Director - Arts and Culture - Aldar Education (Centre of Excellence)

Aldar Education is seeking a Centre of Excellence (COE) Director of Arts & Culture in Abu Dhabi. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled professional to join the highly successful Aldar family of schools and to help shape the future of Abu Dhabi’s leading school group.

Since its inception in 2007 with just 250 students, Aldar Education has grown into a highly sought-after education provider, with more than 25 owned and managed premium and super-premium schools and academies- in partnership with some of the world’s most prestigious institutions including Rugby School, King’s College Wimbledon, and Cranleigh. The Group now serves over 38,000 students through 5,000 educators from more than 100 nationalities to deliver world-class education across a broad range of curricula and learning pathways from nursery through to K12.

At Aldar Education, our impact goes far beyond the classroom: we are proud to contribute to the UAE’s vision for a sustainable, knowledge-based economy through premium education. With this in mind, we hire educators and industry professionals who not only embody our values and cultural ethos but also bring a genuine passion for education—qualities central to our mission of shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

If you are passionate about excellence and ready to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to apply and be part of our journey.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the highly successful Aldar family of schools and to help shape the future of Abu Dhabi’s leading school group.

Lead the strategic, cultural and commercial development of Arts and Culture across Aldar Education, positioning the Centre of Excellence (CoE) as a group-wide hub for outstanding arts education, cultural engagement, elite talent development and high-quality public programming. Provide professional oversight and support to school-based arts leaders, strengthen teaching and artistic standards, and create pathways for employee growth, succession and internal promotion. Develop sustainable revenue through approved programmes, events, partnerships, sponsorship and external engagement, while ensuring commercial activity supports educational priorities. Identify and nurture elite student talent, expand scholarship, audition and higher-education opportunities, and build meaningful UAE and international partnerships across the performing, visual and cultural arts.

Minimum Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree in Music, Drama, Performing Arts, Arts Education or a closely related field, or an equivalent recognised professional qualification.

- Relevant teaching qualification or substantial demonstrable school-education leadership experience. Postgraduate study in arts, education or leadership is desirable.

Minimum Experience:

- Typically 10 or more years of relevant Arts and Culture experience, including at least 5 years leading a school arts programme, specialist arts provision or a comparable education portfolio.

- Substantial professional industry experience as a performer, director, conductor, producer, artistic director or equivalent, alongside sustained work with school-age learners.

- Evidence of leading multidisciplinary arts and cultural provision, developing employees, enabling internal progression, delivering major programmes and building productive external partnerships.

- Demonstrable contribution to student auditions, scholarships or progression into selective arts institutions; international, multicultural or multi-campus experience is desirable.

- Strong artistic judgement and credibility in Music or Drama, with the breadth to lead both through specialist colleagues.

- Understanding of school curricula, age-appropriate progression, inclusive arts practice, quality assurance and safeguarding.

- Ability to lead through influence across schools, coach subject leaders and translate strategic ambition into delivery.

- Established professional networks and the ability to develop partnerships across different regions and cultural traditions.

- Knowledge of international arts admissions, audition preparation and scholarship processes.

- Commercial planning, revenue development, production and project management, negotiation, budget management and resource prioritisation.

- Excellent communication, relationship building and public representation; sound judgement when engaging high-profile guests.

- Ability to use participation, destination and evaluation data to improve provision and demonstrate impact.

- Demonstrated ability to develop employees, build succession pipelines and support fair, evidence-based internal promotion.

- Strong capability in identifying elite talent and creating structured development and progression pathways.

What We Offer:

Aldar Education is a family of world-class, child-centered, and innovative schools based in the UAE. We educate students across our group of owned and managed schools and as we grow, so does our need for highly skilled, inspirational, and dedicated school and educational leaders. We offer an attractive remuneration package including a range of benefits. Our future-focused learning model includes both students and staff, so we place a special emphasis on professional development, coaching, and training.

Successful candidates will have access to a wide network of professionals and opportunities to both lead and contribute to training others as well as developing themselves.

This job description is not all-inclusive. Aldar Education reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are dedicated to our national development strategy and encourage UAE Nationals in their application to our company.

Aldar Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and police clearance.