
GEMS
Head of School / Superintendent
- Permanent
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Experience 2 - 5 yrs
Job expiry date: 20/12/2025
Job overview
Date posted
05/11/2025
Location
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Salary
Undisclosed
Compensation
Comprehensive package + relocation
Experience
2 - 5 yrs
Seniority
Senior & Lead
Qualification
Bachelors degree
Expiration date
20/12/2025
Job description
The Head of School / Superintendent at GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi will lead an inclusive international K-12 learning community offering a rigorous American/IB curriculum to 2,000 students representing over 80 nationalities. Established in 2007 and accredited by CIS and NEASC, GEMS American Academy is the flagship American curriculum school for GEMS in Abu Dhabi. The Head of School will drive educational, operational, and commercial excellence, fostering a world-class environment that ensures students thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. This executive role encompasses strategic leadership, school development, and the delivery of exceptional learning outcomes aligned with GEMS Educationâs standards of quality and innovation. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong expertise in curriculum leadership, instructional excellence, and operational oversight, while cultivating a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and continuous improvement. The Head of School will engage parents, staff, and the wider community through transparent and effective communication, developing partnerships that enhance student learning and well-being. They will ensure that teaching and learning strategies are evidence-based, adaptive, and student-centered, and that staff are empowered to innovate and achieve shared goals through effective delegation, professional development, and performance accountability.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Lead the educational, operational, and commercial strategy of GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi to achieve world-class academic and developmental outcomes.
- Develop and sustain a high-quality learning environment across K-12 programs following the American/IB curriculum framework.
- Implement strategic school improvement initiatives to achieve institutional targets and accreditation standards (CIS and NEASC).
- Provide clear leadership direction by setting expectations, defining goals, and empowering collaboration across all departments.
- Inspire and motivate faculty, staff, and students through effective communication and role modeling of excellence and integrity.
- Oversee teacher development and performance evaluation to maintain instructional quality and staff engagement.
- Foster partnerships with parents and the broader community to support student success and enhance the schoolâs reputation.
- Ensure that operational and financial management align with the schoolâs educational mission and sustainability goals.
- Promote a culture of inclusion, innovation, and accountability within the learning community.
- Safeguard and promote the welfare of students and staff, ensuring adherence to all safeguarding and compliance standards.
Experience & skills
- Proven record of educational leadership with demonstrated success in school development and improvement initiatives.
- Experience leading strategic processes in educational institutions to achieve performance and accreditation targets.
- Strong knowledge of American and International Baccalaureate curriculum frameworks and best practices.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to engage effectively with students, parents, staff, and external stakeholders.
- Ability to inspire, direct, and motivate teams while maintaining accountability and collaboration.
- Experience developing community partnerships and parental engagement strategies that enhance learning outcomes.
- Commitment to fostering cultural understanding and inclusion in a diverse international school environment.
- Demonstrated capacity to lead operational excellence and manage financial and human resources efficiently.
- Eligibility for enhanced DBS or equivalent police clearance as part of safeguarding requirements.