Head of Middle School Student Development & Wellbeing - Emirati Male ONLY

Taaleem is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. At Taaleem, we hold ourselves to a high standard of effective practices in relation to child protection, and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We expect all staff to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be subject to various background checks including receipt of references, proof of relevant qualifications, identification, and police checks, including overseas checks.

Dubai Schools is seeking an experienced, mature and highly respected UAE National to join its Middle School team in a leadership role focused on student development, pastoral care, mentoring and positive role modelling.

This is a distinctive opportunity for an individual with a background in the UAE Armed Forces, UAE Police or another uniformed public service to bring their leadership experience, discipline, personal integrity and mentoring capabilities into an educational environment.

The successful candidate will play an important role in supporting the personal, social and emotional development of middle school boys, helping them develop self-discipline, personal accountability, respect, resilience and positive relationships.

Working closely with the Principal, Middle School leadership, teachers and pastoral teams, the postholder will provide a visible and consistent presence across the school, building meaningful relationships with students and acting as a trusted mentor and positive male role model.

The role will promote high expectations, positive student engagement, Emirati identity, cultural values and responsible citizenship, contributing to a supportive and well-structured learning environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Student Development & Pastoral Care

* Establish positive, trusted relationships with students and act as a consistent adult mentor.
* Support students in developing emotional maturity, self-awareness, resilience and responsible decision-making.
* Provide guidance to students experiencing personal, social or educational challenges.
* Promote positive attitudes towards education, attendance, punctuality and participation.
* Identify students requiring additional pastoral support and work with the appropriate school specialists.
* Support students in developing confidence, independence and personal responsibility.

2. Positive Behaviour & Student Wellbeing

* Promote high standards of respect, discipline, personal responsibility and positive behaviour.
* Maintain a visible and supportive presence throughout the Middle School boys’ section.
* Support students in understanding boundaries, expectations and the importance of accountability.
* Encourage positive interactions, conflict resolution and respectful relationships.
* Work collaboratively with teachers and school leaders to support students in meeting school expectations.
* Provide calm, consistent guidance when students require additional support or direction.
* Support the implementation of appropriate school behaviour and pastoral frameworks.

3. Male Role Modelling & Mentoring

* Act as a positive and credible male role model for middle school boys.
* Demonstrate integrity, respect, discipline, responsibility and leadership through personal example.
* Encourage students to develop confidence, resilience, self-discipline and respect for others.
* Promote Emirati heritage, national identity, cultural values and positive citizenship.
* Deliver informal mentoring and structured personal development activities.
* Encourage students to take pride in their achievements, conduct and contribution to the school community.

4. Student Leadership & Engagement

* Support the development of student leadership, teamwork and individual responsibility.
* Encourage participation in sports, physical activities, community initiatives and extracurricular programmes.
* Develop initiatives that build confidence, resilience, teamwork and interpersonal skills.
* Encourage positive peer relationships and a strong sense of belonging within the school.
* Support students in becoming responsible, respectful and engaged members of the wider community.

5. Parent & Community Engagement

* Build constructive relationships with parents and families, particularly where additional pastoral guidance is required.
* Participate in parent meetings alongside school leadership where appropriate.
* Act as a positive cultural link between the school, Emirati families and the wider community.
* Support initiatives that strengthen parental engagement and shared expectations around student development.

6. Collaboration & Reporting

* Work closely with the Principal, Middle School leadership, teachers and pastoral care teams.
* Maintain appropriate records of pastoral interventions and student development.
* Identify recurring themes and recommend proactive student support initiatives.
* Contribute to the continuous improvement of student wellbeing and development approaches.
* Ensure all interventions align with school policies, safeguarding requirements and UAE education regulations.

We are looking for an individual who brings maturity, confidence, strong personal values and the ability to positively influence young people.

Essential Requirements

• UAE National
• Previous experience in a leadership, supervisory, mentoring or people-management role.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to establish authority while remaining approachable, fair and supportive.
• Confidence in managing challenging situations calmly and professionally.
• A genuine interest in youth development, education and mentoring.
• Fluency in Arabic and good working proficiency in English.

Desirable Experience

• Previous career in the UAE Armed Forces, UAE Police or another uniformed public service.
• Experience working with young people, schools, youth organisations or community programmes.
• Experience in coaching, mentoring, leadership development or behavioural management.
•  Knowledge of UAE culture, values and the expectations of Emirati families.
• First aid and relevant safeguarding training.

Personal Attributes

• Calm, confident and emotionally intelligent.
• Respected and credible, with strong personal integrity.
• Firm but fair, consistent and approachable.
• Patient, resilient and able to manage challenging situations.
• An excellent communicator and positive role model.
• Passionate about developing and supporting the next generation of young Emiratis.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the development of young people, bringing the leadership, discipline, experience and mentoring capabilities developed through public service into a modern educational environment.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to make a lasting difference to students’ personal development, confidence, wellbeing and future potential.