Head of Department - English

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

Benefits offered by this job

Fully furnished accommodation

Private medical insurance

Annual airfare

Free schooling

End-of-service gratuity

GEMS Rewards

Job summary

GEMS Education UAE seeks a Head of Department - English in Dubai to lead curriculum quality, teaching standards, staff development, and student outcomes. You will shape advanced English provision, emphasising literature, writing, journalism, and digital literacy while aligning with whole-school improvement goals.

The role requires substantial KS4/KS5 leadership experience, a strong teaching track record, and a collaborative leadership style to drive academic excellence across the department.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in English curriculum and staffing.
• Experience leading KS4/KS5 English programmes and moderation.
• Record of raising academic standards across a team.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, development, and evaluation of a rigorous English curriculum for secondary and Sixth Form.
• Maintain high standards in literature, language analysis, and academic writing.
• Develop opportunities in journalism, digital storytelling, and media literacy.
• Coach teachers, mentor staff, and drive departmental improvement using data.
• Collaborate with senior leaders on school improvement priorities and parental communication.

Skills

English department leadership

KS4 English

KS5 English

Curriculum leadership

Staff coaching

Teacher mentoring

Data analysis

Assessment design

Parent communication

Interdisciplinary curriculum planning

Education

B.Ed or relevant bachelor

PGCE/PGDE or equivalent

Master's degree (strongly preferred)

Job description

Head of Department - English Job Snapshot

Role: Head of Department - English

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Industry: Education Management

Function: Educaiton Management

Experience: Substantial KS4 and KS5 English teaching and leadership experience

Job Type: Full-time

Position Overview: Head of Department - English in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a senior Education Management opportunity for an accomplished English educator ready to lead curriculum quality, teaching standards, staff development, and student outcomes within a highly innovative school environment. The role combines academic leadership with contemporary curriculum development, giving the successful candidate responsibility for strengthening English provision across literature, academic writing, creative communication, critical thinking, digital storytelling, and journalism while supporting ambitious whole-school improvement goals.

Job Details

Country: United Arab Emirates

City: Dubai

Industry: Education Management

Function: Educaiton Management

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 Head of Department - English will shape the strategic direction of English teaching while ensuring consistently high academic expectations across the department. The position requires a leader who can preserve the depth of traditional literary study while expanding student capabilities in modern communication, journalism, digital media, creative expression, and analytical writing. Working within a technology-rich school environment, the department head will guide curriculum development, coach teachers, evaluate academic performance, and introduce teaching approaches that improve engagement and attainment. The role also has a wider impact on school improvement by connecting English education with interdisciplinary learning, innovation, university preparation, and emerging professional pathways.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, development, and continuous evaluation of a rigorous English curriculum across relevant secondary and Sixth Form phases.
• Maintain strong standards in literature, language analysis, academic writing, creative writing, communication, and critical thinking.
• Develop curriculum opportunities that incorporate journalism, digital storytelling, media literacy, and contemporary communication formats.
• Monitor teaching quality across the department and provide constructive coaching that strengthens classroom practice.
• Mentor English teachers through professional dialogue, observation, targeted development, and collaborative planning.
• Use attainment, progress, and assessment data to identify priorities and implement measurable departmental improvement strategies.
• Ensure KS4 and KS5 programmes prepare students effectively for examinations, university progression, and demanding academic pathways.
• Lead moderation, assessment design, curriculum mapping, and standardisation to maintain consistency across teaching groups.
• Organise literary initiatives, writing workshops, enrichment activities, competitions, publications, and student-led English projects.
• Encourage innovative use of educational technology and digital resources where they strengthen literacy, research, collaboration, and creativity.
• Work closely with senior leaders on school improvement priorities and contribute informed recommendations based on departmental performance.
• Build a collaborative department culture where resources, ideas, effective practices, and professional expertise are actively shared.
• Maintain productive communication with parents regarding academic expectations, progress, interventions, and opportunities for student development.
• Support talented and high-achieving learners while ensuring suitable differentiation for students requiring additional language or academic support.
• Participate in extracurricular programmes, community initiatives, school events, and interdisciplinary projects that broaden the student experience.

Ideal Profile

Candidates should hold a B.Ed or a relevant bachelor 's degree together with a PGCE, PGDE, or equivalent recognised teaching qualification. A master 's degree or comparable postgraduate qualification is strongly preferred for this departmental leadership position. Applicants must demonstrate substantial successful experience teaching English at KS4 and KS5 or equivalent levels, supported by a strong record of student achievement and high-quality teaching. Previous leadership experience should include curriculum development, teacher mentoring, departmental improvement, performance analysis, or responsibility for raising academic standards across a team. The ideal candidate will combine deep English subject expertise with confident leadership and the ability to translate strategic objectives into practical classroom improvements. Strong analytical skills are important, particularly in interpreting student performance data and establishing improvement priorities. A collaborative leadership style, exceptional communication ability, professional ambition, and willingness to contribute actively to the wider school community are essential.

Skills Set

• English department leadership
• KS4 English
• KS5 English
• GCSE English
• A-level English
• English literature
• English language
• Curriculum leadership
• Curriculum development
• Academic writing
• Creative writing
• Literary analysis
• Critical thinking
• Journalism
• Digital storytelling
• Media literacy
• Assessment design
• Data analysis
• Student progress monitoring
• Staff coaching
• Teacher mentoring
• Departmental improvement planning
• Teaching quality assurance
• Educational technology
• Literacy development
• Examination preparation
• Interdisciplinary curriculum planning
• Parent communication
• Professional development leadership

Why Join Us

This leadership opportunity places the Head of Department - English within a school designed around research, technology, personalised learning, and future-focused education. Significant investment in artificial intelligence, robotics, immersive learning, digital platforms, and specialist facilities gives academic leaders scope to rethink how traditional subjects connect with emerging skills and real-world applications. The wider school model spans Pre-Prep, Prep, Secondary, and Sixth Form, creating opportunities for curriculum continuity and long-term academic development. Students also benefit from links with universities, industry partners, advanced technology programmes, and practical career pathways. The employment package includes a competitive tax-free salary, individual fully furnished accommodation, free schooling, private medical insurance, annual airfare to the employee 's country of residence, and end-of-service gratuity. Teachers also receive access to GEMS Rewards, providing savings and offers across a broad range of services in the UAE.

About the Company

GEMS Education is a long-established international education provider with a 65-year legacy and a broad network of schools and educational partnerships. GEMS School of Research and Innovation represents its future-focused approach, combining academic excellence with major investment in artificial intelligence, robotics, computing, immersive technology, research, and personalised learning. The school connects strong traditional academic foundations with modern technologies and industry-facing opportunities to prepare students for university, employment, and an increasingly technology-driven world.