Director/Principal Pre-K to Grade 1

Ignite School is expanding with the opening of a new purpose-built Pre-K to Grade 1 campus located adjacent to our existing campus in Dubai. The new campus is currently under construction and is scheduled to open for the 2027/28 academic year.

The appointed School Director / Principal will join Ignite School during the 2026/27 academic year and will play a key leadership role in preparing the new campus for a successful opening.

Working closely with the Board of Trustees, KHDA, and the existing school leadership team, the Director will ensure that all regulatory, operational, staffing, and educational requirements are completed in line with approved standards and timelines.

This role offers a unique opportunity for an experienced and visionary educational leader to help establish the culture, systems, policies, and learning environment of a new early years and elementary campus from its inception.

The new 820-seat campus has been designed to provide a modern, student-centered learning environment that supports inquiry, collaboration, creativity, and early childhood development. Facilities will include dedicated learning spaces, specialist teaching areas, a parent and staff café, and extensive outdoor play and exploration areas.

Role Overview

The School Director / Principal will be responsible for the overall strategic direction, leadership, management, and efficient operation of the new campus. The role includes ensuring KHDA compliance, leading operational readiness, supporting student recruitment and enrolment growth, overseeing staff planning and recruitment, and ensuring a smooth transition for students, families, and staff into the new facility.

As the KHDA-nominated Principal, the Director will serve as the main point of contact for KHDA communications, compliance matters, inspections, and regulatory visits. The Director will also be ultimately accountable for the campus’s health, safety, wellbeing, standards, performance, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• New Campus Development and Opening Readiness
• Lead the planning and preparation required for the successful opening of the new Pre-K to Grade 1 campus.
• Work closely with the Board of Trustees and KHDA to ensure all regulatory requirements are met.
• Develop, adapt, and implement campus policies, procedures, systems, and operational readiness plans.
• Support the transition of staff, students, and families to the new campus.
• Oversee student recruitment, admissions planning, and enrolment growth for the new campus.
• Ensure the campus is fully prepared across academic, operational, staffing, compliance, facilities, and parent communication areas.
• Strategic Leadership and School Management
• Lead the implementation of the school’s mission, vision, and approved education plan.
• Provide clear strategic direction and ensure effective organizational management.
• Monitor school performance through key performance indicators and improvement targets.
• Ensure high standards in teaching, learning, student wellbeing, safeguarding, and operational delivery.
• Promote a positive, inclusive, and culturally respectful school environment.
• Maintain a strong focus on Emirati culture, Arabic language, Islamic values, and UAE national priorities.KHDA Compliance and Regulatory Accountability
• Serve as the KHDA-nominated Principal on the school’s Educational Services Permit.
• Act as the main point of contact for KHDA communications, inspections, visits, and compliance matters.
• Ensure all school records are accurate, updated, and available to KHDA when required.
• Ensure full compliance with KHDA, UAE regulatory requirements, safeguarding standards, health and safety expectations, and internal school policies.
• Oversee the implementation of policies related to admissions, health and safety, inclusion, wellbeing, safeguarding, curriculum, assessment, teaching, complaints, and student support.
• Teaching, Learning, and Student Outcomes
• Ensure high-quality teaching, learning, and educational provision across the campus.
• Monitor student progress, achievement, wellbeing, and engagement.
• Ensure the needs of all students are met, including Emirati students, students of determination, high-performing students, and students requiring additional support.
• Lead the continuous improvement of curriculum delivery, assessment practices, and learning outcomes.
• Support the development of a child-centered learning environment that promotes inquiry, creativity, collaboration, and early childhood development.
• Parent Partnership and Community Engagement
• Build strong, positive relationships with parents and the wider school community.
• Promote effective communication between the Director’s office, families, staff, and stakeholders.
• Lead parent engagement initiatives, meetings, events, and service recovery discussions when required.
• Use parent feedback, surveys, and evaluation data to support timely school improvement.
• Strengthen parent satisfaction, loyalty, and student re-registration.
• Operational and Financial Management
• Ensure effective use of school resources to support educational and operational priorities.
• Manage campus operations in line with approved budgets and school expectations.
• Support enrolment targets, re-registration, fee collection, and efficient resource allocation.
• Monitor facilities, health and safety, and service quality to ensure a safe and high-quality school environment.
• Identify operational challenges and allocate resources effectively to support school success.
• Staffing, Performance, and Human Resources
• Lead the recruitment and appointment of suitably qualified staff in line with KHDA and school requirements.
• Support the formation and development of the campus leadership and administrative teams.
• Oversee staff performance management, probation reviews, annual evaluations, and professional development.
• Promote staff retention, accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
• Manage staff-related matters in line with school HR policies, including performance concerns, disciplinary matters, grievances, and allegations against staff.
• School Improvement and Accreditation
• Lead the development and implementation of the School Improvement Plan.
• Support DSIB inspection readiness and continuous progress toward strong inspection outcomes.
• Contribute to maintaining and strengthening NEASC accreditation standards.
• Use data, feedback, and evaluation outcomes to drive measurable improvement.
• Ensure improvement actions are followed up, monitored, and completed to a high standard.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be an experienced educational leader with a strong background in early years and elementary education, school start-up or campus development, American curriculum leadership, and UAE regulatory compliance.

The candidate should demonstrate strong strategic thinking, excellent communication, sound judgment, operational discipline, and the ability to build trust with staff, parents, students, regulators, and the wider school community.