Chief Academic Officer - Education Strategy

LEAMS Education; Dubai; On-site; AED 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

LEAMS Education in Dubai seeks a Chief Academic Officer to drive education strategy across its network. You will shape academic direction, oversee curriculum, assessment, and student outcomes with KHDA alignment at the forefront.

Lead school leaders and corporate teams to implement group-wide academic initiatives, ensuring equity and excellence across all campuses.

Qualifications

• Five+ years of progressively responsible education leadership experience.
• Proven track record in curriculum development, assessment, and improvement.

Responsibilities

• Define strategic academic direction for LEAMS Education.
• Lead curriculum and instructional priorities across the school network.
• Ensure KHDA framework alignment and equitable learning opportunities.

Skills

Academic leadership

Education strategy

Executive leadership

Curriculum development

Student achievement

Job description

Chief Academic Officer - Education Strategy Job Snapshot Role: Chief Academic Officer - Education Strategy Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Industry: Education Management Function: Senior /CEO / COO / President Experience: Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible campus-level and central administration experience Job Type: Full-time Position Overview The Chief Academic Officer - Education Strategy opportunity in Dubai, United Arab Emirates within the Education Management industry is seeking an accomplished educational leader to drive academic excellence, curriculum innovation, instructional quality, equity, student achievement, and continuous school improvement across LEAMS Education. Working closely with School Principals, the Head of Schools, corporate academic teams, senior leadership, and inclusion specialists, the Chief Academic Officer will establish group-wide academic direction while ensuring alignment with the KHDA Education Framework and the needs of every student.

Job Details Country: United Arab Emirates City: Dubai Industry: Education Management Function: Senior /CEO / COO / President Salary: 35000-50000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in Dubai; please confirm the final offer with the employer. Gender: Any Candidate Nationality: Any Job Type: Full-time

Role Context

The Chief Academic Officer is a senior educational leadership position responsible for translating the organization 's academic vision into measurable improvements in teaching quality, curriculum effectiveness, student achievement, inclusion, and professional practice across LEAMS Education schools. The role provides strategic oversight of academic business units covering instructional improvement, curriculum and instruction, professional development, and exceptional student support services. It requires the ability to evaluate performance across multiple schools while establishing consistent expectations without losing sight of individual school and student needs. A central priority is ensuring equitable, standards-aligned instruction for every student. The Chief Academic Officer will use observations, accountability measures, student achievement evidence, and school performance information to identify improvement priorities and guide School Improvement Plans. The position also carries significant responsibility for leadership alignment. Success depends on building consensus among Principals, senior leaders, academic teams, inclusion specialists, teachers, external education partners, and other stakeholders while maintaining clear accountability for academic outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Define the strategic academic direction for LEAMS Education in collaboration with School Principals and senior leadership.
• Develop group-wide academic goals and strategies focused on equitable student achievement.
• Establish consistent expectations for standards-aligned teaching and learning.
• Translate organizational priorities into actionable academic improvement plans.
• Direct academic business units and evaluate their effectiveness.
• Provide strategic oversight of instructional improvement initiatives.
• Lead curriculum and instruction priorities across the school network.
• Oversee professional development strategy and implementation.
• Provide executive oversight of exceptional student support services.
• Establish measurable academic performance objectives.
• Monitor progress against strategic academic targets.
• Use school performance evidence to identify areas requiring executive intervention.
• Evaluate existing curriculum programs through classroom observations and performance evidence.
• Review assessment and accountability results to determine curriculum effectiveness.
• Identify curriculum gaps and recommend appropriate improvements.
• Ensure curriculum implementation supports high expectations for all learners.
• Promote curriculum development and assessment through an equity lens.
• Support consistency in curriculum delivery across schools.
• Evaluate instructional practices and their impact on student achievement.
• Drive innovation in teaching, learning, assessment, and educational practice.
• Work with School Principals to strengthen instructional leadership.
• Collaborate with the Head of Schools on group-wide academic priorities.
• Partner with corporate academic teams on curriculum and instructional strategy.
• Engage school senior leadership teams in academic planning and implementation.
• Establish direction for continuous school improvement.
• Monitor progress against School Improvement Plans.
• Use student achievement information to evaluate improvement strategies.
• Recommend updates to improvement plans based on evidence and observations.
• Establish mechanisms for monitoring school academic performance.
• Identify emerging performance risks and initiate corrective action.
• Promote evidence-based decision-making across academic leadership teams.
• Establish clear accountability for academic outcomes.
• Deliver written presentations on academic performance and accountability.
• Present academic findings and priorities to relevant stakeholders.
• Communicate complex educational information clearly in executive discussions.
• Prepare strategic reports relating to academic performance and improvement.
• Support informed decision-making by senior leadership and the Board of Directors.
• Coordinate with the Head Of Inclusion on student support priorities.
• Ensure special education services are appropriately implemented.
• Monitor Response to Intervention practices and related student support systems.
• Promote equitable access to learning opportunities.
• Ensure student services operate in accordance with the UAE KHDA framework.
• Strengthen educational provision for students requiring additional support.
• Promote inclusive instructional practices throughout the school network.
• Ensure academic strategies consider the needs of diverse student populations.
• Establish a systematic approach to teacher professional development.
• Identify professional learning priorities based on student and teacher needs.
• Plan and develop professional development activities for educators.
• Oversee implementation of professional learning programs.
• Monitor the effectiveness of teacher development initiatives.
• Ensure professional development supports school improvement priorities.
• Coordinate professional development efforts across LEAMS Education schools.
• Evaluate the implementation of new educational programs.
• Monitor established programs to ensure continued effectiveness.
• Promote professional collaboration and knowledge sharing between schools.
• Encourage instructional innovation and adoption of effective practices.
• Strengthen leadership capacity among Principals and academic leaders.
• Build alignment among multiple academic functions and leadership teams.
• Provide strategic guidance to school-level academic leaders.
• Establish productive relationships with educational stakeholders.
• Collaborate with school systems and community agencies.
• Develop relationships with local universities to support shared learning.
• Identify partnership opportunities that strengthen educational practice.
• Promote collaboration between schools and external academic institutions.
• Maintain thorough working knowledge of the KHDA Education Framework.
• Ensure academic strategies reflect applicable KHDA expectations.
• Support organizational readiness for regulatory reviews and inspections.
• Monitor academic compliance across the school network.
• Ensure leadership teams understand relevant academic requirements.
• Promote strong child safeguarding practices throughout academic operations.
• Maintain a clear commitment to safe learning environments.
• Ensure academic initiatives protect and promote student wellbeing.
• Embed safeguarding considerations within academic decision-making.
• Supervise multiple academic functions with clear accountability for results.
• Establish appropriate performance-monitoring systems.
• Use technology effectively within administrative and educational settings.
• Promote appropriate use of educational technology to improve learning.
• Maintain strong organizational controls across academic initiatives.
• Resolve complex academic and operational challenges.
• Apply structured problem-solving to school improvement issues.
• Build consensus among stakeholders with differing priorities.
• Maintain strong professional and human relations across the organization.
• Visit LEAMS Education schools regularly as part of executive oversight.
• Maintain prompt and regular in-person attendance.
• Remain available on-site during regular business hours and when organizational requirements demand.
• Provide visible academic leadership across the school network.
• Undertake additional responsibilities assigned by the Board of Directors.
• Comply with lawful Board directives and contribute to organization-wide team priorities.

Ideal Profile

Applicants should bring at least five years of progressively responsible experience spanning campus-level leadership and central education administration. The successful candidate should demonstrate a proven record of educational leadership, academic improvement, and innovation. Extensive knowledge of curriculum development, curriculum implementation, instructional practice, and assessment is essential. Applicants should demonstrate the ability to evaluate educational provision through an equity-focused approach and develop strategies that improve opportunities and outcomes for all students. Thorough knowledge of the KHDA Education Framework is required. Candidates should possess a strong understanding of curriculum, instruction, student services, school improvement, and academic accountability. Experience overseeing multiple academic functions with direct accountability for operational effectiveness and measurable results is essential. The successful candidate should be capable of working effectively with School Principals, senior leadership teams, inclusion specialists, teachers, external partners, and executive stakeholders. Strong leadership and stakeholder-management capabilities are required. Applicants should demonstrate excellent organizational and strategic planning ability. Advanced problem-solving and consensus-building capabilities are important for managing complex educational priorities. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential, including the ability to present academic accountability information to diverse stakeholder groups. Candidates should be comfortable using computer technology in both administrative and educational environments. Strong interpersonal and human relations skills are required. The successful candidate must demonstrate a strong commitment to child safeguarding and maintaining safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments. The position requires an executive leader who can combine strategic vision with practical implementation, measurable accountability, and sustained improvement across multiple schools.

Skills Set

• Academic leadership
• Education strategy
• Executive leadership
• Educational innovation
• Curriculum development
• Curriculum implementation
• Curriculum evaluation
• Curriculum and instruction
• Academic assessment
• Instructional improvement
• Instructional leadership
• School improvement
• School Improvement Plans
• Student achievement
• Academic accountability
• Academic performance monitoring
• Educational equity
• Standards-aligned instruction
• KHDA Education Framework
• KHDA compliance
• School inspection readiness
• Education Management
• Multi-school leadership
• Principal collaboration
• Academic governance
• Strategic planning
• Performance management
• Professional development
• Teacher development
• Leadership development
• Educational program evaluation
• Student support services
• Special education
• Response to Intervention
• Inclusive education
• Students of determination
• Academic data analysis
• Assessment data
• Stakeholder management
• Executive presentations
• Board reporting
• Consensus building
• Problem-solving
• Change leadership
• Educational technology
• University partnerships
• Community partnerships
• Child safeguarding
• Student wellbeing
• Organizational leadership
• Cross-functional leadership

Why Join Us

The Chief Academic Officer position offers the opportunity to influence educational strategy and academic performance across an established group of schools rather than within a single campus. The successful leader will have direct scope to shape curriculum quality, instructional practice, professional development, inclusion, innovation, and student achievement across the LEAMS Education network. The position also provides substantial executive exposure through collaboration with School Principals, the Head of Schools, corporate academic leadership, inclusion teams, external education partners, and the Board of Directors. For an experienced education leader, the role provides a platform to create sustainable school improvement at organizational scale while strengthening academic systems that directly affect teaching quality and student outcomes.

About the Company

LEAMS Education operates a network of British Curriculum and CBSE schools in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The organization emphasizes academic excellence, continuous school improvement, professional development, inclusive education, innovation, safeguarding, and student achievement. Through collaboration among school and corporate leadership teams, LEAMS Education works to strengthen educational quality and provide supportive learning environments across its school communities.