Head of Performing Arts - Drama
Posted date [2026-06-16]
(ID: 46718)
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GEMS Education is one of the largest and most respected private K-12 education providers in the world, with deep roots in the UAE since 1959. A trusted name in international education, GEMS operates over 47 schools across the Middle East and North Africa, offering a diverse range of British, American, IB, and Indian curricula to more than 115,000 students. Known for its commitment to academic excellence, innovation in teaching, and world-class learning environments, GEMS Education empowers students from all backgrounds to achieve their full potential. Its inclusive and purpose-driven culture supports passionate educators in delivering impactful, future-focused education. Whether you’re an experienced teacher, school leader, or education professional, GEMS Education offers dynamic career growth, continuous professional development, and the chance to be part of a legacy that’s transforming lives through learning.... |
Job Description and Requirements
Head of Performing Arts - DramaJob Snapshot
Role: Head of Performing Arts - Drama
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Primary-Secondary Education
Function: Classroom Teaching
Experience: Proven leadership experience within a Performing Arts department
Job Type: Full-time
Position Overview
Head of Performing Arts - Drama in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a senior Primary-Secondary Education opportunity for an experienced performing arts leader who can drive excellence in Drama, creative learning, student performance, curriculum development, and departmental achievement within a British curriculum international school. This role is ideal for a confident educator and department leader who can inspire students, develop colleagues, strengthen performing arts provision, and contribute to a vibrant school culture through productions, performances, enrichment activities, and community engagement.
Job Details
Country: United Arab Emirates
City: Dubai
Industry: Primary-Secondary Education
Function: Classroom Teaching
Salary: 18000-28000
Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job
city; please confirm the final offer with the employer.
Gender: Any
Candidate Nationality: Any
Job Type: Full-time
Role Context
The Head of Performing Arts - Drama will provide strategic leadership across the Performing Arts department, with a strong focus on high-quality teaching, student achievement, creative expression, and performance culture. The role requires a leader who can guide curriculum planning, support Drama and wider Performing Arts learning, raise standards across the department, and create meaningful opportunities for students to develop confidence, communication, collaboration, stagecraft, and artistic discipline. Working within GEMS Metropole School Motor City, the successful candidate will help build a dynamic creative environment where students and staff are motivated to perform, innovate, and achieve strong outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the Performing Arts department with a clear focus on teaching quality, student progress, curriculum strength, and creative achievement.
* Deliver outstanding Drama and Performing Arts lessons that inspire students and support strong academic and practical outcomes.
* Provide strategic direction for Drama, productions, performances, enrichment activities, and wider Performing Arts initiatives.
* Develop and review curriculum plans, schemes of work, assessment methods, teaching resources, and departmental improvement priorities.
* Support students in performance skills, dramatic technique, confidence, creativity, communication, teamwork, interpretation, and stage presence.
* Inspire, motivate, and develop colleagues through coaching, collaboration, shared planning, and effective professional support.
* Monitor student progress and use assessment data to improve learning, raise achievement, and identify areas requiring additional support.
* Create a vibrant performance culture through school productions, showcases, assemblies, concerts, community events, and extracurricular programmes.
* Encourage student participation in Drama and Performing Arts activities across different year groups and ability levels.
* Work closely with senior leaders, teachers, parents, students, and the wider school community to promote the value of creative education.
* Maintain high expectations for classroom practice, rehearsals, behaviour, student conduct, performance preparation, and professional standards.
* Contribute to whole-school development by supporting enrichment, cultural events, creative projects, and student leadership opportunities.
* Ensure department activities reflect safeguarding expectations, inclusion, student wellbeing, and school policies.
* Follow GEMS Education procedures, professional codes of conduct, and all safeguarding requirements at all times.
Ideal Profile
* BEd or Bachelor’s degree in Drama, Performing Arts, Theatre Studies, Music, Dance, or a related subject.
* PGCE, PGDE, or equivalent recognised teaching qualification.
* Proven leadership experience within a Performing Arts department, ideally in a British curriculum school.
* Strong subject knowledge in Drama and the wider Performing Arts curriculum.
* Demonstrated commitment to outstanding teaching and learning and raising student achievement.
* Ability to lead curriculum development, departmental improvement, assessment planning, and performance programmes.
* Experience organising or leading school productions, performances, showcases, enrichment activities, and community events.
* Strong ability to inspire, motivate, mentor, and develop both students and colleagues.
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive relationships across the school community.
* Creative, organised, reflective, and ambitious approach to department leadership and classroom practice.
* Commitment to contributing to the wider life of the school through active engagement in productions, performances, enrichment, and community initiatives.
* Strong understanding of safeguarding, student wellbeing, inclusion, and professional conduct within a school environment.
* A UK-enhanced DBS or equivalent police clearance is required for appointment.
Skills Set
* Performing Arts leadership
* Drama teaching
* British curriculum
* Department leadership
* Curriculum planning
* Classroom teaching
* Student assessment
* Teaching and learning improvement
* Performance coaching
* Theatre production
* School productions
* Drama curriculum
* Enrichment activities
* Stage performance
* Rehearsal management
* Creative education
* Student achievement
* Staff mentoring
* Team leadership
* Communication skills
* Parent communication
* Community engagement
* Event coordination
* Inclusive teaching
* Student wellbeing
* Safeguarding awareness
* International school leadership
Why Join Us
This opportunity gives a Head of Performing Arts - Drama the chance to lead a creative department within Dubai’s active Primary-Secondary Education sector while working with a globally recognised education provider. The role offers access to world-class CPD programmes, leadership development pathways, and strong career progression opportunities across the GEMS Education network. The remuneration package includes a competitive tax-free salary, leadership allowance, individual fully furnished accommodation, free schooling for dependent children, private medical insurance, annual flights to country of residence, End of Service Gratuity, and free access to GEMS Rewards for savings across flights, hotels, restaurants, retail, entertainment, and daily life in the UAE.
About the Company
GEMS Education is a leading education provider in the UAE, operating a wide network of international schools across Dubai and the region. The organisation supports academic excellence, student wellbeing, safeguarding, creative development, and professional growth for educators. Through its schools, GEMS Education provides strong curriculum pathways, inclusive learning communities, leadership opportunities, and high-quality teaching environments that help students develop confidence, creativity, knowledge, and future-ready skills.
Gender: Any
Candidate Nationality: Any
Job Type: Full-time
Role Context
The Head of Performing Arts - Drama will provide strategic leadership across the Performing Arts department, with a strong focus on high-quality teaching, student achievement, creative expression, and performance culture. The role requires a leader who can guide curriculum planning, support Drama and wider Performing Arts learning, raise standards across the department, and create meaningful opportunities for students to develop confidence, communication, collaboration, stagecraft, and artistic discipline. Working within GEMS Metropole School Motor City, the successful candidate will help build a dynamic creative environment where students and staff are motivated to perform, innovate, and achieve strong outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the Performing Arts department with a clear focus on teaching quality, student progress, curriculum strength, and creative achievement.
* Deliver outstanding Drama and Performing Arts lessons that inspire students and support strong academic and practical outcomes.
* Provide strategic direction for Drama, productions, performances, enrichment activities, and wider Performing Arts initiatives.
* Develop and review curriculum plans, schemes of work, assessment methods, teaching resources, and departmental improvement priorities.
* Support students in performance skills, dramatic technique, confidence, creativity, communication, teamwork, interpretation, and stage presence.
* Inspire, motivate, and develop colleagues through coaching, collaboration, shared planning, and effective professional support.
* Monitor student progress and use assessment data to improve learning, raise achievement, and identify areas requiring additional support.
* Create a vibrant performance culture through school productions, showcases, assemblies, concerts, community events, and extracurricular programmes.
* Encourage student participation in Drama and Performing Arts activities across different year groups and ability levels.
* Work closely with senior leaders, teachers, parents, students, and the wider school community to promote the value of creative education.
* Maintain high expectations for classroom practice, rehearsals, behaviour, student conduct, performance preparation, and professional standards.
* Contribute to whole-school development by supporting enrichment, cultural events, creative projects, and student leadership opportunities.
* Ensure department activities reflect safeguarding expectations, inclusion, student wellbeing, and school policies.
* Follow GEMS Education procedures, professional codes of conduct, and all safeguarding requirements at all times.
Ideal Profile
* BEd or Bachelor’s degree in Drama, Performing Arts, Theatre Studies, Music, Dance, or a related subject.
* PGCE, PGDE, or equivalent recognised teaching qualification.
* Proven leadership experience within a Performing Arts department, ideally in a British curriculum school.
* Strong subject knowledge in Drama and the wider Performing Arts curriculum.
* Demonstrated commitment to outstanding teaching and learning and raising student achievement.
* Ability to lead curriculum development, departmental improvement, assessment planning, and performance programmes.
* Experience organising or leading school productions, performances, showcases, enrichment activities, and community events.
* Strong ability to inspire, motivate, mentor, and develop both students and colleagues.
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive relationships across the school community.
* Creative, organised, reflective, and ambitious approach to department leadership and classroom practice.
* Commitment to contributing to the wider life of the school through active engagement in productions, performances, enrichment, and community initiatives.
* Strong understanding of safeguarding, student wellbeing, inclusion, and professional conduct within a school environment.
* A UK-enhanced DBS or equivalent police clearance is required for appointment.
Skills Set
* Performing Arts leadership
* Drama teaching
* British curriculum
* Department leadership
* Curriculum planning
* Classroom teaching
* Student assessment
* Teaching and learning improvement
* Performance coaching
* Theatre production
* School productions
* Drama curriculum
* Enrichment activities
* Stage performance
* Rehearsal management
* Creative education
* Student achievement
* Staff mentoring
* Team leadership
* Communication skills
* Parent communication
* Community engagement
* Event coordination
* Inclusive teaching
* Student wellbeing
* Safeguarding awareness
* International school leadership
Why Join Us
This opportunity gives a Head of Performing Arts - Drama the chance to lead a creative department within Dubai’s active Primary-Secondary Education sector while working with a globally recognised education provider. The role offers access to world-class CPD programmes, leadership development pathways, and strong career progression opportunities across the GEMS Education network. The remuneration package includes a competitive tax-free salary, leadership allowance, individual fully furnished accommodation, free schooling for dependent children, private medical insurance, annual flights to country of residence, End of Service Gratuity, and free access to GEMS Rewards for savings across flights, hotels, restaurants, retail, entertainment, and daily life in the UAE.
About the Company
GEMS Education is a leading education provider in the UAE, operating a wide network of international schools across Dubai and the region. The organisation supports academic excellence, student wellbeing, safeguarding, creative development, and professional growth for educators. Through its schools, GEMS Education provides strong curriculum pathways, inclusive learning communities, leadership opportunities, and high-quality teaching environments that help students develop confidence, creativity, knowledge, and future-ready skills.
