Elementary School Counselor - January 2026

GEMS DUBAI AMERICAN ACADEMY; Dubai; On-site; AED 60,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An international educational institution in Dubai is looking for a dynamic Elementary School Counselor to start in January 2026. This role focuses on providing academic, personal, social, and emotional counseling to support student success. The ideal candidate should hold a relevant degree and have experience in a school environment. Strong interpersonal skills and empathy are vital for building relationships with students. The position offers an excellent tax-free salary and perks including discounts through the GEMS rewards program.

Benefits

Tax-free salary

Access to GEMS rewards app for discounts

Qualifications

• Minimum one year of school-based experience in counseling or similar role.
• Able to build strong relationships with students and parents.

Responsibilities

• Provide academic, personal, social, and emotional counseling for students.
• Design and implement a counseling program tailored to student needs.
• Manage student transition processes and secure external assistance for personal issues.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Empathy

Communication skills

Collaboration skills

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor of Education degree or relevant qualification in psychology/counseling

Job description

Position Overview:

We are seeking a dynamic and enthusiastic Elementary School Counselor to join our dedicated team from January 2026.

This is an exciting opportunity for a counselor who is passionate about education and is eager to contribute to the academic success of our students.

Job Purpose

Organize and provide academic, personal, social and emotional counseling for students.

Job Scope

Overall responsibility for designing and implementing a counseling program that meets the requirements of the school and student body and enables students to achieve success in all aspects of their life.

Key Responsibilities:

• Embrace and encourage the ethos and standards of excellence as defined in the GEMS Core Values.
• Establish procedures and time frames to provide students with academic, personal, social, emotional and psychological counseling.
• Managing the transition process for students.
• Establish procedures for securing external assistance for students with personal problems and emotional needs.
• Work with the senior management team to develop experiences and activities which are beneficial for students’ holistic development and which promote responsibility, leadership skills, cooperation and other personal and social skills.
• Maintain student records on progress, achievements, activities and interests, tracking student progress using all available data and evidence.
• Establish proactive guidelines and procedures to deal with bullying.
• Establish and administer appropriate testing programs to evaluate student aptitude and achievement.
• Establish systems to notify parents promptly about problems in class, with school work or behavioral issues.
• Ensure the GEMS policies, procedures, and codes of conduct are followed at all times.
• Initiate effort and energy beyond the typical work day, where the tasks require additional commitment.
• Attend staff meetings and serve on committees as required.
• Perform other duties as requested by direct & dotted reporting line managers / supervisors.

Skills

Successful candidate will need:

• A Bachelor of Education degree, or an initial degree plus a relevant qualification such in psychology/counseling.
• At least one year’s school-based experience or previous experience working with schools and students in an counseling capacity.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and empathy.
• Able to build strong relationships with students and gain their trust.
• Understands the importance of confidentiality and discretion.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to build strong relationships with students, parents and colleagues.
• A strong desire to continually improve their practice and deliver outstanding counseling experiences for their students.
• Available to start in January 2026.

Please note

Interviews will be held face-to-face, where possible, or virtually on Zoom, as suitable candidates apply. We reserve the right to make appointments before the closing date of this advertisement, therefore early applications are recommended.

Join us in shaping the future of education. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of our students and help them become truly world-class and world-ready individuals.

All positions attract an excellent remuneration package including a competitive tax‑free salary.

GEMS Teachers also have free access to our loyalty app GEMS rewards www.gemsrewards.com which provides significant savings on day‑to‑day life in the UAE. We offer thousands of discounts and 2 for 1 offers on everything from flights, hotels, restaurants and retail outlets, making your salary go further and enhancing the opportunity to save whilst working overseas.