Founding Head of Early Years - New IB School-Dubai

Job Overview

The Head of Early Years is responsible for the overall operations, teaching and learning, school growth and wellbeing of students from Pre-KG to KG2. The role requires an innovative and energetic leader with a deep understanding of early childhood education, child development and best practices in inquiry-based learning. The successful candidate will be able to balance the needs of children, staff and parents within a diverse, high-quality international school in Dubai. They should have a proven record of strong leadership, expertise in the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the Early Years and the ability to inspire and nurture a culturally rich and dynamic school community.

Key Responsibilities

Organisation, Leadership and Management

• Establish, review, and develop Early Years policies, structures, and procedures in alignment with whole-school policies.
• Lead on timetabling, cover arrangements, and daily organisation of Early Years.
• Oversee the School Improvement Plan related to Early Years and contribute to KHDA and external inspections.
• Manage financial planning and budget allocation for Early Years resources in collaboration with the Head of Primary and Accounts team.
• Lead recruitment, retention, coaching and appraisal of Early Years staff.
• Chair Early Years team meetings and contribute actively to Senior Leadership Team discussions.
• Ensure compliance with KHDA regulations, UAE cultural expectations, and international standards of early childhood education.
  
  

Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting

• Oversee the planning, design and delivery of the Early Years curriculum in line with IB PYP principles.
• Ensure that all documentation, platforms, and communications accurately reflect the Early Years curriculum.
• Support admissions through assessments, interviews and orientation of new students.
• Ensure effective reporting of student progress and attainment through reports, parent meetings and regular updates to the SLT and Governing Board.
• Promote best practice in early childhood pedagogy, including play-based, curosity approach, inquiry-driven and inclusive approaches.
  
  

Student Inclusion, Pastoral Care and Wellbeing

• Lead the implementation of behaviour, inclusion, and wellbeing policies tailored to Early Years learners.
• Foster a nurturing, safe, and engaging learning environment where every child thrives.
• Work closely with the Inclusion team and ELL specialists to support individual learning needs.
• Ensure smooth transitions for students from Early Years into Primary.
  
  

External Relations

• Develop strong, positive relationships with parents, building trust and engagement through workshops, coffee mornings and parent meetings.
• Contribute to the school’s marketing and admissions processes by showcasing Early Years excellence.
• Support the Parent Support Group to strengthen the home–school partnership.
  
  

The Person

The successful candidate will demonstrate the vision, expertise, and resilience required to lead a high-quality Early Years setting. They will be passionate about early childhood education and have the ability to inspire both staff and parents in supporting children’s learning journeys.

Qualifications

• Honours degree and recognised teaching qualification (PGCE, B.Ed with QTS, or equivalent
• Early Years specialisation or significant Early Years leadership experience of at least 5 years.
  
  

If you are excited by the opportunity, please share your application with a one-page cover letter outlining your motivation and suitability, along with your updated CV and preferred start date at [email protected]