Assistant Principal Safeguarding Lead

About the role

GEMS International School, Dubai Hills, an IB World School in the Dubai Hills community, is looking for an Assistant Principal Safeguarding Lead to provide whole-school leadership for safeguarding and child protection. Reporting to the Senior Vice Principal – Student Life & Culture, the role champions a strong safeguarding culture, oversees child protection practice and ensures compliance with GEMS, UAE and KHDA requirements. The start date is January 2027, with flexibility for a later start.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for safeguarding and child protection across all school phases, in line with GEMS, UAE and KHDA requirements.
• Oversee safeguarding concerns and complex child protection cases, ensuring timely identification, accurate recording, appropriate referrals and effective escalation.
• Promote a strong safeguarding culture through preventative education, student voice, early intervention and inclusive practices for vulnerable learners.
• Lead safeguarding training, professional development and awareness initiatives so all staff know their responsibilities, reporting procedures and professional boundaries.
• Work with HR on safer recruitment, staff vetting, professional conduct and safeguarding procedures.
• Drive safeguarding quality assurance, policy reviews, audits and school improvement work, keeping the school ready for inspection.
• Support safeguarding leads, pastoral teams and school leaders, and contribute to strategic planning, critical incident management and student wellbeing.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree and a recognised teaching qualification (PGCE, BEd or equivalent); a postgraduate or leadership qualification is desirable.
• Proven school leadership experience with substantial responsibility for safeguarding and child protection, ideally as a Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Experience managing complex safeguarding concerns, multi-agency referrals, safeguarding training and policy implementation.
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation, child protection procedures, safer recruitment and regulatory compliance, preferably in a UAE or international school setting.
• Ability to guide, support and challenge colleagues at all levels, with sound judgement and discretion in sensitive situations.

What we offer

• A competitive employment package.
• Professional development and career progression opportunities.
• Collaboration across a global network of international schools.

Applications, including an up-to-date CV, are submitted through the school's careers portal and reviewed on a rolling basis.