the future of international education in the region. You will oversee brand identity, campaign performance, and ensure each launch is commercially aligned, operationally ready, and on-brand across all touchpoints.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Drive end-to-end marketing for new school openings, expansions, and M&A integrations. Align launch strategies with student recruitment goals and commercial milestones.
• Cross-Functional Project Management: Be the primary lead for marketing readiness across commercial, operations, education, and admissions teams. Manage timelines, coordination, and cross-departmental execution.
• Go-to-Market Execution: Lead full-funnel marketing campaigns (paid, owned, earned). Manage agencies, media, content, and campaign performance.
• Brand Building: Develop brand identity, naming, and visual storytelling for new schools. Maintain global brand integrity with local nuances.
• Asset & Toolkit Creation: Build scalable toolkits, brand guides, campaign playbooks, and asset libraries.
• Performance & ROI Monitoring: Track KPIs such as lead generation, conversion rates, and ROI. Ensure timely delivery and risk management in all projects.

Required Skills & Experience:

• 8+ years in marketing project management, brand launches, or go-to-market execution.
• Proven success in multi-channel campaigns with measurable results.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement, agency coordination, and project leadership.
• Strong understanding of branding, campaign metrics, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Experience in education, hospitality, real estate, or retail with multi-unit launches is preferred.
• Comfortable working within high-growth, matrix organizations.

Why Join Cognita?

At Cognita, we’re not just launching schools; we’re shaping futures. This role offers the opportunity to:

• Accelerate regional growth through rapid, high-quality marketing execution.
• Lead exciting projects that blend brand strategy with real-world impact.
• Collaborate with passionate teams in a globally respected education group.

Please note, this role is office-based in Dubai, UAE, with local and regional site visits as required.

Cognita is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff, volunteers, and third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practices and pre-employment background checks will be conducted before any appointment is confirmed.