Head of Business and Economics

Safeguarding Commitment

Dubai British School Jumeirah Park prioritizes the safety and well-being of its students. All employees are expected to uphold exemplary standards of child protection, and successful applicants will undergo comprehensive background checks.

Job Purpose

The Head of the Business and Economics Department is vital in providing an outstanding academic program that aligns with the KHDA and BSO frameworks for exceptional education. This role demands extensive subject expertise and strategic leadership to foster an atmosphere of high expectations, innovation, and inclusive teaching that drives academic achievement. The incumbent will be expected to model best practices and consistently enhance departmental standards in line with the school’s vision for excellence in teaching and learning. Responsibilities encompass leading rigorous quality assurance, employing data-driven decision-making, innovating the curriculum, and crafting impactful learning experiences that prepare students for advanced studies and the evolving global economy. A critical component of this position is weaving real-world relevance into the Business and Economics curriculum, with a focus on Dubai’s economic landscape, government initiatives, entrepreneurship, and strategic growth sectors, ensuring that the curriculum mirrors global economic trends while highlighting the UAE’s economic diversification, business environment, and forward-thinking national vision, thereby enabling students to engage meaningfully with both local and international contexts.

Key Responsibilities

• Curriculum and Instructional Leadership

Stay abreast of advancements in curriculum, best practices in international business and economics education, and contemporary economic research, incorporating relevant insights into the department.

Design, implement, and assess the Business and Economics curriculum in alignment with the school’s objectives, ensuring its relevance to both global and local contexts, including Dubai’s urban development and sustainability initiatives.

Develop comprehensive schemes of work that incorporate exemplary teaching practices, fostering critical thinking and communication skills across all levels.

Create cross-curricular links with other subjects, particularly in sustainability, social responsibility, STEM, and global development, to enrich student learning experiences.

Oversee curriculum implementation, adapting instructional strategies to meet KHDA’s outstanding criteria.

• Data-Informed Student Progress and Attainment

Leverage departmental data to create targeted improvement plans, ensuring all students demonstrate measurable progress and achieve outstanding standards in Business and Economics.

Establish a systematic approach to regular, purposeful student assessments and feedback, standardizing assessment methods, and utilizing evidence-based evaluation practices to enhance learning outcomes.

• Staff Development and Collaboration

Lead and mentor the Business and Economics department staff, encouraging continuous improvement in teaching methods and supporting their professional growth through effective utilization of the school's appraisal systems.

Manage the department’s appraisal process, ensuring alignment of individual targets with departmental and school-wide improvement objectives. Set clear performance metrics to hold staff accountable and promote measurable outcomes.

Facilitate departmental training initiatives that correspond with National, Departmental, and Whole-School improvement plans for exceptional teaching and learning.

Cultivate a collaborative learning environment through team meetings, professional development, shared improvement goals, and evidence-based instructional practices.

Enhance collaboration with other Heads of Department in Secondary and other school counterparts to ensure a cohesive and progressive curriculum across all key stages, facilitating smooth transitions for students.

Ensure staff create dynamic and engaging Business and Economics classrooms that reflect the subject’s relevance to real-world applications and contemporary geographical research.

• Quality Assurance and Compliance

Guarantee the quality of teaching within the department by conducting lesson observations and learning walks, reviewing marking and assessment practices, and aligning teaching with improvement priorities.

Periodically review and revise departmental policies to ensure consistency in lesson planning, marking, and assessment according to the DBSJP approach and KHDA framework.

• Operational Management

Efficiently manage resources, overseeing the ordering, maintenance, and distribution of materials and equipment within the allocated budget.

Collaborate with the timetable to coordinate staff assignments, teaching group arrangements, and room allocations to maximize learning opportunities.

Ensure that the department’s teaching environments are safe, inspiring, and conducive to learning.

• Community and Communication

Engage with parents and external stakeholders to foster strong home-school partnerships, effectively communicating departmental achievements and areas for development.

Encourage student leadership and voice within the department, cultivating a community where students are enthusiastic about Business and Economics.

Represent the department in whole-school forums, contributing to curriculum planning, scheduling, and strategic development. Ensure that DBSJP is visible in broader UAE networks such as BSME.

• Departmental Planning and Review

Develop an improvement plan aimed at elevating departmental performance, aligned with KHDA and BSO outstanding criteria, the School Development Plan, and ensuring that strategic objectives are established and reviewed regularly.

Document and present qualitative and quantitative evidence to demonstrate alignment with the above and relevant inspection/accreditation frameworks.

• Examination and NEA Requirements

Oversee the planning, administration, and quality assurance of all examination and NEA (Non-Exam Assessment) requirements, ensuring compliance with exam board specifications and adherence to all relevant policies and deadlines.

Ensure that all assessment practices meet the highest standards, accurately monitoring students’ progress from formative assessments through to final examinations.

Coordinate and assist staff in understanding and implementing BTEC assessment frameworks at Levels 2 and 3, providing necessary training to ensure assessments are both fair and rigorous.

Develop strategies for analyzing and utilizing attainment and progress data within the department, using insights to facilitate outstanding student outcomes.

Regularly track student progress data, identifying trends, celebrating successes, and implementing targeted interventions to ensure that attainment and progress align with the school's outstanding standards.

• Standards

Serve as a model for exemplary teaching and promote a culture of excellence in learning.

Stay informed about curriculum developments and best practices, particularly within international schools through associations such as BSME and KHDA-inspected institutions.

Ensure that students receive optimal preparation for both internal and external assessments.

• Person Specification

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Business and Economics or a related field, along with a recognized teaching qualification or license.

Experience: A minimum of four years of teaching experience, with prior middle leadership or Head of Department experience preferred.

• Competencies:

Experience with international curricula (e.g., IGCSE, A-Level, and BTEC) and familiarity with inspection/accreditation organizations such as KHDA and BSO.

Strong data analysis skills to inform departmental strategies and planning.

• Attributes:

Reflective, resilient, and capable of inspiring others to achieve outstanding standards.

Student-centered, dedicated to inclusive practices, and maintaining high expectations for all learners.

An effective communicator, skilled in engaging staff, students, and parents in the school’s vision.

Positive towards all stakeholders, embracing school initiatives and processes.