Vice Principal – Immediate Start

THE ROLE

We are now seeking an experienced innovative Vice Principal to join our successful team with an immediate start.

Job Purpose

The Vice Principal is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), holding whole-school responsibility for driving excellence in teaching and learning, student outcomes, curriculum development, staff leadership, and operational efficiency. As the strategic deputy to the Principal, the Vice Principal plays a vital role in ensuring the school meets and exceeds educational standards and stakeholder expectations.

Strategic Direction and School Development

• Act as the deputy to the Principal, assuming full operational and strategic responsibility in their absence.
• Collaborate with the Principal and SLT to shape, communicate, and implement the strategic vision of the school in alignment with local regulatory frameworks (e.g., ADEK) and international best practices.
• Lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of the School Development Plan (SDP), ensuring alignment of departmental, phase, and subject plans to whole-school priorities.
• Drive a data-informed approach to school self-evaluation, identifying strengths, areas for development, and next steps in raising educational standards.
• Ensure that all school development initiatives are budgeted, measurable, and time-bound, with impact regularly reviewed.
• Represent the school in external forums and inspections, articulating the strategic direction, achievements, and performance of the school with clarity and evidence.

Leadership of Teaching, Learning and Standards

• Provide strategic oversight of the quality of teaching and learning across all phases, ensuring that pedagogical approaches are innovative, evidence-based, and impactful.
• Lead on whole-school academic standards, ensuring alignment with curriculum goals, assessment frameworks, and global benchmarks.
• Monitor and evaluate teaching quality through learning walks, lesson observations, planning scrutiny, and student voice, providing targeted feedback to raise standards.
• Set and monitor high expectations for student progress and attainment, narrowing achievement gaps and promoting equity and excellence.
• Ensure robust systems are in place for assessment, data tracking, and academic intervention, using this information to inform strategy and improve outcomes.
• Champion high-impact teaching strategies across subjects and phases, modelling exemplary practice and mentoring other leaders to do the same.

Curriculum Leadership and Innovation

• Lead the strategic development, implementation, and review of the whole-school curriculum, ensuring breadth, balance, depth, progression, and compliance with ADEK and international standards.
• Oversee curriculum mapping, vertical and horizontal alignment, and the integration of transdisciplinary learning, global competencies, and future-ready skills.
• Collaborate with academic leaders to ensure curriculum pathways support the diverse needs of learners, including those with additional learning needs or requiring extension.
• Evaluate curriculum impact using a range of qualitative and quantitative data, adjusting curriculum intent and implementation as necessary.
• Champion innovation in curriculum design, digital integration, and cross-curricular initiatives to meet the needs of a changing global landscape.

Leadership and Management of Staff

• Lead a culture of high expectations, continuous improvement, and collective accountability across all staff.
• Line manage a designated team of teachers, middle leaders, and/or heads of departments, setting clear expectations and holding them accountable for outcomes.
• Implement an effective Performance Management system that drives development, supports retention, and links directly to school improvement priorities.
• Lead, design, and evaluate the school’s CPD programme, ensuring it is aligned with both individual needs and strategic priorities.
• Promote distributive leadership by empowering staff to lead initiatives, contribute to decision-making, and share effective practice

Assessment, Data, and Accountability

• Take strategic leadership of internal and external assessment practices, including baseline data, formative assessment, standardized testing, and summative evaluations.
• Ensure data is accurate, accessible, and used effectively to drive strategic planning, intervention, and reporting.
• Oversee the creation and analysis of academic progress reports, advising the SLT and Principal on areas requiring focus or change.
• Establish robust systems of accountability at all levels – from individual student tracking to whole-school performance metrics.
• Support subject and phase leaders in setting and reviewing SMART targets for student achievement and teaching quality.

Operational Leadership and Resource Management

• Deputize for the Principal in all operational matters, including safeguarding, staff deployment, facilities oversight, timetabling, and crisis response.
• Ensure the school is well-organized and efficiently run, supporting a safe, productive, and nurturing learning environment.
• Lead the strategic deployment of staff and resources, ensuring alignment with learning priorities and principles of best value.
• Monitor subject and departmental budgets, ensuring transparent, ethical, and impactful spending aligned with educational goals.
• Collaborate with administrative teams to streamline operational processes and ensure compliance with policy and regulatory requirements.

School Culture and Community Engagement

• Lead the development of a positive, inclusive, and aspirational school culture, where students and staff feel valued, safe, and challenged to succeed.
• Act as a key liaison with parents, governing bodies, and external agencies, fostering trust, transparency, and shared responsibility for student outcomes.
• Promote student leadership, wellbeing, and character education across the school, embedding values that support lifelong learning and responsible citizenship.
• Engage in multi-agency collaboration to support students’ social, emotional, and academic development.
• Represent the school professionally in networks and partnerships, contributing to and drawing from best practices in other institutions.

Specific Duties

• Lead the curriculum strategy and implementation in the Elementary phase, ensuring coherence with the whole-school learning vision.
• Oversee assessment across all school phases, ensuring consistency, rigor, and action-oriented analysis.
• Drive specific strategic priorities as agreed with the Principal annually, reporting regularly on progress and impact.
• Lead a designated portfolio of responsibilities such as teaching and learning, professional development, or inclusion, depending on school needs.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the Principal, contributing fully to leadership decisions, whole-school planning, and representation.

The ideal candidate should have a strong track record in effective teaching and helping students succeed. While experience in in a similar role and teaching the IB is preferred, outstanding practitioners from any curriculum background are encouraged to apply. Alignment with the IB philosophy and commitment to the Learner Profile values are crucial. A genuine passion for working in a non-selective and culturally diverse community is also a key requirement. Additionally, the candidate should possess:

• A Bachelor of Education degree, or an initial degree plus a relevant teaching qualification such as a PGCE, PGDE or equivalent
• A Master’s degree or other advanced leadership qualifications (e.g., NPQH, NPQSL) are preferred but not essential
• Significant leadership experience in a high-performing school, with a proven record of impact on student outcomes and school improvement.
• A minimum of 5 years’ teaching experience, ideally within an IB or UK curriculum school.
• A strong understanding of the IB framework and philosophy, and experience leading curriculum development and innovation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire and develop high-performing teams, with strong people management skills.
• Experience of working in a culturally diverse, international community and a commitment to inclusive education.
• A track record of driving school-wide initiatives, embedding best practice, and contributing to strategic planning.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with staff, students, and parents.
• Availability to join the Academy with an immediate start.

YOUR PACKAGE AND BENEFITS

An excellent remuneration package is available for successful candidates including; a competitive tax free salary, furnished accommodation, premium medical insurance and life insurance, working permit and residence visa, annual flight allowance, tuition fee concession, and other benefits in line with the UAE Labour Law. In addition to these, we offer:

• A highly collaborative working environment and excellent support system
• An extensive programme of continuing professional development
• Training with the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) for teachers delivering the IB
• The chance to shape the future of the department in collaboration with the leadership team and external education professionals
• The opportunity to develop personally and professionally, with access to a structured performance management system, and with opportunities to advance to positions of greater responsibility
• A commitment to staff wellbeing, including access to all of our sports facilities, termly fitness and wellbeing sessions, and staff social events
• GEMS Rewards which offers a package of benefits for staff such as retail discounts, savings on gym memberships, cinema tickets and many other offers

GEMS Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of its students and staff. A UK-enhanced DBS or equivalent police check is a pre-requisite for all appointments.