Chief Education Officer
Esol Education LLC (United Arab Emirates)

Chief Education Officer

Dubai, UAE

Start Date: August 1, 2025

Job Description

Scope and Purpose of the Role:

The Chief Education Officer (CEO) will be responsible for strategic and academic support and development of a number of schools within the Esol Education organization. The main role of the CEO is to support each school in raising standards of academic achievement and ensuring that the Esol Mission and Vision and the individual school’s Mission, Vision, and core values are firmly embedded in the strategic planning and day-to-day operations of each school.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Esol Education Board and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) of each school to assist in monitoring and evaluating all educational aspects of the school. This will include supporting the school in its self-evaluation process and the creation of short- and long-term improvement and development plans that enable each school to identify key priorities and readiness for external inspection and accreditation.

In collaboration with the other members of the Esol team, the CEO is co-responsible for the recruitment, retention, and appraisal of the Director and the involvement of appointments of other SLT members as necessary. It is a crucial part of the role to guide, mentor, and support the Directors and their respective Senior Leadership Teams, particularly in preparation for school inspection. The CEO plays a crucial role in supporting schools in readiness for the visit of external inspectors and accreditors. Establishing positive, trusting, professional relationships between Esol and each school Director and SLT is crucial to the success of raising standards in each school.

Esol Education

This position is a Senior position at the Esol Education (Esol) group of schools. Esol has enjoyed over 40 years of success in establishing and operating high-quality international schools. Today, Esol’s team of educators and other professionals operates a total of nine international schools, educating over 10,000 students in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Egypt, Cyprus, Lebanon, and Hong Kong. Its American schools are all accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and its British schools are accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) in Europe.

Six of its schools offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP), with many of its American schools also offering the IB Primary Years Program (IBPYP).  Esol’s schools are known for uniformly high educational standards and broad academic and extra-curricular programs in the arts, culture, sports, and service. The organization’s focus is best summed up by its Vision Statement: To be the most reputable and trusted provider of high-quality international education.

Esol and its schools have longstanding affiliations with the leading organizations in international American education, such as the Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE) and the Association of International School Heads (AISH), as well as regional organizations like the Near East/South Asia Council of Overseas Schools (NESA) and the Mediterranean Association of International Schools (MAIS).

For more information about Esol Education and its schools worldwide, please visit www.esoleducation.com.

It is the responsibility of the CEO to ensure that the following are developed in each school to support school effectiveness and school improvement:

School Self-Evaluation Form (SEF); Strategic Plan; School Improvement Plan (SIP); Annual Esol Reports; Monitoring and Evaluation of Teaching, Learning, and Assessment; Program of Professional Development that links to whole school priorities; Updates of school policies such as Behavior, Assessment, Safeguarding and those linked to accreditation and inspection and compliance with local, national and curriculum related requirements; Collection, regular review and the analysis of school external and internal data and its use to implement initiatives and sustain high educational standards in all areas of the school. Ultimately the Director is responsible for ensuring that all the above are firmly embedded in the work of the school.

Other aspects of the role are to ensure that the Director, SLT, and other leaders in each school:

• Are accountable for raising and maintaining high educational standards.
• Oversee and monitor the attainment and progress of students through manageable and effective tracking systems.
• Are involved in robust and comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of teaching, learning, and assessment through lesson observations, focused feedback, student work scrutinies, and other processes that highlight good practice and enable all teachers to develop and improve.
• Implement a broad and balanced curriculum.
• Oversee the creation of valid and reliable school assessments.
• Oversee, monitor, and receive updates on the well-being of students and staff and the personal and social development of students.
• Regularly survey school stakeholders and act on feedback.
• Have enabled students to access a range of post-school opportunities through a choice of pathways.
• Effectively implement accreditation and inspection report recommendations.
• Distribute leadership so as to empower and enable middle leaders to contribute to school effectiveness.
• Have created a safe and secure environment that meets the local and national health and safety requirements.
• Are visible and accessible to staff, students, and other stakeholders, such as parents, within reasonable expectations.
• Have established community partnerships.
• Are in regular communication with parents who receive updates on their child’s progress.
• Establish and maintain a positive relationship with the competent regulatory authorities.
• Encourage creativity and innovation.
• Adopt a collaborative and collegial approach to the creation of policy including the SEF and SIP.
• Are empathetic, culturally sensitive, compassionate and mutually respectful, fair and open-minded, and understand the benefits of high levels of staff morale.
• Are aware of students post-secondary destinations such as college and university applications and acceptances.
• Take opportunities to expand networks with other Esol schools.

Esol-wide responsibilities:

• Contribute to the staff professional development program in each school.
• Ensure all Esol reports are submitted by the Director or delegated person to the Esol portal in September and June of each academic year from all Esol schools.
• Commitment to and leading on Esol-wide initiatives
• Collect and analyze all external data from all Esol schools
• Represent and be prepared to present at Esol at International Conferences

The successful candidate will ideally be/have:

•  Qualified to Masters level, most likely in an educational capacity.
• Substantial school leadership and teaching experience in both national and international curricula.
• A qualified inspector, preferably Ofsted, ISI, or similar, with experience in school inspections.
• Experience in the Gulf, specifically with KHDA and/or ADEK.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the international education sector.
• Excellent understanding of and experience in curriculum management, design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Demonstrable evidence of success in raising students’ attainment.
• Broad understanding of frameworks for school improvement planning and self-evaluation.
• A collaborative approach to working with different stakeholder groups.
• Ability to develop constructive relationships and build trust.
• Outstanding interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Cultural awareness, understanding, and sensitivity.
• Adaptable and open to new ideas and innovation.
• Energetic, enthusiastic, and reliable.

Remuneration

The position entails an attractive remuneration package that includes a competitive tax-free salary, accommodation or accommodation allowance, car, annual flight tickets from and to home of record, and international health insurance

Application:

To apply, submit the following by November 30, 2024 to leadership@esoleducation.com

• Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of application of not more than two pages (should contain the names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of three referees, including current and past direct line manager.)

Shortlisting and Interview

Full references will be required for the shortlist interviews, but they will only be taken upon receipt of specific consent from candidates.

Short-listed candidates will be required to provide original documentation, proof of identity, and certificates.