Director - Arts and Culture

Aldar Academies; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 400,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

Aldar Academies is seeking a senior leader to set and drive the Arts and Culture strategy across the group, elevating educational quality and cultural impact. You will build sustainable income through programmes, events, venue hire and partnerships while coaching staff and developing pathways for student progression.

You will oversee group-wide performances, community programmes and international collaborations, ensuring high-quality provision, safeguarding and commercial responsibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor s degree in Music, Drama, Performing Arts, Arts Education or a closely related field, or an equivalent recognised professional qualification.
• Relevant teaching qualification or substantial demonstrable school-education leadership experience. Postgraduate study in arts, education or leadership is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Set and deliver a group-wide Arts and Culture strategy that strengthens educational quality, cultural impact, reputation, participation and student progression.
• Develop sustainable revenue streams through approved programmes, events, venue use, partnerships, sponsorship and external engagement, with clear income, cost and impact measures.
• Lead, coach and develop employees across the arts network, building capability, succession pipelines and clear opportunities for internal promotion.
• Identify, assess and nurture elite student talent through specialist coaching, performance opportunities, scholarships, auditions and progression pathways.
• Lead the artistic and cultural planning of group-wide performances, exhibitions, festivals, productions, ensembles and community-facing programmes.

Education

Bachelor s degree in Music, Drama, Performing Arts, Arts Education or a closely related field, or an equivalent recognised professional qualification

Relevant teaching qualification or substantial demonstrable school-education leadership experience. Postgraduate study in arts, education or leadership is desirable.

Job description

Main Duties:

• Set and deliver a group-wide Arts and Culture strategy that strengthens educational quality, cultural impact, reputation, participation and student progression.
• Develop sustainable revenue streams through approved programmes, events, venue use, partnerships, sponsorship and external engagement, with clear income, cost and impact measures.
• Lead, coach and develop employees across the arts network, building capability, succession pipelines and clear opportunities for internal promotion.
• Identify, assess and nurture elite student talent through specialist coaching, performance opportunities, scholarships, auditions and progression pathways.
• Lead the artistic and cultural planning of group-wide performances, exhibitions, festivals, productions, ensembles and community-facing programmes.
• Build UAE and international partnerships with universities, conservatoires, cultural institutions, professional artists, sponsors and industry bodies.
• Manage people, budgets, resources, partnerships, safeguarding and performance reporting to deliver safe, inclusive, commercially responsible and high-quality provision.

Specific Duties:

Strategy, Quality & School Positioning

• Develop a multi-year strategy and annual delivery plan with clear school priorities, resources, milestones and measures of success across Music, Drama, Musical Theatre, Visual Arts and wider cultural programming.
• Work with Principals and education leaders to review provision, identify strengths and gaps, and agree differentiated school improvement plans across curricula and age groups.
• Partner with Marketing and Admissions to communicate evidenced achievements and distinctive opportunities that strengthen family engagement, retention and school choice.

Oversight & Support of School-Based Leads

• Chair a group Arts and Culture network; establish regular school visits, planning meetings and peer reviews to monitor progress and provide practical support.
• Coach school leads in artistic direction, curriculum enrichment, assessment, repertoire, productions and department planning; share expertise, resources and effective practice.
• Agree objectives with school leadership and provide professional input into recruitment, induction, development, succession and performance review of specialist staff.
• Coordinate visiting specialists and shared resources; resolve cross-school delivery issues with Principals while maintaining clear local accountability.

Group-Wide Performances & Events

• Own a coordinated annual calendar of concerts, drama productions, musicians, festivals, competitions and showcases, aligned with school calendars and student learning.
• Establish group choirs, orchestras, ensembles and theatre companies where appropriate, using transparent selection and broad opportunities for participation.
• Lead artistic programming, repertoire selection and quality assurance; coordinate school leads, producers and operations teams on auditions, rehearsals, venues, technical production, staffing and logistics.
• Develop joint productions, community performances and approved touring or exchange opportunities; review educational impact, audience experience and delivery quality after each major event.

Partnerships, Professional Artists & Special Guests

• Build and maintain a diverse network of universities, conservatoires, drama schools, theatres, opera companies, orchestras, festivals and cultural organisations across the UAE and international markets.
• Convert relationships into structured programmes such as masterclasses, residencies, mentoring, joint productions, backstage learning, student exchanges and progression support.
• Identify and coordinate special guest appearances by performers, directors, conductors, composers and other industry professionals; agree educational objectives, student access, schedules, fees and hosting arrangements.
• Work with Legal, Procurement, Finance and school leaders to agree partnership terms, responsibilities, approvals and review points; evaluate delivery and renew relationships based on student benefit.

Student Development, Scholarships & Progression

• Work with school leads to identify and nurture emerging talent while widening access for beginners, students of determination and students facing financial barriers.
• Create individual development pathways combining specialist coaching, performance experience, mentoring and appropriate external opportunities.
• Coordinate with careers and university guidance teams on auditions, portfolios, recordings, applications and preparation for universities, conservatoires and drama schools worldwide.
• Develop access to scholarships, bursaries, summer schools and funded programmes; track applications, offers, awards and destinations without promising admission or funding.

Revenue Growth & Commercial Development

• Develop and deliver an approved revenue plan for the CoE, including income targets, pricing principles, cost recovery and contribution measures.
• Identify viable revenue opportunities through ticketed events, enrichment programmes, holiday provision, masterclasses, venue hire, sponsorship, grants and strategic partnerships.
• Prepare business cases and work with Finance, Legal, Procurement, Marketing and Operations to ensure commercial activity is properly approved, contracted, promoted and evaluated.
• Monitor revenue, costs, utilisation and return on investment, taking corrective action where programmes are not delivering the agreed educational or financial value.

Employee Growth, Succession & Internal Promotion

Desired Candidate Profile

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor s degree in Music, Drama, Performing Arts, Arts Education or a closely related field, or an equivalent recognised professional qualification.
• Relevant teaching qualification or substantial demonstrable school-education leadership experience. Postgraduate study in arts, education or leadership is desirable.

Minimum Experience:

• Typically 10 or more years of relevant Arts and Culture experience, including at least 5 years leading a school arts programme, specialist arts provision or a comparable education portfolio.
• Substantial professional industry experience as a performer, director, conductor, producer, artistic director or equivalent, alongside sustained work with school-age learners.
• Evidence of leading multidisciplinary arts and cultural provision, developing employees, enabling internal progression, delivering major programmes and building productive external partnerships.
• Demonstrable contribution to student auditions, scholarships or progression into selective arts institutions; international, multicultural or multi-campus experience is desirable.
• Strong artistic judgement and credibility in Music or Drama, with the breadth to lead both through specialist colleagues.
• Understanding of school curricula, age-appropriate progression, inclusive arts practice, quality assurance and safeguarding.
• Ability to lead through influence across schools, coach subject leaders and translate strategic ambition into delivery.
• Established professional networks and the ability to develop partnerships across different regions and cultural traditions.
• Knowledge of international arts admissions, audition preparation and scholarship processes.
• Commercial planning, revenue development, production and project management, negotiation, budget management and resource prioritisation.
• Excellent communication, relationship building and public representation; sound judgement when engaging high-profile guests.
• Ability to use participation, destination and evaluation data to improve provision and demonstrate impact.
• Demonstrated ability to develop employees, build succession pipelines and support fair, evidence-based internal promotion.
• Strong capability in identifying elite talent and creating structured development and progression pathways.