Programme Leader Production Arts

Scope of the Job

• Responsible to: Executive Director

• Responsible for: Production Arts Faculty

• Works Closely with: Programme Leaders, Quality Assurance dept

Job Purpose

The Programme Leader – Production Arts is responsible for the successful and effective establishment and continued development of specialised education and training for the production arts profession.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Deputy Director – Academic of the Academy and working with them as part of the senior leadership team, Programme Leaders shall execute the following tasks and responsibilities:

• Management of and participation in the development of the Academy’s programmes and their operational requirements, including recruitment of specialist staff in consultation with the Deputy Director.
• Leading the programme’s team of specialist staff and ensuring that the programmes are taught effectively.
• Monitoring quality through teaching observation and staff development.
• Working with the Deputy Director – Academic on the recruitment and interviewing of candidates for the Academy’s undergraduate and graduate programmes.
• Working with the Deputy Director and Quality Assurance Officer to ensure that all the documents required for obtaining all accreditation of the programmes offered by the Academy are complete and satisfactory.
• Development of relationships and partnerships with performing arts stakeholders in Sharjah, the UAE, and the region to promote the role of the Academy and its programmes.

Key Interactions

As part of the team, working closely with the Programme Leaders and other Specialist tutors to ensure the students are provided with the highest levels of teaching, learning and support during their course of study. Through the departmental channels within the Academy, the SPAA team will facilitate these fundamental practices ensuring programmes are running effectively and efficiently for the benefit of the students and the wider arts community in Sharjah and the UAE.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

• Postgraduate qualification including significant component relevant to Production Arts.
• HE/Conservatoire teaching experience.
• Experience of working and/or teaching in interdisciplinary contexts.
• Professional creative production experience within the performing arts.
• Knowledge and practice-based expertise in production arts in one or more of the following areas: Lighting, Sound, Video, Production/Stage/Event Management, Costume/Scenic Art/Construction.
• Demonstrable understanding and experience of conservatoire training and relevant industry engagement activities and development.
• IT Proficiency in relevant software.
• Ability to teach interdisciplinary practice effectively at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
• Ability to work as a member of an academic team in the design and delivery of courses and programmes and to undertake administration and monitor own work programmes. Successfully deliver programmes of work whilst proactively meeting deadlines and developing good professional relationships with students, colleagues, employers, and outside agencies.
• Working with others interdependently to perform a task and to achieve shared goals.
• Demonstrate the ability to see and hear multiple perspectives and monitor and/or adjust work based on input from a variety of sources and depending on differing conditions.
• Establishing specific and timely goals for completion of work.
• Having curiosity and drive to learn more about known and unknown strategies, techniques, concepts, applications and ideas.
• Responsible Risk-Taking, willing to chance making mistakes while tackling challenging musicals or ensemble problems that do not have easy, obvious, or conventional solutions, and seeing these challenges as opportunities for learning and growth.
• Self-Reflection, applying self-knowledge and objective evaluation to personal work through questioning and introspection.
• An effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills with commitment to student learning through a variety of delivery methods, including flexible and distance modes.
• Commitment to and understanding of equal opportunities issues within a diverse and multicultural environment.

Desirable:

• Master or PhD in a related area (or near completion) OR a professional qualification with significant relevant professional experience.
• Experience of teaching or training in Further and/or Higher Education with familiarity of UAE and UK higher education and current developments.
• A wider understanding of professional industry practice & knowledge.

Core Competencies

Delivery through:

• Decision making & problem solving
• Building Teams and communication
• Facilitating change

Development through:

• Resilience
• Driving results
• Managing stakeholders

Context

Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA) is an independent Academy established by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, to address a growing demand in the UAE and MENA region for formal education and quality professional training in the performing arts sector. SPAA is the only performing arts conservatoire in the Middle East and North Africa region, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programmes taught in English. The purpose-built Academy includes a 432-seat theatre, two fully equipped studio performance spaces, TV/recording studios, twelve sprung rehearsal studios, 12 singing tutorial spaces, resource library, gymnasium and cafe.

Sharjah Performing Arts Academy specialises in training graduates for work in the international professional performing arts industry. The SPAA faculty are highly experienced practitioners within their respective fields. The focus of the Academy is practical rather than academic. The Academy’s primary goal is to equip graduates with the highest level of practical skills in their field, along with the tools necessary for successfully creating their own work or practice.

Salaries and Benefits

Salaries in the UAE are tax-free and disbursed monthly in United Arab Emirates dirhams. Faculty members receive a competitive benefits package that includes: accommodation, private medical insurance, and a residency visa, which extends to cover dependent family members. The Academy will cover the cost of education expenses for eligible dependent children under the age of 18.

Employees and eligible dependents are entitled to an annual return ticket to their home country.

Additional Information

• The individual in this position is responsible for ensuring compliance with all SPAA policies and procedures, including the Workplace Health and Safety and Confidentiality policies.
• This position is full-time based at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy, University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
• The Faculty Handbook is an important resource and sets out the expectations and conditions of employment. Prospective candidates for this position can request the Faculty Handbook, which will be sent to them via email.

How to Apply

Please send a maximum two (2) page cover letter and current CV to careers@spaa.ae

Please place ‘Programme Leader Production Arts 2024 ’ in the email subject line.

(Applicants should ensure that their cover letter explicitly discusses the required qualifications detailed in this job description for this position)

For any further information please email: careers@spaa.ae

Note: Candidates offered positions at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy are required to undergo a comprehensive background screening and police check, prior to finalising their employment.