Deputy Headteacher - Student Innovation and Futures - Aug 2027

GEMS WELLINGTON SCHOOL - QATAR; Doha; On-site; QAR 446,000 - 781,000; Full time

Job summary

GEMS Wellington School Qatar is seeking a Deputy Headteacher – Student Innovation and Futures to join the Executive Leadership Team. The role focuses on shaping a technology-enabled vision for teaching, learning and student development, ensuring digital fluency, global competencies and future-ready skills across all key stages.

You will oversee careers education, work experience and university guidance, while aligning the Sixth Form provision with the school’s futures strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of the GEMS Digital and AI Strategy across school life.
• Develop and regularly review the school’s Digital Usage and AI Policy, ensuring safe and ethical use of technology.
• Drive innovation in teaching and learning through digital tools and emerging technologies across all phases.
• Promote high levels of digital literacy and fluency among students and staff.
• Lead professional development to build staff capability in digital and AI-enhanced pedagogy.
• Ensure the school remains at the frontier of innovation within the GEMS Education network.
• Champion the Future Readiness pillar by ensuring innovation, AI and digital technologies enhance learning and future-ready skills.

Job description

Job description

Whole School Deputy Headteacher – Student Innovation and Futures

About GEMS Wellington School, Qatar

GEMS Wellington School Qatar is a leading British curriculum international school in Doha, delivering high-quality education from Early Years through to Sixth Form. As part of the global GEMS Education network and the wider Wellington family of schools, we are proud of a brand built on aspiration, belonging and high performance. Our school vision is to be an aspirational and globally minded community of happy, high-performing learners who achieve both personal and academic excellence.

Under the Wellington message of Excellence with Purpose, our work is shaped by three clear pillars: Academic Excellence, Character Development and Future Readiness. Together, these define what it means to be a Wellington learner: academically ambitious, values-led, globally minded and ready to contribute with confidence in a rapidly changing world.

The school serves a diverse and ambitious community, characterised by highly motivated students, supportive parents and dedicated staff. At an exciting stage in its development, the school continues to strengthen its reputation for academic achievement, innovation, personal development and future-focused education. Staff benefit from access to world-class professional development, leadership pathways and collaboration with leading practitioners across the GEMS network.

About the Role

The Deputy Headteacher – Student Innovation and Futures will sit on the Executive Leadership Team at WSQ and is a key strategic leadership position, central to advancing the Wellington brand and bringing our three pillars to life through innovation, digital transformation and futurefocused learning.

Reporting to the Principal and working closely with our two Vice Principals, the successful candidate will lead the development and implementation of a forward-thinking, technologyenabled vision for teaching, learning and student development. The role will ensure that students are equipped with the digital fluency, global competencies, character strengths and future-ready skills required to thrive in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving world.

The post holder will also oversee careers education, student pathways, global skills development and alumni engagement, ensuring a coherent and aspirational futures programme across all key stages. In addition, the role includes line management of the Assistant Headteacher – Head of Sixth Form, ensuring strong alignment between innovation, futures provision and post-18 outcomes.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced senior leader with a passion for digital innovation, educational transformation and preparing students for life beyond school.

Key Responsibilities

The Deputy Headteacher – Student Innovation and Futures will:

In doing so, the post holder will help ensure that Academic Excellence, Character Development and Future Readiness are not simply statements of intent, but lived priorities embedded across curriculum, culture, wider learning and student pathways.

Digital Strategy and Innovation (Core Focus)

• Lead the implementation of the GEMS Digital and AI Strategy, ensuring it is embedded across all aspects of school life.
• Develop, implement and regularly review the school’s Digital Usage and AI Policy, ensuring safe, ethical and impactful use of technology.
• Drive innovation in teaching and learning through the effective integration of digital tools and emerging technologies across all phases of the school.
• Promote high levels of digital literacy and fluency among students and staff.
• Lead professional development to build staff confidence and capability in digital and AIenhanced pedagogy.
• Ensure the school remains at the frontier of innovation within the GEMS Education network.
• Champion the Future Readiness pillar by ensuring that innovation, AI and digital technologies enhance learning, strengthen student agency and prepare learners for emerging global opportunities.

Futures, Careers and Pathways

• Lead and quality assure a comprehensive Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme.
• Oversee work experience and internship programmes, developing meaningful partnerships with employers and organisations.
• Support high-quality university guidance and diverse post-18 pathways.

Sixth Form and Student Progression

• Line manage the Assistant Headteacher – Head of Sixth Form.
• Ensure strong alignment between Sixth Form provision and the school’s futures strategy.
• Support the development of a high-performing and aspirational Sixth Form culture.

Global Skills, Scholarships and Enrichment

• Oversee the Global Skills Project and Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
• Lead engagement with GEMS Genius, Global Academy and scholarship programmes.
• Ensure students are provided with opportunities to develop independence, research skills and global competencies.

Alumni and Community Engagement

• Develop and strengthen the GEMS for Life alumni programme.
• Build meaningful alumni engagement to support mentoring, careers guidance and school development.

Character and Personal Development

• Lead the Determined Genius character education programme, embedding resilience, leadership and global citizenship across the school.
• Strengthen the Character Development pillar by ensuring that innovation and futures education are grounded in resilience, leadership, service, ethical decision-making and global citizenship.

Leadership and Management

The Deputy Headteacher – Student Innovation and Futures will:

• Provide strategic leadership for digital innovation, futures education and student pathways.
• Lead cross-school initiatives that enhance student readiness for higher education and employment.
• Develop partnerships with universities, industry and external organisations.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of innovation and futures programmes.
• Support staff development in digital pedagogy and emerging technologies.
• Work collaboratively with senior leaders to ensure alignment between academic provision and future-focused initiatives.
• Contribute fully to the leadership of the school as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Whole School Contribution

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team at GEMS Wellington School Qatar, the Deputy Headteacher will help lead a school culture where Excellence with Purpose is visible in the daily experience of students, staff and families. The Deputy Headteacher will:

• Support the Principal in delivering the school’s vision, Wellington brand and strategic priorities across Academic Excellence, Character Development and Future Readiness.
• Contribute to whole-school improvement planning and implementation.
• Promote a culture of innovation, aspiration, high standards and purposeful excellence.
• Model the values and ethos of the school and of GEMS Education.
• Build strong relationships with students, parents and the wider community.
• Contribute to leadership development across the school.
• Represent the school at internal and external events as required.

Preferred candidate

Years of experience

No experience required