Head of Documentary - Film Director

Visioneers; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 293,000 - 368,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media company in the United Arab Emirates is searching for a Head of Documentary Department to oversee all aspects of documentary filmmaking. The successful candidate will combine creative direction with hands-on production, ensuring high-quality storytelling and team collaboration. They will lead a team, manage multiple projects, and require fluency in Arabic. This is an ideal role for a senior creative leader with a strong portfolio in documentary formats, looking to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Film Director or Documentary Director.
• Strong background in documentary storytelling and investigative formats.
• Ability to lead creatively while remaining hands-on.

Responsibilities

• Define the creative vision and storytelling approach for documentaries.
• Oversee development and production of documentary projects.
• Supervise Junior Director and production teams on projects.

Skills

Film direction

Documentary storytelling

Creative leadership

Visual storytelling skills

Team management

Multi-project management

Fluent in Arabic

Job description

Role Overview

Head of Documentary Department – Film Director at Wasl Channel is a senior creative leadership role responsible for overseeing all documentary films and high‑production video content. It combines creative direction, strategic oversight, and hands‑on execution, ensuring all documentary and premium productions meet the highest storytelling and production standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Creative Direction & Vision
  • Define the creative vision, storytelling approach, visual style for all documentary productions.
  • Decide on narrative structure, storytelling approach, visual tone, duration and format of each film.
  • Select the most appropriate style per topic (cinematic, realistic, investigative, etc.).
• Documentary Production Oversight
  • Oversee development and production of short documentaries, investigative documentaries, high‑production content, premium social media documentary formats.
  • Manage multiple documentary projects concurrently.
  • Ensure outputs meet Wasl’s quality, ethical, and cultural standards.
• Pre‑Production Leadership
  • Lead idea development and concept refinement.
  • Review and guide research outcomes.
  • Develop and approve treatments, story outlines and narrative angles.
  • Work closely with researchers to ensure depth, accuracy, and integrity.
• Production & Direction
  • Direct selected projects personally when required.
  • Supervise and guide the Junior Director and other crews on parallel projects.
  • Provide clear creative direction to filming teams.
  • Be present on set when necessary and involved in critical production moments.
• Post‑Production & Editing
  • Review edits, narrative flow, pacing, and final structure.
  • Work closely with editors.
  • Personally edit projects when needed (hands‑on role).
  • Ensure final cut aligns with approved vision and message.
• Team Management
  • Lead and manage 2 Researchers and 1 Junior Director.
  • Mentor and develop team members.
  • Assign tasks, review outputs, ensure collaboration.
  • Participate in hiring and team growth as department expands.
• Cross‑Department Coordination
  • Act as main point of contact between Documentary Department and Head of Production.
  • Align timelines, resources, and production plans.
  • Coordinate execution while maintaining creative independence from Content Department.
• Language & Content Scope
  • All productions are Arabic only.
  • Choose suitable storytelling style per topic.
  • Ensure cultural sensitivity, accuracy, and community alignment.

Required Skills & Experience

• Proven experience as a Film Director or Documentary Director.
• Strong background in documentary storytelling and investigative formats.
• Ability to lead creatively while remaining hands‑on.
• Strong editorial judgment and visual storytelling skills.
• Experience managing creative teams.
• Comfortable working on multiple high‑pressure projects simultaneously.
• Fluent in Arabic.

This Role Is Ideal For

• Someone who can lead vision while executing details.
• Someone equally comfortable directing and editing.
• Someone who understands both cinematic quality and real‑world storytelling.
• Someone who thrives in high‑standard, fast‑moving environments.
• Someone who can balance creative ambition with practical execution.

This Role Is Not

• A purely administrative or managerial role.
• A traditional TV‑only or non‑hands‑on director role.