Designated Safeguarding Lead - Child Protection

Gems Education UAE; Dubai; On-site; AED 201,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tax-free salary

Furnished accommodation

Annual return flights

Private medical insurance

Tuition for one child

Visa sponsorship

Relocation allowance

End-of-service gratuity

GEMS Rewards program

Job summary

GEMS Education UAE in Dubai seeks a Designated Safeguarding Lead - Child Protection to translate safeguarding policy into daily practice across the school. This role combines leadership with a reduced teaching timetable and direct student engagement.

The successful candidate will oversee safeguarding referrals, case management, staff training and regulatory compliance, while collaborating with senior leaders and external authorities to protect student welfare.

Qualifications

• Recognised teaching qualification such as a B.Ed, PGCE, State Teaching Licence or equivalent.
• Relevant UAE teaching approval and eligibility requirements.
• Minimum three years of successful teaching experience in a recognised school.

Responsibilities

• Lead safeguarding and child protection practice across the school and maintain high standards of student protection.
• Serve as the primary contact for safeguarding concerns, disclosures and child protection matters.
• Receive and assess concerns promptly and escalate when required.
• Manage referrals and complex cases with discretion and accuracy.
• Maintain confidential, secure safeguarding records and documentation.
• Deliver safeguarding training for staff and supervise induction on safeguarding procedures.
• Collaborate with Principal and SLT on high-risk cases and external authorities.
• Ensure safeguarding policies stay current and understood across the school.

Skills

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Child protection

Safeguarding leadership

Risk assessment

Case management

Referral management

Confidential record management

UAE regulatory compliance

External agency liaison

Staff training

Policy development

Pastoral support

Education

B.Ed / PGCE / teaching license

UAE teaching approval

Job description

Job Snapshot

Designated Safeguarding Lead - Child Protection Job Snapshot Role: Designated Safeguarding Lead - Child Protection Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Industry: Primary-Secondary Education Function: School-College Administration Experience: Minimum 3 years teaching experience with significant safeguarding and child protection experience Job Type: Full-time Position Overview Designated Safeguarding Lead - Child Protection in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a Primary-Secondary Education leadership opportunity with GEMS Education for an experienced safeguarding professional and qualified teacher. The school is hiring a specialist leader to oversee child protection systems, safeguarding referrals, case management, staff training and regulatory compliance while retaining a reduced teaching timetable, with availability required immediately or by January 2027.

Job Details

Country: United Arab Emirates City: Dubai Industry: Primary-Secondary Education Function: School-College Administration Salary: 18000-26000 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 Designated Safeguarding Lead will hold central responsibility for translating safeguarding policy into consistent day-to-day practice across the school. The position requires sound professional judgement when receiving disclosures, assessing risk, managing referrals, documenting concerns and determining when matters require escalation to senior leadership or external authorities. Alongside case leadership, the postholder will strengthen safeguarding awareness across the school through staff training, induction, guidance and risk monitoring. A reduced teaching commitment keeps the role connected to classroom practice and direct student experience while safeguarding remains its primary responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead safeguarding and child protection practice across the school and maintain a consistently high standard of student protection.
• Serve as the principal point of contact for safeguarding concerns, disclosures and child protection matters.
• Receive and assess concerns promptly, determining appropriate actions according to established safeguarding procedures.
• Manage referrals and complex cases with discretion, accuracy and appropriate escalation.
• Maintain comprehensive, confidential and securely managed safeguarding records.
• Establish clear chronological documentation of concerns, decisions, actions and outcomes.
• Work directly with the Principal and Senior Leadership Team when cases involve significant or complex safeguarding risks.
• Liaise with parents, external agencies and relevant authorities when circumstances require coordinated intervention.
• Ensure safeguarding policies and reporting procedures remain current and consistently understood across the school.
• Monitor patterns in safeguarding information to identify emerging risks, recurring concerns or areas requiring preventive action.
• Review safeguarding processes and recommend improvements where systems or practices require strengthening.
• Deliver child protection and safeguarding training for teaching and non-teaching employees.
• Coordinate safeguarding induction for new staff and ensure reporting pathways are clearly understood.
• Provide ongoing professional guidance to colleagues handling or reporting sensitive student concerns.
• Reinforce appropriate confidentiality and information-sharing principles throughout safeguarding practice.
• Promote early identification of concerns and a culture in which staff understand their individual safeguarding responsibilities.
• Maintain current knowledge of relevant UAE regulatory requirements and developments in child protection practice.
• Support safeguarding evidence, documentation and readiness for regulatory review or school inspection.
• Undertake a reduced teaching timetable aligned with the successful candidate 's qualified subject specialism.
• Plan and deliver high-quality lessons consistent with school curriculum and teaching expectations.
• Develop trusted and professionally appropriate relationships with students while maintaining clear safeguarding boundaries.
• Contribute to pastoral provision, student wellbeing and the wider professional life of the school.

Ideal Profile

• Recognised teaching qualification such as a B.Ed, PGCE, State Teaching Licence or equivalent.
• Relevant bachelor 's degree satisfying UAE teacher approval requirements.
• Minimum three years of successful teaching experience within a recognised school.
• Significant safeguarding and child protection experience within an educational environment.
• Previous experience as a Designated Safeguarding Lead, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead or comparable safeguarding professional is strongly preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of safeguarding procedures, child protection principles and case management.
• Practical experience handling disclosures, referrals and sensitive student protection concerns.
• Ability to assess complex information and make proportionate safeguarding decisions under pressure.
• Experience maintaining confidential case records and managing sensitive information appropriately.
• Proven capability in delivering safeguarding training and advising colleagues on professional practice.
• Strong professional judgement combined with a calm and methodical approach.
• Confidence communicating with children, families, senior leaders and external professionals in challenging circumstances.
• Compassionate and student-centred approach without compromising procedural rigour or accountability.
• International school or UAE education experience is advantageous but not essential.
• Availability to commence immediately or no later than January 2027.

Skills Set

• Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Child protection
• Safeguarding leadership
• Safeguarding referrals
• Disclosure management
• Safeguarding case management
• Risk assessment
• Concern escalation
• Confidential record management
• Child protection documentation
• Safeguarding policies
• UAE regulatory compliance
• External agency liaison
• Parent communication
• Student wellbeing
• Pastoral support
• Safeguarding training
• Staff induction
• Staff safeguarding guidance
• Professional judgement
• Sensitive information management
• Risk trend monitoring
• School inspection preparation
• Teaching and learning
• Classroom management
• Professional conduct

Why Join Us

This position provides an experienced safeguarding practitioner with the opportunity to shape student protection across an entire international school while remaining connected to teaching through a reduced classroom timetable. Working closely with the Principal, Senior Leadership Team, pastoral colleagues and external professionals gives the postholder substantial influence over safeguarding culture, systems and preventive practice.

• competitive tax-free salary
• individual furnished accommodation
• annual return flights
• private medical insurance
• tuition fee benefit for up to one child
• visa sponsorship
• relocation allowance
• end-of-service gratuity and GEMS Rewards

Recruitment is being conducted on a rolling basis for an immediate appointment or a January 2027 start.

About the Company

GEMS Education is an international private education provider with an extensive school network in the United Arab Emirates. Its schools combine academic development with student wellbeing, safeguarding, inclusion and continuous improvement, supported by established educational leadership and professional standards across diverse international school communities.