School Improvement Partner (Digital)

About the role

Cognita Middle East, which runs 14 schools across the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman, is looking for an experienced school leader to join its Education team as School Improvement Partner (Digital). Working alongside 8 schools in Cog UAE and 6 in Cog GCC, the role is first and foremost a school improvement position: supporting Heads of School Improvement and challenging school leaders to strengthen the quality of education, leadership and student outcomes. Success is measured by impact on students, not by technology adoption.

The post reports initially to the Director of Education, East, then moves in due course to the Head of School Improvement, with a dotted line to the Head of EdTech and Digital Learning.

Key responsibilities

• Support and challenge school leaders on self-evaluation and School Improvement Plans, and monitor whether agreed actions make a measurable difference
• Carry out quality assurance, including visits, lesson observation, learning walks and scrutiny of work, challenging weak practice with evidence and care
• Triangulate evidence, including insight from digital and AI platforms such as Flint AI, to evaluate school quality and impact
• Help schools prepare for and learn from inspection and accreditation, with safeguarding and inclusion at the heart of evaluation
• Support the implementation of Flint AI, embed it in everyday practice, train staff and link it to TILP
• Help schools apply the Group AI Policy and adopt the Digital Ecosystem
• Lead the Digital Learning Leads network across Cog UAE and Cog GCC and pilot new approaches through Education Innovation
• Share effective practice, build sustainable capability in schools and support new schools and partner brands to align with Cognita Standards

Required profile

• Successful senior leadership in schools (Head, Deputy or Assistant Head) with demonstrable impact on teaching quality and student outcomes
• Strong understanding of quality assurance, self-evaluation and evidence-informed improvement
• Experience of school evaluation, governance, peer review or inspection
• Experience of leading or overseeing digital learning in a school, with a sound, current understanding of digital learning and AI in education
• Ability to triangulate evidence, including data from digital and AI platforms
• Excellent communication, coaching and influencing skills with senior leaders
• Experience in international schools or across multiple curricula, and a recognised teaching qualification

Advantages

• Experience of schools in the UAE or wider GCC
• A master's degree or a senior leadership qualification
• Experience as an external reviewer