Visioneers
Head of Documentary Department – Film Director
- Permanent
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Experience 5 - 10 yrs
Job expiry date: 01/03/2026
Job overview
Date posted
15/01/2026
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Salary
Undisclosed
Compensation
Comprehensive package + relocation
Experience
5 - 10 yrs
Seniority
Director
Qualification
Bachelors degree
Expiration date
01/03/2026
Job description
The Head of Documentary Department – Film Director role at Wasl Channel is a senior creative leadership position responsible for defining, directing, and delivering all documentary films and high-production video content for the channel. The role combines strategic creative ownership with hands-on execution, overseeing short documentaries, investigative documentaries, high-production films, and premium social media documentary formats. The position defines the creative vision, storytelling approach, narrative structure, visual tone, duration, and format for each production, selecting appropriate styles such as cinematic, realistic, or investigative based on subject matter. Operating independently from the Content Department while collaborating closely with the Head of Production, the role leads pre-production concept development, research review, treatment approval, on-set direction, and post-production editing. The role manages a small creative team of researchers and a junior director, mentors team members, ensures cultural sensitivity and ethical standards, and delivers Arabic-only content that meets Wasl Channel’s highest storytelling, production, and community-aligned standards.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Define and own the creative vision, storytelling approach, and visual style for all documentary productions
- Determine narrative structure, storytelling format, visual tone, duration, and production style per project
- Oversee development and production of short documentaries, investigative documentaries, and high-production video content
- Manage multiple documentary projects simultaneously while maintaining quality and editorial standards
- Lead pre-production including idea development, research review, treatment approval, and narrative angle definition
- Direct selected documentary projects personally when required
- Supervise and guide junior directors, researchers, and filming crews across parallel productions
- Provide on-set creative direction and oversee critical production moments
- Review edits, narrative flow, pacing, and final structure during post-production
- Personally edit projects when required to ensure alignment with creative vision
- Ensure all productions meet ethical, cultural, and quality standards
- Lead, mentor, and manage the documentary team including task assignment and output review
- Coordinate with the Head of Production on timelines, resources, and execution while maintaining creative independence
- Participate in future hiring and growth of the documentary department
Experience & skills
- Demonstrate proven experience as a Film Director or Documentary Director
- Show strong background in documentary storytelling and investigative formats
- Exhibit ability to lead creatively while remaining hands-on across production and editing
- Demonstrate strong editorial judgment and visual storytelling capability
- Maintain experience managing and mentoring creative teams
- Operate effectively across multiple high-pressure productions simultaneously
- Be fluent in Arabic for all spoken and written content production
- Demonstrate understanding of cultural sensitivity and Arabic-only content delivery