Learning Initiatives Coordinator

Job Title: Learning Initiatives Coordinator
Reports to: Learning Initiatives Manager
Department: Learning Initiatives
Location: 421 Arts Campus, Abu Dhabi
Job Type: Full-time

421 is seeking a dynamic, highly organized, and community-focused Learning Initiatives Coordinator to lead the development and delivery of educational programs. This role is pivotal in how 421 engages with diverse audiences and communities, through workshops, professional development, outreach, and innovative learning initiatives.

The Learning Initiatives Coordinator will take ownership of:

• Educational programs inspired by 421’s exhibitions, and season theme
• Outreach programs targeting educational institutions beyond the 421 Arts Campus

The primary aim of the educational programs is to promote access, engagement, understanding, and learning for a broad segment of 421’s audience. The Coordinator will focus on structural educational audiences, particularly early‑career creative practitioners, high school students, and both undergraduate and postgraduate students. By fostering an interest in cultural careers, the educational offerings will engage participants in hands‑on, practical processes that connect them with opportunities for community building within creative disciplines.

421 Arts Campus is an independent platform dedicated to emerging artists and creative practitioners in the UAE and across the region. A site for research, learning and experimentation, 421 provides a nurturing environment for emergent creative practices and those who want to harness the arts as an agent for social inquiry and transformation.

• Lead the development and implementation of seasonal educational programs that respond to current exhibitions and curatorial themes while catering to the interests and learning needs of specific audiences, including families, individuals with diverse abilities, and culturally‑curious community members.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts and educational partners to ensure programs resonate with participants and provide insightful experiences in the creative sector.
• Manage and maintain timelines and critical paths for all educational programs to ensure timely delivery and seamless execution.
• Ensure communication materials and deadlines are met by coordinating with the communications team on key dates and content requirements.
• Oversee the full administrative cycle of educational programs, including drafting and managing contracts, briefing internal teams (comms, ops, etc.), leading pre-program briefings and post-event debriefs, and collecting feedback for evaluation and reporting.
• Supervise external vendors and program partners, including educators, facilitators, and other collaborators, ensuring the smooth execution of educational programs.
• Actively propose improvements to programming, workflows, and community engagement strategies based on participant feedback and changing audience interests.
• Lead educational tours and facilitate discussions to further engage participants and encourage exploration of creative careers.

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (education, museum studies, arts, culture, or related disciplines)
• 2-4 years of experience in educational programming, events, or community engagement
• Exceptional organizational and timeline management skills
• Comfortable coordinating multiple teams and stakeholders under tight deadlines
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed
• Creative thinker with a keen interest in contemporary art and educational practices
• Clear written and verbal communication skills in English and Arabic are required

• Experience working within the educational sector in the UAE or the region
• Familiarity with vendor coordination
• Involvement in the local creative or educational scene is a strong plus