School Director – Ignite School UAE

School Director – Ignite School
- Dubai, UAE
- January 2027 Edvectus is thrilled to be selected as the exclusive retained search partner for Ignite School in the UAE. We invite applications for the pivotal position of School Director, commencing in January 2027. This is an inspiring opportunity to shape the future of a vibrant, fully accredited American curriculum institution located in Al Warqa'a 3, Dubai.

About Ignite School Since opening in September 2018, Ignite has flourished into a Pre‑K to Grade 12 American curriculum learning community serving over 1,900 students across more than 80 nationalities. Fully accredited by NEASC and compliant with KHDA requirements, the school delivers rigorous New York State learning standards alongside UAE Ministry of Education standards for Arabic and Islamic Education. Ignite represents an incredible environment for visionary leadership, supported by a dedicated faculty and a campus positioned for exceptional future connectivity.

The Role Reporting directly to the Board of Trustees, the School Director serves as the senior educational and operational leader and the designated KHDA Principal. You will be accountable for academic standards, safeguarding, student wellbeing, regulatory compliance, and overall institutional performance. The incoming leader will steer the school through its next exciting chapter: expanding facilities, elevating the DSIB inspection rating, and growing enrolment toward 3,000 students.

• Parent Partnership:
  Drive parent satisfaction and loyalty to achieve a sustainable student re‑registration rate above 90 per cent.
• Governance & Mission:
  Realise the school vision through the KHDA Governance Framework Scorecard, ensuring robust risk management and full regulatory compliance.
• Resource Allocation:
  Maintain strict financial discipline, target timely fee collection, and oversee the recruitment and retention of high‑calibre educators.
• School Improvement:
  Lead collaborative DSIB and NEASC self‑evaluation frameworks to continuously elevate teaching and learning standards across all phases.

• Qualifications:
  
  A teaching qualification paired with a master's degree or higher in Educational Leadership or School Administration, supported by valid United States state educator licensure and administrative certification.
• Experience:
  
  A minimum of 5 years of teaching experience in an American curriculum setting, alongside at least 3 years of proven senior leadership experience as a School Director, Principal, or Superintendent.
• UAE & KHDA Expertise:
  Some understanding of the UAE educational landscape, including KHDA regulatory compliance, DSIB inspection frameworks, and local accreditation standards.
• Cultural Alignment:
  American nationality and teaching background are preferred to align with the curriculum and faculty demographic.