Director of Sports - August 2026 start
GEMS Metropole SchoolTeaching
Status
Actively Hiring
Date Listed26 February 2026
ContractPermanent
PlatformW5_SYNC
About This Role
We are seeking an exceptional Director of Sports to become part of our team starting August 2026 - AY 26-27.
At GEMS, teaching transcends a mere job; it represents a fulfilling career. Our educators benefit from complimentary access to premier CPD programs and have the chance to advance within our global organization. With most of our leadership roles filled by individuals from the GEMS network, our teachers are uniquely positioned to explore career pathways worldwide as we broaden our reach into new countries.
In addition to being a fantastic workplace, Dubai is a lively, cosmopolitan city that is rapidly growing and enjoys sunshine year-round. Teachers in Dubai experience an exhilarating lifestyle, with countless opportunities for leisure activities and travel both regionally and internationally!
All positions come with an outstanding compensation package that includes:
A competitive tax-free salary, individual fully furnished accommodation, free schooling, private medical insurance, annual airfare to your home country, and an end of Service Gratuity.
Furthermore, GEMS Teachers have complimentary access to our loyalty app, GEMS rewards, which offers significant discounts on daily expenses in the UAE. Enjoy thousands of deals and 2-for-1 offers on a wide range of services, including flights, hotels, restaurants, and retail stores, enabling you to maximize your earnings and save while working abroad.
Job Responsibilities:
The Director of Sport is tasked with providing strategic, operational, and commercial guidance for sports at GEMS Metropole. This role is crucial in implementing an inclusive Active School model alongside a top-tier High Performance program, establishing the school as a distinguished Centre of Excellence within GEMS and across the UAE and global sporting community.
The Director of Sport will lead the High Performance Team, manage the Mustang Sport program, supervise the enhancement and development of athletic facilities, high performance curriculum, and GEMS Centre of Excellence for Sport, cultivate commercial partnerships, and ensure that sports positively influence the overall school culture, student wellbeing, and academic success.
Strategic Leadership & Vision
•
Create and execute a long-term sports strategy that aligns with the Active School vision and the overall school improvement plan.
•
Promote the Mustang sports identity from participation to podium success.
•
Implement and oversee the High Performance Curriculum, which includes:
•
Strength & Conditioning
•
Sports Nutrition
•
Performance Analysis
•
Combat Sport
•
Aesthetic Sport
•
Football
•
Performance Mindset (Red2Blue framework)
•
Maintain GEMS Metropole as a GEMS Centre of Excellence for Sport by incorporating:
•
Professional development pathways for staff
•
Hosting and participating in regional/international conferences
•
Conducting athlete mid-term camps and elite development experiences
•
Provide strategic updates, performance metrics, and impact reports to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Governors.
Leadership
•
Supervise the High Performance Team, which includes:
•
High Performance Coordinator
•
Head of Strength & Conditioning
•
Head of Sports Nutrition
•
Head of Performance Analysis
•
Head of Football
•
Head of Combat Sport (Striking)
•
Head of Combat Sport (Grappling)
•
Head of Aesthetic Performance
•
Manage the Individual Athlete Plan (IAP) program and elite athlete pathways.
•
Directly oversee Swim Coaching staff.
•
Collaborate with the PE Head of Department (HOD) to ensure a coordinated and effective approach to PE/Sport.
•
Support the overall objectives and goals of the PE department.
•
Develop structured pathways for university and professional exit strategies, including:
•
Scholarship opportunities in the USA and Canada
•
University sport pathways in the UK and Europe
•
Direct transitions into professional academies and elite clubs
Operations & Infrastructure
•
Oversee the upkeep, development, and strategic improvement of sporting facilities to meet high-performance and community standards.
•
Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, safeguarding, and risk management across all sporting activities.
•
Lead operational planning that includes scheduling, staffing, events, and compliance measures.
•
Work strategically to ensure the long-term viability of facilities through phased development and capital planning.
•
Ensure aquatic services align with best practices, safety, and compliance standards.
Commercial Growth, Partnerships & Brand Development
•
Steer the ongoing development of the Mustang sports brand both regionally and internationally.
•
Manage the strategic growth of the Mustang kit program, maximizing the advantages of the Under Armour partnership.
•
Create new sponsorship and partnership opportunities with local and global businesses.
•
Enhance relationships with external stakeholders, including:
•
DASSA
•
Dubai School Games
•
UAE National Federations
•
International Sporting Organizations
•
Collaborate with ESM to increase external rental usage and optimize facility profitability.
•
Develop branded academies, camps, and programs to boost revenue and enhance the school's profile.
Active School & Whole-School Impact
•
Collaborate with the Head Teacher of Active School to strengthen the Active School unique selling proposition (USP).
•
Ensure that sports contribute positively to student wellbeing, attendance, behavior, leadership, and academic performance.
•
Lead major sporting events, community engagement evenings, and showcases.
•
Incorporate performance mindset principles into both sports and curriculum delivery.
•
Promote inclusive participation for all students aged 3-18.
People Leadership & Culture
•
Recruit, mentor, and manage all PE/sports staff alongside the PE HOD.
•
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
•
Drive professional development in line with Centre of Excellence standards.
•
Encourage staff wellbeing and leadership development through sports.
•
Fulfill any other responsibilities that the Head Teacher of Active School, Principal, or CEO may assign to support departmental and overall school goals.
Skills
•
Bachelor's degree in Physical Education, Sports Science, or a related field (Master's preferred).
•
Demonstrated experience in leading a significant sports department or high-performance program.
•
Experience in developing commercial partnerships and managing sponsorship agreements.
•
Experience in academic physical education.
•
Solid understanding of school sport governance, safeguarding, and compliance frameworks.
•
Proven experience in establishing university scholarship pathways (USA/Canada) and professional sports connections.
•
Strategic leadership experience with measurable impacts on participation, performance, and profitability.
At GEMS, teaching transcends a mere job; it represents a fulfilling career. Our educators benefit from complimentary access to premier CPD programs and have the chance to advance within our global organization. With most of our leadership roles filled by individuals from the GEMS network, our teachers are uniquely positioned to explore career pathways worldwide as we broaden our reach into new countries.
In addition to being a fantastic workplace, Dubai is a lively, cosmopolitan city that is rapidly growing and enjoys sunshine year-round. Teachers in Dubai experience an exhilarating lifestyle, with countless opportunities for leisure activities and travel both regionally and internationally!
All positions come with an outstanding compensation package that includes:
A competitive tax-free salary, individual fully furnished accommodation, free schooling, private medical insurance, annual airfare to your home country, and an end of Service Gratuity.
Furthermore, GEMS Teachers have complimentary access to our loyalty app, GEMS rewards, which offers significant discounts on daily expenses in the UAE. Enjoy thousands of deals and 2-for-1 offers on a wide range of services, including flights, hotels, restaurants, and retail stores, enabling you to maximize your earnings and save while working abroad.
Job Responsibilities:
The Director of Sport is tasked with providing strategic, operational, and commercial guidance for sports at GEMS Metropole. This role is crucial in implementing an inclusive Active School model alongside a top-tier High Performance program, establishing the school as a distinguished Centre of Excellence within GEMS and across the UAE and global sporting community.
The Director of Sport will lead the High Performance Team, manage the Mustang Sport program, supervise the enhancement and development of athletic facilities, high performance curriculum, and GEMS Centre of Excellence for Sport, cultivate commercial partnerships, and ensure that sports positively influence the overall school culture, student wellbeing, and academic success.
Strategic Leadership & Vision
•
Create and execute a long-term sports strategy that aligns with the Active School vision and the overall school improvement plan.
•
Promote the Mustang sports identity from participation to podium success.
•
Implement and oversee the High Performance Curriculum, which includes:
•
Strength & Conditioning
•
Sports Nutrition
•
Performance Analysis
•
Combat Sport
•
Aesthetic Sport
•
Football
•
Performance Mindset (Red2Blue framework)
•
Maintain GEMS Metropole as a GEMS Centre of Excellence for Sport by incorporating:
•
Professional development pathways for staff
•
Hosting and participating in regional/international conferences
•
Conducting athlete mid-term camps and elite development experiences
•
Provide strategic updates, performance metrics, and impact reports to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Governors.
Leadership
•
Supervise the High Performance Team, which includes:
•
High Performance Coordinator
•
Head of Strength & Conditioning
•
Head of Sports Nutrition
•
Head of Performance Analysis
•
Head of Football
•
Head of Combat Sport (Striking)
•
Head of Combat Sport (Grappling)
•
Head of Aesthetic Performance
•
Manage the Individual Athlete Plan (IAP) program and elite athlete pathways.
•
Directly oversee Swim Coaching staff.
•
Collaborate with the PE Head of Department (HOD) to ensure a coordinated and effective approach to PE/Sport.
•
Support the overall objectives and goals of the PE department.
•
Develop structured pathways for university and professional exit strategies, including:
•
Scholarship opportunities in the USA and Canada
•
University sport pathways in the UK and Europe
•
Direct transitions into professional academies and elite clubs
Operations & Infrastructure
•
Oversee the upkeep, development, and strategic improvement of sporting facilities to meet high-performance and community standards.
•
Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, safeguarding, and risk management across all sporting activities.
•
Lead operational planning that includes scheduling, staffing, events, and compliance measures.
•
Work strategically to ensure the long-term viability of facilities through phased development and capital planning.
•
Ensure aquatic services align with best practices, safety, and compliance standards.
Commercial Growth, Partnerships & Brand Development
•
Steer the ongoing development of the Mustang sports brand both regionally and internationally.
•
Manage the strategic growth of the Mustang kit program, maximizing the advantages of the Under Armour partnership.
•
Create new sponsorship and partnership opportunities with local and global businesses.
•
Enhance relationships with external stakeholders, including:
•
DASSA
•
Dubai School Games
•
UAE National Federations
•
International Sporting Organizations
•
Collaborate with ESM to increase external rental usage and optimize facility profitability.
•
Develop branded academies, camps, and programs to boost revenue and enhance the school's profile.
Active School & Whole-School Impact
•
Collaborate with the Head Teacher of Active School to strengthen the Active School unique selling proposition (USP).
•
Ensure that sports contribute positively to student wellbeing, attendance, behavior, leadership, and academic performance.
•
Lead major sporting events, community engagement evenings, and showcases.
•
Incorporate performance mindset principles into both sports and curriculum delivery.
•
Promote inclusive participation for all students aged 3-18.
People Leadership & Culture
•
Recruit, mentor, and manage all PE/sports staff alongside the PE HOD.
•
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
•
Drive professional development in line with Centre of Excellence standards.
•
Encourage staff wellbeing and leadership development through sports.
•
Fulfill any other responsibilities that the Head Teacher of Active School, Principal, or CEO may assign to support departmental and overall school goals.
Skills
•
Bachelor's degree in Physical Education, Sports Science, or a related field (Master's preferred).
•
Demonstrated experience in leading a significant sports department or high-performance program.
•
Experience in developing commercial partnerships and managing sponsorship agreements.
•
Experience in academic physical education.
•
Solid understanding of school sport governance, safeguarding, and compliance frameworks.
•
Proven experience in establishing university scholarship pathways (USA/Canada) and professional sports connections.
•
Strategic leadership experience with measurable impacts on participation, performance, and profitability.