Director of Sport - Physical Education

Gems Education UAE; Dubai; On-site; AED 246,000 - 357,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Accommodation and housing support

Private medical insurance

Annual airfare

End-of-service gratuity

GEMS Rewards

Job summary

GEMS School of Research and Innovation in Dubai leads a broad Physical Education and sport program across the 3–18 journey, emphasizing health, fitness and participation.

The Director of Sport will shape the curriculum, build a high-performing PE team, and partner with clubs and external bodies to create innovative, inclusive opportunities for students from early years through Sixth Form.

Qualifications

• B.Ed or bachelor’s degree with PGCE, PGDE or equivalent recognised teaching qualification in a relevant subject area.
• Master’s degree or recognised leadership qualification is highly desirable.
• Minimum four years of successful subject leadership or relevant senior leadership experience.
• Proven experience leading Physical Education and Sport curriculum development.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement the strategic direction for Physical Education, Sport, Health and Fitness across the school.
• Lead curriculum development from Pre-Prep through Sixth Form, ensuring clear progression in physical literacy, technical skill, health knowledge and performance.
• Oversee the quality of teaching and learning across PE and Sport through effective monitoring, coaching and professional development.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of PE teachers, coaches and specialist staff.
• Establish clear departmental expectations, performance standards and improvement priorities.
• Use student performance, participation and achievement data to evaluate the impact of sporting provision.
• Coordinate internal and external fixtures, tournaments, sports days, competitions and major school sporting events.

Skills

Sports leadership

Physical Education

PE curriculum leadership

Staff leadership

Quality assurance

Education

B.Ed or Bachelor’s degree with PGCE/PGDE

Master’s degree in leadership (desirable)

Job description

Director of Sport - Physical Education Job Snapshot

Role: Director of Sport - Physical Education

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Industry: Primary-Secondary Education

Function: School-College Administration

Experience: Minimum 4 years in subject leadership or relevant senior leadership

Job Type: Full-time

Job Details

Country: United Arab Emirates

City: Dubai

Industry: Primary-Secondary Education

Function: School-College Administration

Salary: 22000-32000 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 Director of Sport will provide whole-school leadership for Physical Education, competitive sport, health, fitness and student participation across an age range extending from early years through Sixth Form. The position combines curriculum leadership with operational responsibility for staff development, quality assurance, competitions, enrichment and sporting partnerships. GEMS School of Research and Innovation is designed around advanced technology, personalised learning and future-focused education. Within this environment, the Director will be expected to build a sporting programme that matches the school 's broader ambition, combining strong teaching, broad participation, high-performance opportunities and innovative approaches to student health and physical development.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and implement the strategic direction for Physical Education, Sport, Health and Fitness across the school.
• Lead curriculum development from Pre-Prep through Sixth Form, ensuring clear progression in physical literacy, technical skill, health knowledge and performance.
• Oversee the quality of teaching and learning across PE and Sport through effective monitoring, coaching and professional development.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of PE teachers, coaches and specialist staff.
• Establish clear departmental expectations, performance standards and improvement priorities.
• Use student performance, participation and achievement data to evaluate the impact of sporting provision.
• Ensure curricular and co-curricular programmes provide appropriate challenge for students with different abilities and sporting ambitions.
• Expand participation across cricket, football, swimming, water polo, athletics, basketball, netball, padel, badminton, gymnastics, martial arts, fencing and esports.
• Develop structured pathways for students with the potential to progress into competitive and high-performance sport.
• Coordinate internal and external fixtures, tournaments, sports days, competitions and major school sporting events.
• Strengthen opportunities in sailing, rowing, skiing, equestrian sport, golf, tennis and other off-site activities through appropriate partnerships.
• Build relationships with clubs, academies, governing bodies, facilities and external sporting organisations.
• Ensure students have access to varied enrichment opportunities that promote lifelong physical activity and wellbeing.
• Lead quality assurance across curriculum planning, assessment, coaching and extracurricular provision.
• Review the effectiveness of departmental systems and introduce improvements where required.
• Support staff through coaching, mentoring, performance development and subject-specific professional learning.
• Encourage innovative approaches to physical education and sport that complement the school 's research and technology focus.
• Work collaboratively with senior leaders to integrate sport, wellbeing and physical development into wider school strategy.
• Maintain rigorous safeguarding, health and safety, risk assessment and supervision standards across all sporting activities.
• Oversee appropriate use of facilities, equipment and resources.
• Promote sporting achievement while maintaining an inclusive culture in which participation and personal development are equally valued.
• Represent the school 's sporting programme internally and externally and contribute actively to the wider school community.

Ideal Profile

• B.Ed or bachelor 's degree with PGCE, PGDE or equivalent recognised teaching qualification in a relevant subject area.
• Master 's degree or recognised leadership qualification is highly desirable.
• Minimum four years of successful subject leadership or relevant senior leadership experience.
• Demonstrated record of outstanding teaching and improved student outcomes.
• Proven experience leading Physical Education and Sport curriculum development.
• Strong background in managing co-curricular and competitive sporting provision.
• Experience developing teachers and coaches through structured professional learning.
• Previous leadership across a through-school environment serving students aged approximately 3-18 is advantageous.
• Strong understanding of curriculum progression, assessment and quality assurance in Physical Education.
• Experience managing sporting events, fixtures and competition programmes.
• Evidence of developing effective external sporting partnerships.
• Strong people leadership, coaching, communication and organisational capability.
• Ability to balance mass participation with pathways for high-performing athletes.
• Reflective and solution-focused approach to continuous improvement.
• Capacity to bring creativity and ambition to a technologically advanced school environment.
• Professional approach aligned with integrity, empathy and fortitude.

Skills Set

• Sports leadership
• Physical Education
• PE curriculum leadership
• Sports curriculum development
• Whole-school sport strategy
• Health and fitness education
• Co-curricular sport
• Competitive sport
• Staff leadership
• Teacher coaching
• Professional development
• Quality assurance
• Student achievement
• Sports performance
• Physical literacy
• Sports participation
• Talent development
• Competition management
• Event management
• External partnerships
• Sports academies
• Cricket
• Football
• Swimming
• Water polo
• Athletics
• Basketball
• Netball
• Padel
• Badminton
• Gymnastics
• Martial arts
• Fencing
• Esports
• Risk assessment
• Safeguarding
• Sports facility management

Why Join Us

GEMS School of Research and Innovation offers an unusually broad platform for a senior sports leader to shape provision across an entire 3-18 educational journey. The school 's investment in AI, robotics, advanced facilities and emerging technologies sits alongside an extensive sporting programme, creating scope to build a modern model of Physical Education that combines participation, performance, health, innovation and real-world partnerships. The role also provides access to the wider GEMS Education network and a comprehensive employment package including a competitive tax-free salary, fully furnished accommodation, free schooling, private medical insurance, annual airfare to the employee 's country of residence, end-of-service gratuity and GEMS Rewards.

About the Company

GEMS Education has a 65-year history in private education and operates an extensive international school network. GEMS School of Research and Innovation in Dubai is positioned as a future-focused school integrating personalised learning, advanced technology, AI, robotics, VR, AR and strong academic and extracurricular pathways from Pre-Prep through Sixth Form.